By Natasha Carter

Staff writer

"Choices" was the topic of a heartfelt speech delivered for youth at the Dasie Bridgewater Hope Center last week.

Henry "Hank" Carter, founder and president of Wheelchair Charities, spoke about staying out of trouble, helping others and giving back - three topics he knows very well.

The native Floridian moved to New York at age 6 and was glad to come back to speak with youth.

"This is my first visit to Florida in 30 years," Mr. Carter said.

During his youth in New York City's Queens Bridge projects, Mr. Carter made bad choices, serving as the president of a gang, but left it behind to enlist in the United States Army.

"God grabbed a hold of me," he said.

After the Army, Mr. Carter became a teller at Long Island Savings Bank in New York and 30 years later the senior executive vice president of the bank.

Mr. Carter founded Wheelchair Charities in 1972 after his best friend was shot on the streets of New York City and was paralyzed.

He had no money to purchase a wheelchair. Mr. Carter organized a basketball game to raise money and made $5,000.

Since then, he has been dedicating his time to providing more opportunities and funding for the charity.

The game has evolved into a huge annual Pro-Game with professional basketball players held at Madison Square Gardens with many NBA superstars.

All proceeds go to benefit paraplegic and quadriplegic patients at the Coler-Goldwater Memorial Hospital.

This particular event has become bigger gaining sponsorship from companies like Nike, the National Basketball Association, Washington Mutual Bank and Health Insurance Plan of New York.

Seventy percent of the patients in Coler-Goldwater Specialty Hospital are gunshot wound victims.

Due to Mr. Carter's undying dedication to physically challenged individuals, more than $10 million has been raised for the hospital.

"It's all about God. He put me in the position to do the right thing." Mr. Carter said.

In 2004, the health and hospitals corporation's board of directors named the center The Henry "Hank" Carter Rehabilitation Center.

Wheelchair Charities purchases motorized wheelchairs, speech rehabilitation equipment, suction machines and other devices for the enhancement of patients.

Wheelchair Charities raises more money than any other wheelchair charity for city and state hospitals in the country, Mr. Carter said.

In 2008 Wheelchair Charities Inc. will celebrate its 35th anniversary.

Mr. Carter practices what he preaches when it comes to his big fundraiser.

None of the players in the game whether it be high school students or NBA players are allowed to play without visiting the hospital first.

Deals like this made Mr. Carter the inspirational speaker at the Dasie Hope center.

"He let us know to keep God in your hearts. Do what you think is right and that everyone can do better," said Kudarie Somaru, a senior at Saint Edwards upper school.

Mr. Carter encouraged all of the kids to make good grades, as well as choices.

"Choices, doing the right thing, and knowing things won't come easy, is what I wanted to leave the youth with," Mr. Carter said.

Most of his youth audience agreed that Mr. Carter is living proof that one can turn around if one is going in the wrong direction.

"He let us know that we should stay out of trouble, don't join gangs and to keep our grades up." said Joshua Pittman

A friend of Mr. Carter agreed.

"He is a religious man. He knows it's not about him," said Jay Conefry, longtime friend and former Long Island Savings Bank colleague of Mr. Carter.

Dasie Bridgewater Hope staff agreed.

"As we celebrate Black History Month at Dasie Hope, we are proud to have an African-American role model visit the center," said Verna Wright, executive director.

For more information about Wheelchair Charities visit www.wheelchaircharitiesinc.org.