Services Family & Friends, I want to start off by wishing each of you a happy and safe summer! Even though we’ve had times where the temperature has been a little toasty, I so appreciate the sun-drenched days with all the opportunities for fun and frolic. It does my heart good to view the posted pictures of the individuals we support enjoying all kinds of activities and experiences out and about in the community. I want to give a big shoutout to the staff at our homes and day services that
use a lot of energy and creativity to make these outings possible!
I must admit that the recognition and celebration of Independence Day last week had lost some of its childlike excitement and meaning for me due to the passage of the Big ##### Bill in Washington. Though the supporters of this bill claim that it only focuses on “waste, fraud, and abuse,” the projected cuts that it contains could devastate millions of people with disabilities who receive life sustaining and enhancing services through Medicaid and other safety net programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
For some time one of my favorite quotes has been from former Vice President Hubert Humphrey. When dedicating a building in
D.C. on Nov. 1, 1977, he spoke to the treatment of the weakest members of society as a reflection of a government: “The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy, and the disabled.”
I was personally drawn towards working in this field in the mid-1970s because I could sense that there was a sincere and genuine movement underway that would alter the approach to serving people with developmental disabilities. The 1980’s was a time when many states started to close their large institutions and through Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services allow individuals with disabilities to receive services and supports in their family homes, in their
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GARDEN CENTER FAMILY
GARDEN CENTER’S “SUNNY DAYS” WAS A HUGE HIT!
This past May, Garden Center held our first ever Sunny Days event - a threeday festival showing appreciation for the people we support. We had an Elvis impersonator, pie throwing, a cookout, raffles, games, prizes, award presentations, and even a luau! We knew it was going well when even before it was over, people were asking to do it again. Now, Sunny Days is officially an annual Garden Center event!
A heartfelt thank you to our incredible staff. Your creativity and hard work made this an amazing celebration of and for the people we support.
GCS NEW HOME UPDATES
Last month we mentioned Garden Center’s two new home purchases; the Otto Place house that will be a part of our new Shared Living Project, and the 50th Ave. house, where three women currently supported in our Community Day Services program will live.
We have now completed the bathroom renovation at the 50th Ave. home and widened the doorways to make them wheelchair accessible. We are currently working with a local furniture company to furnish both homes and are waiting for the State Fire Marshal to complete his inspections so we can move forward with getting both homes licensed for use.
If you would like to help us welcome our residents to their new homes, visit our Amazon Housewarming List at the QR code to the right or visit www.amzn.to/46vYQFk. If you would like to make a donation to go toward housewarming items, please visit our website donation page and put “new home” in the Note box. THANK YOU!
A BIG SHOUT OUT to Sue Fudacz and Joe Fudacz who donated four White Sox tickets and a raffle basket of team gear that we raffled last month at Second Chance Thrift Shoppe.
We raised almost $1,000 for programs and services!
Otto Place 50th Ave.
Housewarming List
SUNNY SMASH WRAP UP!
Garden Center’s 2025 Sunny Smash Co-Ed Softball Tournament was a huge success! This year we had the most sponsors ever! GCS raised over $50,000 for programs and services and had a great time doing it. Please help us show some love for our event sponsors below and be sure to save the date for next year’s event - June 6th 2026.
OUR SPONSORS
HALL OF FAMER
The Sibik Family
The Lovelady Family CIBC Bank
MVP
The Sherwood Family
Alley Cats
PJH & Associates
GOLD GLOVE
The Sherwood Family
David J. Cobb - REMAX
Kaman Tool Corp.
Bullpen Strategy Group
Mary Kay Marrello
Chucks So. Comforts Cafe
Beemsterboer/Rogers Family
Brush Hill Development
Chicago Fire Protection
Garvey’s Office Products
Beagles/Haworth Family
Napleton’s Oak Lawn Mazda
HOME RUN
Stratos Wealth Management
Burke Orthodontics
People First Bank
The Ballis Family
L. DeGeus & Associates
R. J. Till & Sons Plumbing
Beverly Bank & Trust
Applegate & ThorneThomsen
WJW Architects
The Head Family
Mahoney, Crowe, Goldrick & Cannon
Essential Home Services
Burbank Park District
2 BAGGER
The Kudlinski Family
LOL - Deirdre Walton
County Fair
Athenian Body Shop
Oak Lawn Toyota
Petty & Bielik Orthodontics
The Liquor House
Kelly Nissan
Manzo’s Burger
Durbin’s
Marathon Sportswear
State Farm - Pattara
Les Brothers Restaurant
Prime Time Restaurant
Lawlor’s
Top Notch Cleaning
Franconello’s
Pete’s Service Center
Howard Beagles
A special thank you to the many teams, donors, volunteers, and the businesses/organizations below, who made this event possible! Calabria Imports, Cravings, St. Christina Fields, Brackenbox, Duffy Design, PepsiCo, Wolf’s Bakery, and the
DID
YOU KNOW? 1.18 It costs Garden Center to print & mail each newsletter The JUL/AUG issue will cost Garden Center $107
Garden Center publishes our newsletter six times a year. Most of our readers receive the newsletter via email, but for those newsletters we mail, the printing and mailing costs add up.
We are happy to send out paper newsletters to anyone who is better able to read a printed copy, but if you currently receive a printed newsletter and wouldn’t mind switching to digital, please contact Hailey at hkmetty@GardenCenterServices.org. Thank You!
If you expect to receive GCS communications by email but don’t, you may have accidentally unsubscribed. Contact hkmetty@gardencenterservices.org to rejoin our list.
Knights of Columbus Council # 14553.
Competitive League Champs Mystery Machine
Just for Fun League Champs Chrissy’s Crew
Growing dignity and independence
8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459
10444 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60655
phone 773-941-4151
email info@GardenCenterServices.org
web www.GardenCenterServices.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT/CEO Gerry Beagles
CHAIR Jenny Wojcik
VICE CHAIR Dr. Chris Grunow
SECRETARY Shannon Benaitis
TREASURER Mary Ann Lema
MEMBERS Kathleen Akin
Lisa Beemsterboer
John Considine
Rep. Mary Gill
Cindy Malloy Kari Riordan
OUR MISSION
Advancing lives of connection, contribution, and meaning for persons with developmental disabilities and the individuals that support them.
SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SALES
50% off EVERYTHING Store-wide!
JUL 26th AUG 30th
General Store Hours: Tuesday through Saturday 10am to 4pm
Donation Hours: Thursdays & Saturdays 10am to 2pm
GIVE THE GIFT OF TIME Any time you can help is appreciated. If you can sign up for one three-hour shift a week, that would be terrific! Visit our website and follow the THRIFT link for more information OR reach out to Gerry directly at 708-560-4400.
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Tuesday, July 15 2025
9am: Open Meeting - Info will be presented with focus on clear language for people we serve
2pm: Open Meeting - Info will be presented with focus on information most relevant to staff
6pm: Friends & Family Forum - Open Meeting information will be covered as well as additional topics of interest to families
own homes, acknowledging and honoring the contributions they make as members of our neighborhoods and communities.
To toil and struggle and rejoice in the accomplishments this movement has made in the last 5 decades has been incredible, and to see the changes we’ve made at Garden Center during the last 22 years as my time as the Executive Director, fills me with gratitude. And, we’ve still have a lot more that we’re planning on accomplishing on behalf of the awesome individuals that we’re honored to spend time with!
So, what is our response going to be to the recently passed Reconciliation bill? We’re going to keep holding our heads high as we fight the good fight at the state level and keep focused on the multiple essential projects that are underway. What I am keenly aware of is my need to bring more discretionary, non-State funds, into our agency. Most of you reading this newsletter are already generous supporters of our agency, and so I’m not necessarily asking you to open your pocketbook. What I am asking, is that you would please share any contact information with me of people, or businesses, that you think might be interested in supporting a worthy cause like Garden Center Services! I just want the opportunity to share our story, the stories of the brave people we support, with a larger audience. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me by email, or you can call me at 708-560-4400. Thank you for everything!
