The
Annual Bright Futures Ball
We help people with disabilities live their best lives.
Envision Unlimited is a full spectrum of care organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as mental health conditions from infants to senior citizens, regardless of race, gender, religion or ability to pay.
We value all people with disabilities, their life goals, and their inclusion and belonging in everyday life. And we know that everyone benefits when we recognize and celebrate the unique strengths and perspectives that people with disabilities bring to our lives.
As we pursue our mission of providing quality services that promote choice, independence and inclusion, we Envision More for our members.
More ways to thrive – through art-making, by exploring the natural world, through recovery from addiction, by learning to cook... More choices – among places to live, people to meet, what color to paint your bedroom wall, who gets to ride on the back of your adaptive bike... More independence, more inclusion, more joy, more LIFE.
Help us make MORE possible. To learn more, visit www.envisionunlimited.org
Read our most recent annual report on the organization’s impact on thousands of people with disabilities.
THANKS FOR JOINING US
Want to see how we Envision More for our members every day? Follow us to learn more. * *We call our program participants “members,” a title voted on by the members.
An Exceedingly Warm Welcome
Welcome to an evening that will make you Envision More independence, more inclusion, more joy and more life! We are so pleased to have you join us as we celebrate our amazing impact on thousands of people with disabilities and their caregivers throughout Chicagoland and Central Illinois.
Everyday,EnvisionUnlimitedprovideslife-changingservicestopeoplewithdisabilities, from infants to senior citizens, and helps them demonstrate their unlimited potential. Since our founding 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.
In the past year, we have grown our geographic reach and range of offerings to connect 5,000 people with disabilities and their caregivers with the life-changing services they need, want and deserve.
But we’re not done, not even close. We know that for every member we transition out of an institutional setting and into community living, there’s another waiting. For every caregiver we offer crucial time for respite and recuperation, another is waiting. For every person at the brink of crisis who finds their way to our mental health programs, another is waiting.
OurBrightFuturesBallisatimetoshinealightontheuniquestrengthsandperspectives that people with disabilities bring to our lives. While we have succeeded in helping our members*leadself-directed,integratedlives,wecannotdoitalone.Withyoursupport, we can continue to provide endless possibilities for our members and their caregivers.
Thankyoutoallofoursupporters,volunteers,staffandfamiliesformakinga difference every day and helping us make more possible for people with disabilities.
Jon and
Kristen
Bilton 2025 Gala Chairs
Mark McHugh President and CEO
*We call our program participants “members,” a title voted on by the members.
A DreamHome Come True
Fordecades,EnvisionUnlimitedhasprovidedaward-winningcommunitylivingoptions and support to individuals with disabilities, so they can live their best lives as valued members of their communities. Many of our members have been part of the Envision Unlimited family for decades and have become accustomed to making their own choices and experiencing independence and inclusion. We want them to continue leading lives that are full of possibilities, even as they get older.
To make that possible, Envision Unlimited built a state-of-the-art, ADA-accessible DreamHome in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood, enabling seniors with disabilities to age in place as their needs get more complex.
Never before had such a broad alliance of architectural, engineering and union talent come together to donate materials, labor and services to build a fully-accessible, ADAcompliant group home for seniors with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Thedreambeganwhena“forsale”signwasspottedonalargecornerlotnearanEnvision Unlimited Day Center on Chicago’s southwest side. Years passed and the land remained unsold, until Envision Unlimited contacted the owner.
News of the land donation spread quickly, reaching technical architect Susan D. Turner, recipient of our 2025 humanitarian award. She volunteered to draft the schematic design and eventually recruited the consultant team and construction professionals to secure donated labor and materials.
After years of planning and development, the project was complete. We held a grand opening reception in January for our generous supporters, aka “the Dream Team.” Now, our members are just about ready for their move-in date.
We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who helped us Envision More and make this dream a reality.
More Ways to Thrive within the Community
In addition to the DreamHome, Envision Unlimited continues to provide unlimited possibilities for people with disabilities through its community transition work. We have proven to be a state leader in transitioning individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities as well as mental health conditions out of institutional settings.
Through our partnership with government programs that assist people with disabilities in accessing the least restrictive and most integrated settings possible, we moved nearly 200 people with mental illness from state institutional settings to homes in the community last year. That marked the largest transition for any organization offering similar services in Illinois.
We also launched our Community Living Transitions Project, which aims to transition all 1,600 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in Illinois’ State-Operated Developmental Centers – often plagued by allegations of abuse and other staff misconduct – into homes across the Chicago area.
Our programs provide support for members through every step of the transition process and beyond, ensuring they can remain stable, safe and healthy in the communitiesoftheirchoice.
We’re very proud of the work we have done, and we will continue to work tirelessly to provide even greater choice, independence and inclusion to people with disabilities.
PRESENTING SPONSOR
BLG Capital Advisors
GALA CHAIRS
Jon and Kristen Bilton
BENEFIT CHAIRS
Mark Jak and Jack Halm
SHINING STARS
Wintrust Bank
Mary Kay Krupka
BRIGHT HORIZONS
Great Computer Solutions
VIVID VISIONARIES
Mark Jak and Jack Halm
The Wolniak Family
First Business Bank
RADIANT REGENTS
Staub Anderson
Darque Syde of D’Lyte Productions
Peter and Lois Ho
Mary Jo Lamparski
Becky Carroll and Jon Friend
Tom and Melanie Canale
John Lemker
Brittany and John Nanry
BRILLIANT BEACONS
Franczek P.C.
RSM
Julie and John Dreixler
Dan and Nancy Durbin
Colleen and Rafael Rosa
Mark and Lisa McHugh
Dorothy and Michael O’Malley
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jonathan Bilton
Rebecca Carroll
Dave Cook
Julie Dreixler
Daniel Durbin
Peter Ho
Mark Jackson
Mark Jak
Niamh Kristufek
Mary Kay Krupka
Ashvin Lad
Mary Jo Lamparski
John Lemker
Lori Marin
Brittany Scott Nanry
Dennis O’Malley
Dorothy O’Malley
Zernul Shackelford Jr.
Tim Smith
Mohib Yousufani
PRESIDENT AND CEO
Mark McHugh
ASSOCIATE BOARD
Katy Bagnowski
Emma Balison
Sean McKeon
Sarah Morse
Colleen Raleigh
Simone Schwartz
Lars Skarford
Catherine Wohner
Sylvia Wtorkowski
Live Auction
NO. 1: TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE
Enjoy a 5-night, all-inclusive escape to either Punta Cana or Cancun, two of the Caribbean’s most stunning destinations. Choose between the white sand beaches and turquoise waters of Punta Cana or the vibrant culture and sparkling coastline of Cancun. With 5-star accommodations, all of your meals and beverages are included, letting you focus on the sun, sea and relaxation. Airfare not included.
NO. 2: VIVA LAS VEGAS OR LAKE TAHOE!
Whetheryou’reseekingthepeacefulcharm of a mountain retreat or the electrifying pulse of the city, this 3-night package lets you choose your perfect getaway to Lake Tahoe or Las Vegas. Where will your next adventure take you? Airfare not included.
NO. 3: ULTIMATE EUROPEAN CITY EXPERIENCE
Life can be hard. Treat yourself to a muchneeded break with this unforgettable European escape. Enjoy a 4-night experience in your choice of vibrant cities, with accommodations at a 4-star hotel that caters to your comfort. From Paris to London to Athens or Dublin, each destination offers a unique blend of history, culture and adventure. Airfare not included.
Which destinations are on your bucket list this year? The Big Island of Hawaii, Costa del Sol in Spain, Cancun in Mexico, or Bali in Indonesia? The choice is yours with this extraordinary package for the whole family! Enjoy a 7-night stay for 2 adults and 2 children at one of these gorgeous locales and create lasting memories. Airfare not included.
NO. 4: HOLA Y ALOHA
Susan D. Turner, FAIA
2025 Humanitarian Honoree
The Envision Unlimited Humanitarian Award shines a light on the dedication of individuals who make a significant difference in the lives of others. This year’s award is presented to Susan D. Turner in recognition of her extraordinary contributions to make the Envision Unlimited DreamHome a reality, ensuring that our members can age in place with dignity, accessibility and flexibility.
For many years, we dreamed of having a fully-accessible, ADA-compliant group home for our older members, so they could continue leading lives that are full of possibilities. Susan volunteered to draft the schematic design to take it to the next stage. After starting with JLK Architects as senior technical architect, the principals agreed to become the Architect of Record, pro bono. With that pivotal hurdle cleared, she recruited the consultant team who also worked pro bono on the DreamHome. Lastly, she worked with her network of construction professionals to secure donated labor and materials to get the house built. Their response was unprecedented and inspirational.
A Canadian from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Susan has 40 years of experience in practice, publication and speaking engagements across five countries on historic preservation and sustainability. She was elevated to Fellow of the American Institute of Architects for a body of work demonstrating the adaptive reuse of historic buildings as costeffective pathways to capturing embodied energy and energy-efficient construction.
On behalf of the entire Envision Unlimited community of thousands of people with disabilities and their caregivers, our fellow generous donors, staff and neighbors, we say thank you for continuing to Envision More possibilities.
EMCEE
Erika Gilchrist
After surviving assault as a child, domestic abuse as a young adult, life in a women’s shelter and a suicide attempt, Erika Gilchrist has earned the title of “The Unstoppable Woman.”
Gilchrist is an expert in personal development, leadership training, abuse prevention and escape, team cohesiveness, classroom management and conflict management skills for women. She has empowered thousands of people through her seminars, trainings and speeches. She is also the creator of the W.T.F. – Women Thriving Fearlessly!™ brand and the owner of the Women Thriving Fearlessly Expo, the largest expo for women in business.
Gilchrist is regarded as one of the most energizing, engaging and captivating speakers in the industry. She has authored multiple books and been featured in a variety of news outlets, including Chicago Woman Magazine, WCIU, CLTV and Rolling Out Magazine.
Envisioning More Possibilities
Tiffany is one of our talented athletes. She participates in multiple Special Olympics sports, including basketball, volleyball, softball and bowling. She has won gold medals in golf and tennis and even got to light the cauldron at the 56th annual Illinois Special Olympics Spring Games.
When she’s not playing sports, Tiffany enjoys reading and writing about life. She was also one of our leaders during last year’s Arts in the Dark parade, which celebrates artists and cultural institutions.
Our member Maurice has worked as a farmer in the Van J. Voorhees Garden at our Frick Center for the past few years. Through the Envision Unlimited horticulture program, our members are taught basic gardening principles to help them understand healthy living and meal preparation. They tend and harvest crops, which are then incorporated into member meals and distributed to local families and farmers markets. Maurice has been gardening since he was a child, and he
enjoys giving back to his community. With his help, the Voorhees Garden harvested 500 pounds of produce last year – from cucumbers and collard greens to potatoes and artichokes!When she’s not playing sports, Tiffany enjoys reading and writing about life. She was also one of our leaders during last year’s Arts in the Dark parade, which celebrates artists and cultural institutions.
Our member Rachel is an active participant in our Media Club and quickly becoming one of our most talented photographers. Last year, we held a voter registration and accessibility event at our Frick Center, as we strongly believe that participation of people with disabilities is essential in the
democratic process. Rachel photographed the event on behalf of Media Club and proudly showed the world around her that people with disabilities will not be left out. Soon, she hopes to produce videos about her life and create short, fictional videos to share online.
Silent Auction
MAKE A BID TO HELP US ENVISION MORE CHOICE, INDEPENDENCE AND INCLUSION FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES!
Check out the Bright Futures Silent Auction. Thanks to generous donations from organizations and individuals, there is something for everyone with packages that include travel, live entertainment, wining and dining experiences and more.
THE BRIGHT FUTURES SILENT AUCTION CLOSES AT 9 PM.
Winners can pick up items at the event check-out desk.
Stronger Communities Start With Support
First Business Bank proudly supports the 2025 Bright Futures Ball and Envision Unlimited’s mission to provide quality services that promote choice, independence, and inclusion for its members. We look forward to a future where our friends, family, and neighbors have access to the resources required for a brighter tomorrow.
