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 When Torrey Pines Kiwanian Ross Ehrhardt and his wife Susan, who had recently
lost her leg in a water skiing accident, traveled to Durango, Colorado
for Thanksgiving in 1982, they had no idea what lay in store for them.
Two days into the trip, as Susan sat on the sidelines watching Ross
and daughter, Brooke ski, she noticed a young man skiing down a slope
nearby. His vitality was unmistakable, as Susan recalls.
 His name was Dave Spencer - a bright, twenty-one year old man and ski
instructor. Although he had lost a leg to cancer, he worked instructing
able-bodied skiers. Sue asked if he would give her lessons, and a few
months later she returned to Durango for a week of instruction. Susan’s
spirits soared as she rediscovered her athletic abilities. After a rewarding
week for both Susan and Dave, he was inspired to create the Adaptive
Sports Association Ski School. Ross invited Dave to speak to the Torrey
Pines Kiwanis Club. Dave accepted the invitation, and his enthusiasm
proved so compelling that the Club voted unanimously to support his
program. Early attempts at fund raising were ineffectual until 1987, when Kiwanian Dallas Clites suggested that an arts festival might be a successful fundraising source for the ski program. And so, The La Jolla Festival of the Arts was born. Ross and his fellow Kiwanians, as well as a wealth of volunteers, continue to put on the Festival today to honor Dave Spencer, who died of cancer in 1986. Because of Dave’s wonderful spirit and incredible effort, hundreds of skiers have seen their lives changed. The Torrey Pines Kiwanis ski scholarship provides disabled participants with an all expenses paid five-day ski trip—including lodging, meals, equipment, tickets and full time ski instruction. To date, the Torrey Pines Kiwanis Foundation has sent more than 400 people with disabilities to the adaptive school founded by Dave Spencer. In addition to the ski program, the Foundation supports 35 other adaptive athletic and educational programs. Over 2,000 people with disabilities participate in the programs each year. History Overview of
the La Jolla Festival of the Arts
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