We don’t think there’s a trophy big enough to recognize Johnnie Tuitel’s accomplishments. And the poor engraver assigned to the task might suffer irreversible hand cramps if he tried to inscribe a trophy with all of the Michigan man’s #ShowUsYourSue moments.
So we settled on these words:
Johnnie Tuitel
Excellence in Inspiring the World to Live Without Boundaries
November 2015Trophy Central
Random Acts of Trophy-ness Award
#ShowUsYourSue
Knowing we could add more words – and tell the rest of Johnnie’s incredible story – here in this space.
Johnnie (whose last name is pronounced Title) is a “funny, caring, irreverent force of nature who leaves people in tears of laughter and joy, with a desire to change the world in which they reside, for the better,” says Jennifer Broderick, a previous winner of Trophy Central’s Random Acts of Trophy-ness Award for Excellence in Inspiring the World Through Art.
Johnnie, who was born with cerebral palsy, has devoted much of his life to inspiring disabled – and able-bodied – people to break down barriers to their happiness and achievements.
“You have the ability to change the world even if you don’t know how to yet.”
— Johnnie Tuitel
He’s the epitome of the spirit behind Trophy Central’s campaign to recognize the Sue Hecks of the world. Sue Heck is a fictional character on The Middle. She has a smile for everyone and an optimistic outlook on everything despite the fact that things seldom go in her favor. She’s the student whose name teachers never remember, the sister whose older brother pretends doesn’t exist and the daughter whose parents pray she won’t try out for team sports – they know she’ll be disappointed.
Johnnie draws from his own struggles – and triumphs – to help make the world more easily accessible to those with disabilities. He speaks to corporate and education audiences and has appeared on ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox and Friends, MSNBC, NBC Nightly News and The Today Show.
And Johnnie is more than just talk
In 1998, he founded Paws with a Cause to train service animals for the disabled. He and his dog, Steamer, led a national awareness campaign to raise money for Paws with a Cause. Johnnie and Steamer have logged some 50,000 miles to educate people about the limitless lives people with disabilities can lead.
And he’s vocal about his own frustrations, which he says are born of public ignorance. When U.S. Airways told him he was “too disabled” to travel alone (the first time in a half-million miles of travel in his 20-year career that he was denied solo travel) his story made national TV when he spoke up about the injustice.
“Be good to people, even the assholes. You’ll sleep better.”
— Johnnie Tuitel
Johnnie said he voiced his complaint to help protect the rights of other disabled travelers.
“I don’t want a little boy with a disability not have the opportunity to go somewhere. I don’t want a young girl with a disability going out for her first job interview by herself to be told she can’t fly in an airplane,” he said in an interview with CNN.
Johnnie also founded Alternatives in Motion, a non-profit that provides wheelchairs to disabled people who cannot afford them. He ’s placed more than 1,000 wheelchairs and raised more than $6 million for the charity.
“There’s a difference between just existing and really living.”
— Johnnie Tuitel
Tuitel holds the distinction of being the first student legally mainstreamed into public education in Michigan. And he uses his experience as a pioneer in education. He’s the author of the Gun Lake Adventure children’s book series. The main character solves mysteries and “teaches young readers the value of inclusion and acceptance,” Jennifer, of Jennifer! Designs, Ltd, says.
The moment we read Jennifer’s heartfelt nomination for her friend, Johnnie, we knew that this man’s spirit was the perfect embodiment of what our Random Acts of Trophy-ness #ShowUsYourSue Campaign is all about — recognizing everyday or unlikely heroes who inspire others and make the world a kinder, happier place to be.
Because at Trophy Central, we don’t just sell trophies—we deliver smiles!
And we want to deliver more! Please help us spread the Random Acts of Trophy-ness love by nominating someone you know who has the #ShowUsYourSue spirit!
The campaign is only as good as the nominations, so please do your part to make Trophy Central’s Random Acts of Trophy-ness a long-running success!
