Photo by Derek Redd From left, Easterseals President and CEO Eric Filberto and Easterseals Marketing Director Betsy Bethel-McFarland laud Dr. Ellen Kitts, seated, for her 37 years of service to the organization. The bench on which Kitts is sitting was dedicated in her honor at the WesBanco Arena splash pad.

WHEELING — Dr. Ellen Kitts has spent nearly four decades caring for Ohio Valley children and their families as medical director of Easterseals Rehabilitation Center. As she will retire next month, the organization offered a token of its appreciation that Kitts believes is perfect — a way to give a little help to families enjoying the WesBanco Arena splash pad.

The new bench nestled under the trees by that splash pad was dedicated Wednesday morning to Kitts and her work with Easterseals over 37 years. Easterseals board members and staff and city officials congregated there for the event.

“I’ve never expected any honors,” Kitts said. “I just do what I do because I love it. The patients have always been appreciative and I appreciate that, too.

“I’ve been lucky enough to love what I do and that I’ve been able to continue as long as I have,” she added.

The bench came about through the Trex Community Recycling Challenge, which is facilitated locally through the Lions Club. Easterseals qualified for the free bench by collecting 1,000 pounds of plastic bags. Community members, and Easterseals staff and clients collected the bags over a 12-month period.

Dedicating the bench to Kitts was the least that Easterseals could do for her work through the organization, said Easterseals President and CEO Eric Filberto.

“This bench is a small way to honor someone who’s made an enormous difference in the Ohio Valley and to Easterseals,” he said. “Dr. Kitts has cared for generations of patients, many of whom grew up under her care, but never had to say goodbye because she wouldn’t let them fall through the cracks.

“Everyone knows someone who has been helped by Dr. Kitts,” he continued.

Kitts said that one of the best things that Easterseals was able to provide her during her career was time — the time to truly care for patients, to learn about them and to create the proper treatment plan.

“Health is becoming a business and not healthcare,” Kitts said. “Easterseals has allowed me the opportunity to continue with healthcare, because sometimes the need of the family has nothing to do with the original reason they came, but is more important than whatever that thing was.

“And I’ve had the time to sort through that and listen to them and help them find solutions,” she continued. “It has just been a real gift that Easterseals has given all along and continues to give to allow me to do that.”

Easterseals will hold a private reception for Kitts’ retirement and announce the next steps for its medical department in July.

Until then, the organization wants to make sure it shows its respect and appreciation toward Kitts as much as possible.

“There’s a term that someone is an institution; you are an institution,” said Josh Jefferson, Easterseals board chair and Regional Economic Development Partnership president and CEO, of Kitts. “You are Easterseals. Easterseals is synonymous with you and the care that you’ve given.”

The bench dedication came days before a new event to benefit Easterseals — the Ohio River Splashtacular: Making Waves for Easterseals, which will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Heritage Port. The Splashtacular will feature a water ski show as well as food trucks and children’s activities, including the Splash Pad.

The free event also will feature several raffles, such as a chance to win the grand prize, a Yamaha Jet Blaster DLX, or two prizes of $1,000 in groceries.