Background
Vickie George is a graduate of Temple University. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and has a Master's Degree in 'Program Planning and Development' and was a finalist for 'The Most Outstanding Senior Award'. As a Graduate Assistant at Temple University, she co-taught several undergraduate courses. She was an exceptional athlete and played numerous sports: intercollegiate varsity softball, women's major league fast pitch, basketball, field hockey, racquetball, bicycling, hiking and scuba diving. Vickie was active in all aspects of life.
She held a variety of positions as a Program Director in human services and was primarily responsible for 'start up' programs (designing programs from scratch to full implementation) with an emphasis on assessing the needs of the community and developing programs based on those needs. Her professional experiences also included working with special populations. In addition, her professional career included working in Insurance Sales. As a licensed agent, Vickie continues to provide solutions to individuals and small businesses in ‘health and life' insurance.
A highlight of her career, as the Marketing Director and Community Health Outreach Coordinator for CAMcare Health Corporation in New Jersey, she developed and administered the marketing of four health-care sites for the purpose of assuring growth, product/service development, member awareness and communication between the community, area health-care agencies and CAMcare Health Corporation. She developed a community health outreach educational component in order to address the health-care needs of patients in cooperation with supporting area health care agencies, community organizations and the Department of Health and Human Services.
Vickie was diagnosed with Progressive MS (Multiple Sclerosis) in 1995. As this disease has continued to progress, Vickie has continued to adjust to the challenges that this disease has given her. She has been gradually losing her physical abilities but has found ways to keep herself both emotionally and physically fit.
As her drive continued to stay as healthy as possible, in 2004 Vickie developed, marketed and implemented a new program called 'YES U CAN™' for the physically challenged at the Brandywine YMCA. She developed the 'YES U CAN™' program to help serve those who were in the same position as her, who are physically challenged and were excluded from participating in existing exercise programs (due to their disability and need for assistance). 'YES U CAN™' provides 'staff-assisted' weight-training and group exercise programs to those who need it so that most ability levels can participate in a personal exercise program. Currently, no programs exist in the community that offer this type of help.
Ironically, partly due to her disability, the start of 'YES U CAN™' and her professional experience, Vickie has become a motivational/guest lecturer and keynote speaker for several organizations and learning institutions.
Guest Lecturer:
- University of Delaware - Department of Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences and the Department of Physical Therapy
- University of Delaware Sororities
- DelTech - Allied Health/PTA Program
- Thorncroft Therapeutic Riding Center
- C-Line Stables Center for Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Keynote Speaker:
- 'Dinner of Champions' - The Delaware Chapter of The National MS Society
- 'Access Wilmington' Awards Luncheon - The Mayor's Committee on People with Disabilities
- 'Delaware People First Conference' – Arc of Delaware
Award:
- 'Adult Inspiration Award – For Greatness in the Human Spirit of Athletics' Diamond Dinner - United Cerebral Palsy of Delaware, Inc. (UCP) and the Wilmington Blue Rocks
- Nominee: 'National Achievement Award' - Delaware Chapter of The National MS Society
Advisory Committee Member:
- Easter Seals – ADHS Program (Adult Day Health Services)
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