Rick Ferris

2004 Louise Whitbeck Fraser Award Recipient

Rick Ferris is a family man — it is easy to see that the most important things in his life are his wife, Connie and their three children.

In 1977, shortly after the Ferris family had moved to South Dakota for Rick's work, daughter Jessica was born with Down syndrome. It was immediately apparent to Rick that the services available for children with special needs were inadequate. Without hesitation, he requested a transfer back to Minneapolis where he knew there would be superior services for his daughter.

Unfortunately, his employer at the time was opposed to a transfer. Undeterred by the negative effect this decision might have on his promising career in banking, Rick moved his family back to Minnesota. Jessica and the family quickly took advantage of Fraser services. Since that time, Rick and his family have been dedicated and passionate supporters of Fraser.

Jessica enrolled in Fraser in 1978, beginning with home therapy visits. In 1979, when Jessica was 2, she became a full-time student in the toddler program at Fraser School. Always thinking ahead, her dad put her name on the wait list for Fraser residences when she was only 18 months old — even though she would not be eligible for these services for many years.

Wanting to get involved, Rick was frustrated that all of the Fraser volunteer opportunities seemed to be for women (i.e., holiday bazaar, fashion show, helping in the school). So, he designed a perfect way to use his financial skills as treasurer of the schools volunteer parents organization.. He served in this role for three years before being elected to the Fraser board of directors from 1981 to 1993, and again from 1999 to the present. He also created the idea of volunteer chairs leading the Fraser fundraising gala, and he and his wife served in this role for two years.

Many of Fraser's innovative programs originated from Rick's anticipation of Jessica's needs. For example, in 1995 while in high school, Jessica expressed an interest in a career working with children. In response, Rick developed the idea of a work-study program that placed high school students in Fraser School classrooms. This program still exists today and has benefited many students over the years.

Jessica's brother, Todd, was one of the first children enrolled in Fraser Whitbeck Nursery School in the early 1980s. This program was created for children without disabilities, mostly siblings of the children with special needs already at Fraser. In spite of some board opposition, Rick advocated that this was a natural expansion of Fraser services, a means to integrate children of all abilities, and a way to educate the community. The nursery school pioneered the integration of children with and without disabilities. This concept of inclusion is now one of the defining elements of the Fraser organization.

In the late 1980s, Rick and other Fraser supporters developed and implemented a plan for an apartment building for adults with developmental disabilities. Again, this was breaking new ground for services available in the Twin Cities. The timing was ideal for Jessica who was looking forward to one day being able to live independently. When she turned twenty years old, Jessica moved into Sheridan Court, Fraser's first Independent Living Project. When people asked Jessica if she was ready to move away from home, she'd reply, "I'm ready, but my dad isn't."

Rick's efforts to balance a demanding job with the needs of his family were again tested in 1998, when his employer went through a significant merger. Rick immediately told his superiors that a transfer was not an option due to the essential services that Jessica was receiving through Fraser. For a second time in his career, Rick put the needs of his family first at the risk of losing his job.

Not only did Rick retain his position, but his career flourished. Today, he is executive vice president of U.S. Corporate Banking for Wells Fargo and has worked within this role to benefit the special needs community. He shares his passion for Fraser with colleagues and has helped recruit six additional board members, hundreds of volunteers, and thousands of dollars in sponsorships. Thanks to Rick, Wells Fargo is an outstanding supporter of Fraser. Each year, Wells Fargo recruits a large and enthusiastic corporate team for Roll & Stroll for Fraser™, is the presenting sponsor of the Fraser golf tournament and is a platinum sponsor of the Fraser annual benefit.

The Ferris' involvement with Fraser has come full circle. Jessica now works as a teaching assistant at Fraser School and enjoys living independently in a Fraser apartment. Rick continues to share his creative ideas and financial expertise through the Fraser board of directors and the finance and executive committees.

Over his years of involvement, Rick has helped Fraser grow from a small, fledgling nonprofit to a nationally-renowned organization. Throughout this growth, Rick has been a steady supporter, advocating for Fraser's continued expansion while ensuring that the organization is prepared. According to CEO Diane Cross, "Fraser wouldn't be where it is today without Rick Ferris."

A true family man, Rick Ferris has put his family's needs above all else. Inspired by his daughter, he has dedicated his life to creating more opportunities for people with special needs.

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