For the second year in a row, Jim Wagy, owner of several area McDonald’s restaurants, including the Platte City location, has hosted a fundraiser for Autism Speaks.
Wagy said this great organization, which has low administrative costs, is one he will continue to support. “The money gets right to the people it is meant to help the most,” Wagy said. “This is important to me to research in my charitable giving.”
Since April was Autism Awareness Month, he decided to help Autism Speaks after interacting with several people he knows who have Autism.
“They are brilliant and gifted people who just have trouble getting their words out, and I’ve also hired and worked with a lot of autistic people in my 31 years of being a McDonald’s owner, so I wanted to help.”
He has had close relationships with Autistic individuals. He has friends whose child is autistic. “He is a wonderful person who enjoys life, despite his struggles talking,” Wagy said. “I have also worked with some autistic musicians who are very talented. And my employees as well.”
The fund raiser he hosted on April 2 in honor of Autism Awareness Month is something he is committed to, and he is going to try to host fund raisers every April to bring awareness and help to the autistic community.
He also likes to help several different churches around the Kansas City area and many different organizations, including: Convoys of Hope, Mother’s Refuge, Parkville Women’s Clinic, Resource Health, Hillcrest Platte County, Breakout Prayer Network, Nexus Church and RMHC-KC.
Wagy’s friendships with autistic people have reinforced his beliefs that members of the public need to become aware of the challenges of Autism.
“These people are smart, happy and gifted,” Wagy said. “They just have trouble with verbal communication. So I want to help them any way I can to transition and function in society.”
His recent fund raiser raised $10,000, and Wagy believes that this is a great opportunity for local businesses to bring awareness to the community for many charitable causes. “Anything we can do to help, helps,” Wagy said.
Paybacks and rewards are not issues that Wagy will worry about during his lifetime.
“I know that God keeps good records, and I’m just trying to help a variety of people in many different ways,” he said. “And I live by the two most important commandments: Love your neighbor as you do yourself, and do unto others as you wish others would do for you. It’s really a pretty peaceful way to live life if we could all live with this thought in mind, and this is of paramount importance in my charitable giving considerations.”
McDonald’s is trying to staff its restaurants as best they can and wants community members to know that if anyone needs a job, just go to Platte City McDonald’s.