Capper Foundation holds birthday party

A local organization celebrated its founder's birthday the same he would: with ice cream.

Capper Foundation held a birthday party Monday for its clients, staff, volunteers and supporters.

They served up a picnic lunch, with WIBW's general manager Roger Brokke, chief photojournalist Doug Brown, and anchor Melissa Brunner dishing out Sheridan's frozen custard.

The late Senator Arthur Capper founded several local media outlets, including WIBW-TV. He also started the foundation to assist children with disabilities.

Senator Capper would have turned 154 years old Sunday. For years, he held a community birthday celebration, drawing thousands of people.

"We just really loved what he established," Jim Leiker, President and CEO of Capper Foundation, said. "Bringing the community together, everybody working together - staff and donors and volunteers, people served and their families, all working together to make good things happen and help people be the best they can be.

Monday's party also included ability awareness games, so attendees could appreciate the challenges Capper's clients face everyday.