THIS MONTH’S ISSUE The View From My Chair

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Garden Center Family Spotlight

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Make GCS $55 in 5 minutes!

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Around GCS

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THE LEAFLET ISSUE FEB YEAR 2012

The View From My Chair a message from our Executive director

OUR MISSION Garden Center Services is committed to supporting and empowering persons with developmental disabilities through innovative and person-centered services. Our commitment to the excellence of our programs is surpassed only by our devotion to the people we serve and the communities in which they live.

our compassionate care The governor presented his State of the and family like atmosphere. State message this past Wednesday, and I am looking forward to the obviously there was not a lot of good news. opening of a women’s home located in Ballooning Medicaid costs and the lack of the Oak Lawn community, and also the any new sources of revenue for the state long awaited Garden Gallery & Studio coffers leads to the bleak projection of an located in Tinley Park. ongoing budget deficit here in Illinois. In response to this “ I am looking forward I’m hopeful both these programs will strengthen forecast, the general tone to the opening of a our ability to enhance of the governors’ speech women’s home located the lives of persons with was about jobs, and the developmental disabilities, construction projects, tax in the Oak Lawn and will also generate breaks, and incentives that needed to be supported by community, and also the new revenue for the the legislature in order to long awaited Garden agency as well. increase employment in the Gallery & Studio located Clearly, we need your state. financial support as much in Tinley Park” as ever. Here are several I certainly understand ways that you, your family, and your friends this logic, but I’m also keenly aware that can make a big impact on the agency’s Garden Center Services now employs bottom line: (1) Sign up with iGive.com. 144 staff, and we, as well as all providers, Just signing up earns money for GCS. continue to grapple with our payments Learn more about the program on page from the Department of Human Services. 3 of this newsletter. (2) Buy a Carson’s Our receivables from the state, the money Coupon Book. They will be available for we have billed for and are waiting on, is purchase February 13th and 100% of the currently around $800,000. And our agency proceeds come back to the agency. (3) is on the expedited payment program! Attend our 2nd Annual Potting Party on April 6th. Tickets will go on sale soon. See This being said, I’m very proud of the our website for updates. (4) Shop Second positive direction I feel our agency is Chance Thrift Shoppe’s great bargains. moving in. I’m aware of the many tours Proceeds from thrift sales go to Garden being provided to prospective consumers Center’s Services. and their families, and I’m always pleased by the comments they share regarding A 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) N onp r ofi t o rg ani zati on

Garden Center Family Spotlight Josie has been a part of Garden Center for over two years. At Garden, she likes to focus on her creative side. Josie attends art classes where she enjoys painting and always makes time to go to music class for sing-a-longs. With her Garden Center group, some of Josie’s favorite things to do are the memory game, playing Connect Four and sorting activities. Josie is from a BIG family. She is the 10th of 14 siblings! Josie loves spending time with her family. She says she especially enjoys shopping with her sisters. But, one of her best family memories is a recent trip to Disney World in Florida.

JOSIE CASTILLO

We are sure glad to have Josie as a member of our big family too!

Shelly has been with Garden Center for three years, but she has been supporting the people at the Berwyn home for over twelve. Shelly began working at Berwyn when it belonged to another agency. “When they switched [agencies]”, Shelly says, “I didn’t want to go anywhere. I love all the people that live here, every one of them.” So it is no surprise when asked what she likes most about Garden Center, Shelly says it is the individuals she supports. And she adds, “I just love to help people.” In her free time, Shelly likes to go dancing and is a great bowler.

SHELLY CROSS

The people who live at Berwyn are happy to have someone who knows them so well and cares for them so much as Shelly - and we are too!

Garden Center Remembers... Debbie Helme lost a long battle to breast cancer on January 6, 2012. She was a big part of the Burbank ICF house with her love of Disney movies, flowers and Shamrock Shakes. She was a spiritual person and so caring of those around her. Debbie was laid to rest on January 16, 2012. Deborah (Debbie) Mary Helme

New, Exciting & Unbelievably Easy Way You Can Earn $55 for Garden Center in 5 Minutes!!!

Garden Center has partnered with iGive.com. Every time you shop at any of 900+ online stores in the iGive network (stores you already shop at like… Best Buy, Dell, Apple, Sears, Barnes and Noble, JCPenny’s, even car rentals, hotels and more…) a portion of the money you spend benefits Garden Center Services. It’s a free service, and you’ll never pay more when you reach a store through iGive. In fact, you will enjoy iGive’s many coupons, free shipping deals, and sales. It is so easy! With iGive’s new browser button, you don’t even have to think about it when you shop online. When you go to the online stores where you usually shop, an iGive logo will appear on the page to let you know they are in the iGive network and automatically ensure the company gives a donation to Garden Center. Through iGive’s One Million Buttons for Change Program, if you sign up today, Garden Center will receive $5! If you make an online purchase, Garden Center will receive ANOTHER $5!

BUT WAIT THERE’S MORE!!! If you refer other people to iGive and they install the button, Garden Center gets another $5 each, and if they also choose Garden Center as their Charity, Garden Center will get that $5 too!!! So, if you joined iGive, referred 5 friends who also joined, and chose Garden Center as their charity you could earn Garden Center $55 with just a few mouse clicks!!! If you chose to make a purchase through one of the participating stores, you would earn Garden Center another $5 plus the company you purchased from would make a donation to Garden Center.

Garden Center’s NEEDS List

Bar-type stools

Free-standing shelf units Printer Phone

Office desk Microwave

Small refrigerator

Large coffee maker Books

Electronic keyboards (music)

IT IS EASY TO INVITE OTHERS TO HELP After you sign up, you will be directed to a page with a “Tell Friends” link. From there you can post to your Facebook, send emails and get a link to post anywhere else you can think of. iGive even provides you the text for your messages and lets you track who you have invited, who of your friends signed up, and how much money Garden Center has received as a result of your help!

Event tickets

Imagine if all Garden Center supporters took a few minutes to sign up and send an email to their friends...

X-Box games

Laptop computers Craft supplies

Frames for artwork Blank canvases

The One Million Buttons for Change Program ends February 13th, so please sign up today!!! VISIT http://www.iGive.com/GardenCenter to get started.

GCS BULLETIN BOARD 2nd Annual r Services Garden Cente ing Party Pott

April 6th @

115 Bourbon St. t 7pm - Midnigh

CARSON’s COMMUNITY DAYS ARE HERE

AGAIN!

Support Garden Center by purchas ing Carson’s Coupon Books. 100% goes to Garden Cen ter and get fantastic discounts for yourself! Purchase books from GCS volu nteers at Carson’s in Chicago Ridge at the following dates and times:

Monday Feb 13, noon-2pm Saturday March 24, 4pm-6pm Friday March 2, noon-2pm Friday April 20, 10am-noon Saturday March 10, 4pm- 6pm

or contact Michele Hula to make arrangements to purchase a coupon book at Garden Center (708 ) 398-6506.

If you have an item to donate, please email Anne McFerron at amcferron@gardencenterservices.org

Where we grow

AROUND GCS

dignity and

independence phone 708.636.0054 email info@gardencenterservices.org web www.gardencenterservices.org

Board of Directors President

Barbara Clarke

1st Vice President

Scott Hardek

2nd Vice President

Doug Combs

Treasurer

R. Pat Ballis

Members:

John J. Kunkes

Chris and Rolando pose with Skates at a Chicago Wolves hockey game

Sophie visits The SXU Gallery

Frances Mientus Linda Stearns Daniel Wenzler Linda Sherwood

Lisa poses at Navy Pier

Albert shows off his cookie decorating skills

Impo rt ant Date s! MEETING GCS MEMBERSHIP at Main Building Fe br uary 16th 7pm Everyone Welcome! GCS Potting Party ight on Street 7pm-midn April 6th 115 Bourb

http://gardencenterservices. wordpress.com/

http://www.youtube.com/user/ gardencenterservices http://twitter.com/gardencentersrv

http://www.facebook.com/ gardencenterservices

Renovations on Garden Center’s Garden Gallery & Studio in Tinley Park are nearly complete

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE SUPER SALE FEBRUARY 5th 12pm-4pm

HALF OFF EVERYTHING IN THE STORE! 44 Stephen Street Lemont, IL