32 AMERICANWAY
MAY 15 2007
H U N G E R F I X
over
achiever
Sam’s apretty impressiveguy. After all, he’s beenovercoming
expectations hiswhole life. Samhas an intellectual disability. But that
hasn’t stoppedhim fromgraduating fromHighSchool. And itwon’t
stophim fromdreamingevenbigger dreams…andachieving them.
But then, that’swhat beingexceptional is all about.
At TheArc, we’re fighting toprovide the support and services that
peoplewith intellectual anddevelopmental disabilities – and their
families –need tohelp them liveproductive, independent lives.
Tofindoutmore aboutwhat
wedo andhow you canhelp
go towww.thearc.org or call
1-800-433-5255.
TheArcPSA final.indd 1
12/4/06 11:39:52AM
Anniversary
Date in
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may15'07_AA#2_nmCRYSTALmx
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KEvIN RAub
is a Los Angeles–based travel and entertainment
journalist. His work has appeared in
Travel + Leisure
,
Town &
Country Travel
,
FHM
, and
Stuff
, among other publications. He,
too, is acceptingdonations.
cal, with or without pricing on themenu,”
Fischer says.
But Brad and Libby aren’t in it for the
money. They have set up the operation as
a nonprofit model, so all profits after rent,
electricity, food, and payroll are donated
to various area charities. Their day jobs
pay the bills. “It’s not a standard idea,” says
Brad. “It’sway outside the box of a conven-
tional restaurantmodel…butwhat’swrong
with that?”
“I’MAClEANfREAK,
sodon’tbe surprised
if I tell you towash them twice,” Libby says
as I step behind the counter for my hour
of volunteer work, the standard price for a
free meal at SAME. Withinmoments, I’m
dipping rolling pins and coffee mugs into
a three-tier cleaning system (soap, rinse,
sanitize) while contemplating a move to
Denver. I even ice some sugar cookies. The
customers, includinganoverly talkative20-
something and threewomendressed to the
nines in business suits, trickle in through
thedoors.Nobodybats an eyelidat thenew
staff member (me). The work is cake, the
hour goes by quickly, and I don’t mind the
laboratall. I’llbe thefirst toadmit Ineeded
a refresher course inproper dishwashing. I
evenmanage to sneak off with a few of the
excellent sugar cookies.Willwork for food?
Youbet. I’ll evenwrite for it.
Libby andBradBirky (left and center), owners of
SAMECafé, in the kitchenwith a customer
