Handicapable association marks three decades of helping those in need
A father’s love inspired Egidio Novelletto to take a handful of kids with intellectual challenges and show them how to play soccer.
Back in 1977, his 12-year-old son, Peter, was one of those children attending Glengarda school.
Now 52, Peter still plays a game he loves with his friends as a member of the Italian Canadian Handicapable Association founded by his dad and mom, Filomena.
ICHA was granted charitable non-profit status in 1987 and as such, will celebrate its 30th anniversary at its annual fundraiser July 14 at the Ciociaro Club.
Two incidents moved Egidio to organize those first kick-abouts at Glengarda and then ICHA.
First was the heart-wrenching moment he saw Peter reduced to tears when he was told he couldn’t take the field in place of his injured brother in a minor house league game.
“My brother was playing and they wouldn’t let me play,” Peter recalled. “It made me sad.”
The second incident occurred during the winter, when Egidio was stranded on Highway 401 with his wife and son.
“There was a blizzard and I was afraid all three of us would die in the car,” he recalled. “We all started praying and somebody passed by and picked us up.”
After that, Egidio vowed to do more for his son and others like him and so began what some called his “impossible dream” of building a complex for those with mental and physical disabilities.
The Novelletto Rosati Complex became a reality with its 2002 opening.
“Peter is still so happy when I drive him to soccer practice and he sees the Novelletto Rosati name up on the building,” Egidio said. “If it wasn’t for him, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Egidio described Windsor-Essex as “the best place to get help to build a centre. The Lord put me in the right place to meet the best people in Essex County.”
ICHA has become one of the largest such organizations in Ontario with 200 athletes and 80 voting members. They now offer basketball, floor hockey, bocce and sponsor bowling in addition to soccer and have expanded to provide social opportunities through gatherings at Christmas, Halloween and Valentine’s Day.
They just hosted more than 100 participants for the 15th annual fishing derby.
On a Tuesday evening in late June, a dozen or more athletes have gathered on the indoor turf for their weekly soccer match.
“I just have fun,” said 31-year-old Jason Fathers, whose grandfather was iconic Windsor Star sports writer Ken Fathers. “I get medals, but not the loser medals.”
That comment makes his mother, Kelly, chuckle.
“I told you he likes to win,” she said. “He’s been playing since he was in high school with the Essex Red Raiders. He’s made some great friendships and learned sportsmanship and developed as a team player.”
Fathers’ teammate Jenna Bondy comes from Amherstburg to play.
“It’s a lot of fun and I get to see my friends,” the 31-year-old said.
“Soccer is one of my favourite sports.”
Peter is still so happy when I drive him to soccer practice and he sees the Novelletto Rosati name up on the building.
Past president and longtime member Joe Ferrara said the board of directors refocused on ICHA’s charity component several years ago by contracting out the operational aspects of the facility.
“Now we’ve got someone who knows how to run a facility so it’s the best of both worlds,” Ferrara said.
“So we can focus on saving this for the future, for the disabled who are still at home.”
He’d like to see more athletes come out and try the different programs offered and as always, the group is on a constant hunt for volunteers. They annually take on high school students looking to gather community hours and even offer several bursaries for longterm service.
For more information, visit the website at icha.ca or email at icha@thesoccerplace.ca or phone the ICHA office at 519-977-1209.