R S V P / ORANGE COUNTY : Launching Mission : Benefit Screening and Lessons of Perseverance in ‘Apollo 13’ Further Project Independence’s Goal to Help Disabled Live Alone

Like the astronauts of the troubled Apollo 13 mission, clients of Project Independence know about overcoming obstacles.

Project Independence helps developmentally disabled people live on their own--a challenging and even scary mission for those who have been protected by parents.

Perhaps that’s why many were fascinated by the movie “Apollo 13” when 300 supporters and clients of Project Independence attended a screening of the film at Cinemapolis in Anaheim Hills on Tuesday.

The $20-per-person screening was expected to net more than $5,000 for the agency, which has offices in Anaheim and Costa Mesa.

Quiz Show

Guests, some of them in wheelchairs, mingled over champagne in the theater. Then they participated in a trivia game about Apollo 13.

“Who was the first Apollo 13 astronaut to say, ‘Houston, we have a problem’?” asked a theater staffer.

“Ed Harris,” joked a man in the audience, referring to one of the actors in the movie.

“President Clinton,” said another.

Many guessed it was flight commander Jim Lovell, but only one person had the correct answer: Jack Swigert.

Guests could also brush up on Apollo trivia with Doug Bickham of Orange, who brought his collection of Apollo memorabilia.

“I was 12 years old when they landed on the moon,” said Bickham, wearing a NASA uniform and standing before a table filled with commemorative flight patches and models of rockets and lunar modules.

“I was enthralled by the whole thing and just started collecting,” he said.

One wide-eyed boy of about 10 asked Bickham, “What year did you go on the moon?”

“I’m not an astronaut,” said Bickham with a rueful laugh.

Once the film began rolling, guests sat spellbound in their seats, gasping at tense moments and cheering the astronauts.

Celebrating Independence

John Petersen, event chairman, organized the first movie benefit for Project Independence three years ago.

Looking for a way to raise money for the cause, he opened up his newspaper to the theater section and, with a pin, randomly picked out a theater. He got lucky. The pin landed on Cinemapolis.

Petersen dropped by the theater--without an appointment--and won the sympathetic ear of manager Sherry Gartley. Cinemapolis agreed to donate one of its movie screens for a benefit.

“In 20 minutes we were locked in,” he said.

Petersen got involved with Project Independence because he has a 33-year-old daughter, Sabrina, who is developmentally disabled.

“This gave her self-confidence, which is so important,” he said. “This program has set her up so she’ll be independent, because I won’t be around forever.”

Project Independence teaches clients practical living skills such as cooking, money management, shopping and on-the-job training.

“We provide training and support so they can live in their own apartments and just have a regular life,” said executive director Andrea Erickson.

Proceeds from the event will be used for the project’s job development programs.

Others attending were Scott Harada, board president; Jamie Gardener; Don, Dolores and Ted Ohler; Shelli Oberreiter, and Edie Goss.