By Greta Boatcher
Noah Betsinger is one-of-a-kind. He’s just like any 25 year old, with a passion for his community and a talent for public speaking. Don’t get him started on the Minnesota Timberwolves or the Madison Mallards, as Noah can talk your ear off about any and every topic regarding sports.
But unlike most 25 year olds, Noah can’t drive a car, or get himself dressed or even walk down the stairs. Noah was born with cerebral palsy, confining him to a wheelchair and limiting his motor and verbal function.
Growing up, life looked a little different for Noah and his family. According to Noah’s father, Joel, raising a child with cerebral palsy was difficult. The Betsinger family faced numerous challenges, even with seemingly simple issues like the layout of their home.
Most families don’t think twice about home accessibility. You’ve got steep stairs? Hold the railing. A small bathtub? You’re better off taking a shower, anyway.
But for families like Noah’s, home accessibility means everything. It means Noah can move safely to his own living room, or get down to the basement or even just get in and out of his home.
On the path to making their home ADA accessible, Noah’s family was one of the first to encounter Logan’s Heart and Smiles.
Logan’s, a nonprofit organization based in Madison, Wisconsin, was founded to provide safe home modifications for children with disabilities.
For Noah’s family in 2004, that included a small ramp going to their step-down living room. Noah was just a little kid, barely 5 years old, but Logan’s had a lasting impact on him and his family. Almost 20 years later, Noah is now the main ambassador for the nonprofit, serving as an inspiration to disabled kids all across Wisconsin.
But Noah isn’t the only person who has been helped by Logan’s.
Until June of this year, Carl Brinkman’s 5 year old twins, Ezra and Vivienne, had never been able to play in their backyard. Ezra and Vivienne were diagnosed as autistic when they were toddlers. As 5 year olds on the spectrum, they don’t understand the dangers of the world and are prone to elopement, meaning they run away from their parents or safe locations unprompted.
Thanks to the help of Logan’s, the Brinkman’s were gifted with a fence circling their backyard, finally allowing them to play outside with Ezra and Vivienne.
“It just changed what we could do as a family,” Carl said. “Logan’s totally changed everything. It was a huge blessing, and I see how they just show up, no matter the circumstances.”
But the help of Logan’s doesn’t end once a build is completed. As of 2023, Logan’s has expanded a program called “Beyond the Build,” designed to connect parents of disabled children who have benefited from Logan’s assistance. The program consists of various events, including “Dad’s Night Out,” which has connected Carl to a network of local dads who understand his struggles.
To understand how families like Carl and Noah’s were able to receive the home modifications they needed, we have to go back 27 years to the very beginning of Logan’s Heart and Smiles.
What is Logan’s Heart and Smiles?
The nonprofit organization Logan’s Heart and Smiles might have been founded 22 years ago, but the motivation behind the project began on August 24, 1997 with the birth of Logan James Herr.
Logan was an extremely unique child, known for his infectious smile and his appreciation for life’s wonders. His joy was expressed with a twinkle in his eye and a laugh that could catch anyone’s attention, according to his father and nonprofit founder, Joe Herr.
However, Logan was born with cerebral palsy, a movement disorder caused by in-utero damage to Logan’s developing brain. Logan couldn’t control the movement in his arms and trunk and was therefore unable to walk or even sit up on his own. His disability contributed to his need for hearing aids, a g-tube in his stomach and a lack of speaking ability, leaving him non-verbal.
As Logan grew up, Joe observed Logan’s unique awareness of the simple things in life. A ripple of water on Lake Mendota or the slow descent of leaves falling off trees could make Logan laugh and smile for hours, creating a joyous feeling in everyone around him.
“I really believe he could see things that the rest of us couldn’t,” Joe said. “And he taught me that so I can be a voice. So Logan’s can be a voice.”
But life with a disabled child proved to be incredibly difficult, as Joe claimed that every moment of every day revolved around survival. Receiving accommodations for Logan’s disability was not an easy feat either, as the Herr family had to wait over a year for Logan to receive his wheelchair at the age of 3 years old.
Thankfully, with a background in construction work, Joe was able to build his son a wheelchair ramp for their home. Little did he know that his small at-home construction project would go on to impact hundreds of families around Wisconsin.
“I didn’t think anything of it, but for so many people, they either don’t have the financial resources, the time or the skill set to do that,” Joe said.
On February 22, 2002, Logan died at the age of 4 1⁄2 due to complications with pneumonia. But the night Logan died, Joe knew there was a bigger purpose for Logan’s life. He believed everything happened for a reason, and he just had to figure out what that reason was.
In the months afterward, Joe realized his purpose: to start helping other families like his, one wheelchair ramp at a time.
In May of 2002, Logan’s Heart and Smiles was issued their official federal nonprofit ID and went on to build their first ramp that summer.
Now, Logan’s has expanded their builds and adopted hundreds of projects over the years. Each and every child they impact are known as “Logan’s Friends,” and the number keeps on growing.
The Heart and the Brains: Joe and Angela’s Story
While this organization wouldn’t be possible without Joe’s aspirations, Joe likes to attribute the success of Logan’s to the brains behind the builds: Angela Wallace.
“Angela both literally and figuratively set the foundation for the future, because we would be nearly extinct without her,” Joe said. Angela first became involved with Logan’s through their golf outing fundraiser, which started as an early-birthday celebration for Logan.
Logan’s (right)
When Logan’s first started, the golf outing was simply a fun gathering for friends and family to enjoy while raising funds. Over time, it has evolved into the cornerstone of Logan’s fundraising efforts, not only generating vital donations but also fostering meaningful connections among Logan’s Friends and family members.
After years of involvement with the golf outing, Angela became the Executive Director of Logan’s, contributing pristine organization skills and exceptional plans for the future, according to Joe.
With her help, Logan’s has become extremely successful in completing more and more builds each and every year.
“What Angela has created through her hard work, brains, magic… will be transforming lives,” Joe said. Angela believes this organization wouldn’t be possible without Joe’s aspirations, and in turn, Joe believes his big dreams wouldn’t come true without the help of Angela. In other words, Joe is the heart and Angela is the brains behind Logan’s, according to the pair.
“We have a mutual love and respect for each other, but we couldn’t be more oppositely wired,” Joe said.
In 2021, Joe’s big dream was to complete 200 projects over the course of five years. While Angela was skeptical at first, her exceptional planning and fundraising have propelled Logan’s toward success. Now, the organization is on track to achieve this milestone by 2025, an entire year ahead of schedule.
A Fundraiser to Remember: UW-Madison’s Humorology
In 2016, Joe’s childhood best friend invited him to watch his daughter, Sabrina, perform in a variety show at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. While Joe didn’t think much of it, that was his first introduction to Humorology, the largest student run philanthropy event and variety show in the state of Wisconsin.
Humorology, or Humo for short, is dedicated to raising money for local nonprofits with the help of students in Greek organizations. When Sabrina made an appearance at Logan’s golf outing in 2023, she suggested that Logan’s apply to be the chosen beneficiary for Humorology.
Angela and Joe had no idea what they were getting themselves into, but after Logan’s was selected, over 1,000 students spent nine months fundraising for the nonprofit and creating mini-musicals to perform at the end of the Spring 2024 semester.
With the help of various fundraisers, outreach programs and more, the students at UW-Madison were able to raise over $500,000 for Logan’s, creating an impact that will fund vital projects for years to come.
The funds raised by Humorology have helped secure a new office space for Logan’s, providing Joe and Angela with their first professional environment to continue their work. The new building includes a greeting area, where Logan’s plans to host many Beyond the Build events, as well as a well-equipped construction space where Joe and Angela can prepare for upcoming projects. This expanded facility will play a key role in supporting their mission and ensuring the success of future builds.
The Impact Continues
Logan’s Heart and Smiles has impacted hundreds of people every year. From volunteers and donors to Logan’s friends and family members, the influence of Logan’s has reached far beyond their immediate circle, creating a ripple effect that inspires kindness, compassion and community support across Wisconsin.
“I just want to really lean in on the appreciation that I have for Joe, for Angela, for the students, for the rest of the families, and for everyone that has stepped up for this organization,” Brittany Colón, a mother of one of Logan’s Friends, said.
Thanks to Logan’s, Noah continues to thrive as an ambassador, and will soon be receiving his own office in the new warehouse space.
“I really like helping people and making their life easier,” Noah said.
As for families like Carl and Brittany’s, both claim they can’t put into words how grateful they are for not just Logan’s, but the connections they have made with Joe and Angela.
“Joe’s lived experience truly sticks out to me,” Brittany said. “Especially the fact that he has persevered, just like so many of our children do on a daily basis.”
“When I say Logan’s is a lifetime partner… Logan’s is a safe place, and that safety is priceless,” Carl said.
The work of Logan’s Heart and Smiles demonstrates the power of community united by those touched by children with disabilities. For families navigating life with the unique challenges of a differently-abled child, Logan’s offers more than just physical solutions–they provide long-lasting friendships and a sense of belonging for those with disabilities.
Looking ahead, the organization remains committed to increasing the number of builds they complete each year, along with expanding their Beyond the Build program to as many families as possible. Joe and Angela’s unwavering dedication, coupled with the passion of ambassadors like Noah, ensures that Logan’s will continue to transform Wisconsin families for years to come.
Through every ramp built, every story shared and every heart touched, their mission remains clear: to improve homes and inspire hope.
As Brittany shared, Logan’s isn’t just an organization, it’s a family. And for those fortunate enough to be part of it, that family is a gift beyond measure.