At Envision Unlimited, choice, independence and inclusion have been driving our mission for the past 75 years to help individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness live their best lives. Most of us take these rights for granted, but they’re not easily attainable for people with disabilities.
Through our work, we have witnessed countless examples of individuals being denied opportunities to live fulfilling lives – due to rising costs for care, stigma and a greater need for community capacity.
We strive to go above and beyond every day to provide life-changing services to people with disabilities, from infants to senior citizens, with empathy, every time and everywhere.
Since our founding in Chicago in 1948, we have become an organization well-recognized for the programs and services we create that result in maximum impact for our members, who have a broad range of communication, engagement and independent living abilities.
Over the past year, we continued to expand our geographic footprint and services to support more people in need across Illinois, and we continue to be a state leader in transitioning individuals out of institutional settings. Our members, staff and innovative programs have also earned local and national recognition, including from the leading member-focused accreditation body in the U.S.
Because we are equipped to evolve in providing essential care, we now support 5,000 members and their caregivers in the
Chicago area and Central Illinois with empathy and compassion. While we have helped thousands of individuals through consistent outreach, evaluation and service planning, the need for care and system improvement remains urgent. Thousands of people with disabilities still wait to access the support they need to live self-directed, integrated lives.
That’s why we continue to seek new opportunities to create impact. Behind every success, every innovation and every new member served is a donor committed to investing in people with disabilities.
Your generous support makes our work possible. Whether you are new to Envision Unlimited or a longtime friend, thank you for being part of our decades of impact. We hope you will continue to accompany us on our journey and help us go above and beyond in meeting the needs of people with disabilities for many more years to come.
Gratefully,
Mary Kay Krupka Board Chair
Mark McHugh President and CEO
We strive to go above and beyond every day to provide life-changing services to people with disabilities, from infants to senior citizens, with empathy, every time and everywhere.
UNLIMITED
POTENTIAL
“I’m a human being just like everybody else,” Andre told neighborhood news website Block Club Chicago.
“My story’s their story.” – Andre
Lifting Others Up Through the Power of Story
Through our programs, services and dedicated staff, Envision Unlimited members constantly defy expectations, whether they’re riding a bike for the first time or learning to read.
Our member Andre is one extraordinary example.
Earlier this year, he released his first book, “Colorful Memoirs: A Journey Through Andre’s Life.” Co-published with Envision Unlimited staff member Treena Glover, this adult coloring book provides readers with creative snapshots of significant moments in his life, from playing childhood games with his sister to his graduation from Schurz High School.
With support from his family and Glover, Andre courageously shares his story with others, inspiring them to seek solace and strength in their own journey.
“I’m a human being just like everybody else,” Andre told neighborhood news website Block Club Chicago.
“My story’s their story.”
Andre’s impactful story captured the attention of multiple local media outlets, including ABC 7 Chicago and
WCPT 820 AM Radio, and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez (IL-03), who recognized Andre and Glover with congressional commendations for their efforts to uplift the importance of mental health.
All proceeds from the book benefit the Envision Unlimited Adaptive Cycling program, so more people with disabilities can experience the life-changing benefits of cycling. Andre stepped up to be a team leader for our 2024 Summer of Cycling events, pledging to raise funds for a new tandem bicycle.
We look forward to watching his continued success for many years to come.
Molly DeVore, Block Club Chicago
Andre (left) and Envision Unlimited staff member Treena Glover (right) chat with ABC 7 Chicago anchors Liz Nagy and Rob Elgas earlier this year.
UNLIMITED
UNLIMITED EXPERTISE
UNLIMITED EXPERTISE
Increasing Our Impact Through Community Inclusion
For decades, Envision Unlimited has provided community living options and community-based support to individuals with disabilities, so they can live their best lives and become valued members of their communities. Because we are committed to going above and beyond, more people with disabilities and mental illness across Illinois can live in the communities of their choice and access our award-winning services.
We expanded our reach to support more people in need in Central Illinois through a recent consolidation with Bluestem Housing Partners, a supportive housing organization. With this consolidation, Envision Unlimited welcomed more than 200 residents in 121 housing units in Springfield, Normal, Tuscola and Atwood, Illinois.
Research has also shown that many residents in Illinois’ south suburbs are hard hit by negative effects of stress without adequate community support. To respond to the growing need for mental health services, we opened a Living Room program in Flossmoor, Illinois as a welcoming alternative to a hospital emergency room. Set in a living room environment, this new mental health space is a free program that promotes healthy habits for mental wellness and crisis prevention.
We also continue to be a state leader in transitioning people with mental illness from institutional settings to safe homes in communities of their choice. In the past two years, we have transitioned nearly 400 people, marking the largest movement for any organization offering such services in Illinois.
Envision Unlimited has begun a one-of-a-kind initiative to open 20 new homes in Illinois, so people with intellectual and developmental disabilities can move from state institutional settings to homes in the community. We have purchased nearly half of these homes, which are opening every six weeks. This initiative will help nearly 100 individuals reach their dreams of choice, independence and inclusion over a two-year period.
And for seniors with disabilities whose needs become more complex, we are completing construction on our state-of-theart, ADA-accessible DreamHome. Residents are expected to move in early 2025.
We encourage you to follow our progress as we continue to make a difference in community living across the state.
UNLIMITED GENEROSITY
GENEROSITY
Soaring to New Heights Bright Futures
Ball
Celebrates Our Community
Hundreds of longtime Envision Unlimited supporters and new friends came together for the 2024 Bright Futures Ball, an extraordinary evening showcasing inspiring stories of how our members and their caregivers live their best lives. We raised more than $420,000 toward programs and services that support 5,000 members and families.
“Many of life’s greatest experiences start with one word: Yes.”
– Tom Canale
2024 Humanitarian Award Recipient
2024 Bright Futures Ball
UNLIMITED GENEROSITY
Photo by Envision Unlimited Media Club
Breaking Barriers Through Cycling
Nothing makes Envision Unlimited members smile like a fun day of cycling. In addition to the physical benefits, it empowers them to be more mobile, independent and out in their communities. That’s why we launched our Summer of Cycling last year, a series of monthly biking events that introduced the Chicago area to our innovative Adaptive Cycling program and created more opportunities for our members.
The inaugural series brought us many new volunteers and financial support to add new bikes and helmets to our collection. It caught the attention of local bike clubs, community organizations and news outlets, and raised $125,000 from new and longtime donors to support our programs. This year, we introduced new cycling locations and deepened our community relationships for even greater impact.
“Biking makes me feel good,” Envision Unlimited member Matthew shared in a recent issue of our memberdriven newsletter Unlimited Voices. “It helps me have more energy…and feel like a strong person.”
Photo by Envision Unlimited Media Club
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR ALAN YUEN
A snow-filled ski trip and a Lunar New Year fireworks celebration are just some of the memorable experiences our members have enjoyed, thanks to our longtime, dedicated volunteer, Alan Yuen.
A former art director, Yuen developed an original art program at our Westtown Center, inspiring members to interact with each other. In the summer, you can find him pairing up with members and riding tandem bicycles through our Adaptive Cycling program, which empowers greater mobility, independence and community engagement for people with disabilities. And as the owner of Friendship Chinese Restaurant in the Logan Square neighborhood, he often treats our members to authentic Chinese meals and even cooks with them.
It’s efforts like these that earned Yuen the Volunteer of the Year award from disability advocacy organization The Arc of Illinois.
“His care for the members shines through his selfless work,” said Hannah Lowe, Westtown Center program director, and Susan Gardner, vice president of day and employment services, when nominating him for the award.
Yuen is one of many individuals who devote their time and talents to helping Envision Unlimited members soar. We’d like to extend many thanks to all of the Envision Unlimited volunteers who make our initiatives possible.
Board of Directors List
Mary Kay Krupka
Chair
Julie Dreixler
Vice Chair
Mark Jak Vice Chair
Brittany Scott Nanry Treasurer
Chrisonia Butler Secretary
Dan Durbin
Immediate Past Chair
Jonathan Bilton
Becky Carroll
David Cook
Peter Ho
Mark Jackson
Niamh Kristufek
Ashvin Lad
Mary Jo Lamparski
John Lemker
Lori Marin
Dennis O’Malley
Dorothy O’Malley
John Schumacher
Timothy Smith
Zernul Shackelford, Jr.
Mohib Yousufani
Mark McHugh
President and CEO
Associate Board
Katy Bagowski
Emma Balison
Cindy Luu
Sean McKeon
Sarah Morse
Colleen Raleigh
Simone Schwartz
Lars Skarford
Catherine Wohner
Sylvia Wtorkowsk i
Executive Leadership
Mark McHugh President and CEO
Dennis James Chief Financial Officer
Betty Jackson Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer
Lauren Smith Chief Human Resources Officer
Suzanne Ross Chief External Affairs Officer
Angela Isit Chief Strategy Officer
Colleen Rosa
Executive Vice President, Intellectual and Developmental (IDD) Services
Jean Xoubi
Executive Vice President, Mental Health Services and Business Development
Donors Going Above and Beyond
$25,000 and Above
Anonymous
Beverly Bank & Trust
Thomas and Melanie Canale*
Ed Uihlein Family Foundation
Foundation for Human Development
Frank Mareska Living Trust
Great Computer Solutions, Inc.
Mary Kay Krupka*
$15,000 - $24,999
Anonymous
Jon and Kristen Bilton*
BMO Harris Bank N.A.
Darque Syde of D’Lyte Production Inc.
Dr. Scholl Foundation
Bill Elliott
Henrietta Lange Burk Fund
Larry Kipperman*
Mark and Leesa McHugh*
The Horton Group
Wolniak Family Fund
$10,000 - $14,999
Aileen S. Andrew Foundation
American Eagle
Julie and John Dreixler*
Ecolab Foundation
Brittany and John Nanry*
Powering Chicago
Signature Bank
The Ozinga Foundation, Inc.
Brian Timpone
$5,000 - $9,999
Sally Acker*
Alliant Credit Union Foundation
Bianca Barr*
Brown Legacy Group Capital Advisors, LLC
CAF America
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
Colleen Donohoe and Laurence Lurio
Daniel and Nancy Durbin*
Elliot Jay Favus*
Franczek P.C.
Gordon Flesch Charitable Foundation
Ron and Diana Gorski*
Tony and Rita Gupta*
Peter and Lois Ho*
Home State Bancorp, Inc.
Mark and Karen Jackson*
Mark Jak and Jack Halm*
JP Morgan Chase & Co.
Marty and Mike Kenahan*
KPMG LLP
John F. Lemker*
Robert and Teresa Lewandowski*
Norfolk Southern Foundation
Peoples Gas Community Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation
Perfection & Grace
Dan Proft*
Sarah and Lou Rassey*
RSM
William and Lorrie Schneider*
Staub Anderson LLC
*Members of our Envisionaries Society – these dedicated supporters contribute $2,500 or more in a calendar year to ensure we realize our mission and vision for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness.
$2,500 - $4,999
Jenny and Ashoka Achuthan*
Ravshan Babakhodjaev
Bespoke Commercial Real Estate
Robin and Jeff Boesen*
Christopher Carney
Karen and Jon M. Cashen*
Congregation of St. Joseph
Consulting for Human Services
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Brad Ernst*
Evanston Bicycle Club
Zvia and William Feigenbaum*
Sarah and Mark Hanson*
Justin and Michelle Harris*
Barbara Hyde*
Betty J. Jackson*
Jewel Osco Foundation
Niamh and Christopher Kristufek*
Mary Jo Lamparski*
Dorothy and Michael O’Malley*
Betty O’Toole*
Putnam Family Foundation
Carolyn and Robert Redd*
Paul W. Rink*
Colleen and Rafael Rosa*
David Rosenfeld*
Philip E. Schwartz*
Bryce Simon*
Tim and Judy Smith*
Karen and Bob Strizak*
Charles Tobler
Brandon Tran*
Natalie A. Vega-Finn*
Jack Wambach*
Winning Systems Inc.
Janet Wolniak Bender*
Nancy Wolniak Cook*
$1,000 - $2,499
Amber Mechanical Contractors Inc.
Terrence Bannon
Maureen Barney
Bonnie and Brad Bates
Mike and Dawn Beckerman
Mary Borysewicz
Lisa Centone
June Cleary
Deborah and Dennis Conway
David Cook
Josh Cramer
Tina DeGustino
Paul Dilda
Christ and Christopher Eb
Donna Ennis
John Favia
Frankenmuth Insurance
Charitable Foundation
Graham Holdings
Graymont Medical
Derek Jaenicke
Dennis and Sheryl James
Barbara Johnson
Joseph Kenahan
Monica Kepes
Connie Knapp
Judith and James Kranjc
Don and Gail Kraska
Bradley L. Lee
Charles Lehew
Mark Lewandowski
Herbert List
Litt Properties, LLC
LUMA8
Jorie and Dan Maring
Janelle McAfee
Timothy McCabe
Julie McGill
Armers Moncure
Sue M. Mosby
Frank Mullen
John Mullen
Madeline Murray
Daniel O’Malley
Patty O’Malley
Alexandra Oreluk
Charles Rand
Reardon Luchay Family Fund
Suzanne Ross
John Russell
Sawing & Shearing Services Inc.
Paul Selden and Karen Singer
Brad Serot
Special Children’s Charities
The Nature Conservancy
Gary Zmrhal
$500 - $999
AbbVie Employee Engagement Fund
Ability Experience
Alia Whispers Group
Eric Anderson
Barr Management, LTD
Janice and John Besser
Bert Cattoni
Rahul Chaudhary
Chicago Community Trust
Mike Chilvers
Matthew Coghlan
Barbara Cohen
Shane Conneely
Rimmer Covington Jr.
Christine Darragh
JR Daves
Doubletake Promotional Marketing, Inc.
Brian Fanning
Tami Farrow
David Fields
Fluoriders
Melissa Garcia
Sabrina Hardnett
Joyce Heneberry
Charles Hodgin
Karen Hrones
Angela and Christopher Isit
Joe Katcha
Madeline Krmenec
Patricia Kuhl
Carl M. La Mell
Luc Lalanne
Valerie B. Lazo
Amalia Lemar
Alan Levinson
John Lindner
Howard Ludwig Jr.
Deanna Meier
Bailey Morris
Kristiana Moynihan
Tracy Murphy
Kristen Noonan
Kristina B. Norton
Maureen Pavletic
Brian Quinn
Sara Rinke
David Rinneard
Howard Schnitzer
John Schumacher
Stout
Stuart Schwartz
Jean Sussman and Ed Lyons
The Giving Block
Kim Tomich
Dawn Van Groningen
Diane Vollmert
Elizabeth Vosnos
Collins Wohner
Craig and Christine Wories
Jean Xoubi
Alan Yuen
William Zastawny
In-Kind Donations
Affordable Furniture
American Blues Theater
Apero Wine Bar
Barre3 West Loop Studio
Blackstone Hotel
Kathy Broderick
Mike Broscio
Sherlyn and Ryan Brubeck
Café L’Appetito
Caffé Umbria Artisan
Coffee Roaster
Chicago Bears
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Botanical Garden
Chicago Cubs
Chicago Firehouse Restaurant
Chicago Mahogany Tours
Chicago River Cruises
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago Wolves
CityWide SuperSlow
Strength and Fitness
Susan Daly
Darque Syde of D’Lyte Production Inc.
Delta Analytics
DoubleTree Hotel
Daniel and Nancy Durbin
Elske Restaurant
Field Museum
Fleet Feet Chicago
Groundswell Coffee Roasters
Nancy and Arthur Hirsch
Mark Jak and Jack Halm
Kathleen Weinstein Photography
Niamh and Christopher Kristufek
Mary Kay Krupka
Mary Jo Lamparski
Maureen and Robert Lang
John Lemker
Lettuce Entertain You
Carleen Lorys
Lou Malnati’s
Maryann and Reginald Marsh
Sarah Matheson
Melinda Nicole Photography
Metro Chicago
Midtown Athletic Club
MomNPop Hospitality
Momotaro/Boka Restaurant Group
Clare and Robert Napleton
Northlight Theatre
Dennis O’Malley
Olympia Fields Golf Course
Paramount Arts Theatre
Pravda Records
Remy Bumppo Theatre
Matt Rodrigues
Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club
Elizabeth Santos
Sheraton Grand Riverwalk Hotel
Skydeck Chicago
Spavia
Mike Stankiewicz
Staples
Anton Steinhart
The Capital Grille
The Gage Restaurant
The Joffrey Ballet
The Metropolitan
The Weaving Mill
Theater Wit
Tito’s Vodka
Patricia Treacy
Van Cleef Salon
Desiree Washington
W Hotel
Wines for Humanity
Withlove Collective
Writers Theatre
Alan Yuen
IMPACT NUMBERS
MEMBERS & FAMILIES
5,000 73%
EMPLOYEE RETENTION
we served over the last year with empathy and compassion
90%
ANNUAL SATISFACTION RATE
of Direct Support Professionals who remained employed with Envision Unlimited over the past year. The national average is only 50%.
3,489
THERAPY SESSIONS
with our intellectual and developmental disabilities programs and mental health services
192
PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS
provided by our staff to individuals in need
transitioned from state institutional settings to homes in the community, so they can live fulfilling lives
NUMBERS
HOURS OF RESPITE SERVICES
12,862 23,364
OPPORTUNITIES
17
NEWS ARTICLES & TAPINGS
for families, reducing caregiver burnout and allowing our members with disabilities to remain at home without needing crisis services or institutionalization
20,741
HOURS OF BEHAVIOR ANALYTIC SERVICES
helping adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities reduce challenging and injurious behaviors and improve communication, so they can live their best lives in community settings
in which our members participated in activities in their communities, helping them become more integrated in the areas where they live and work
featuring Envision Unlimited members, staff and programs
9
CHICAGO AREA PARKS
and other green spaces that our members maintained through our environmental stewardship program
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The combination of public and private funding this past year has allowed Envision Unlimited to expand mental health, developmental disability, and supportive housing services, as well as our geographic footprint. We launched an ambitious initiative to open 20 new Community Integrated Living Arrangements (CILAs) to help nearly 100 people in institutional care transition to a life in a community.
We also began services in Springfield, Illinois helping to transition people from a psychiatric hospital to community life. In 2025, we will open a new Community Mental Health Center in Springfield, an area where mental health services have diminished over the last several years. Significant funds are being invested in both capital and operations to achieve these goals. This is an expansion of our services to help people with disabilities transition from institutional settings to community life that helps 200 people with disabilities each year transition from mental health facilities and nursing homes to the community and live a life of choice, independence and inclusion.
Going forward, we will need to invest in continued expansion for those who do not have access to services and supports, as well as organizational infrastructure to do this efficiently. Our strong balance sheet puts Envision Unlimited in a position to be successful in this endeavor.
Brittany Nanry Board Treasurer
Program Investment
THANK YOU for supporting our mission.
Envision Unlimited is a full spectrum of care organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental illness with a mission that promotes choice, independence and inclusion. Since our founding in 1948, we have built a legacy of evolving care delivered with empathy, every time and everywhere. Our innovative services include community living options; novel day programs; employment, respite and mental health services; and foster care for children with disabilities. Today, we support 5,000 members and their caregivers in becoming part of the community, transitioning to safe homes, and accessing support services so they can live their lives to their greatest potential.
