THIS MONTH’S ISSUE The View From My Chair
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Garden Center Family Spotlight
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Starbucks and Garden Center
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Around Garden Center
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THE LEAFLET ISSUE JUN YEAR 2011
The View From My Chair a message from our Executive director
love they conveyed for Garden Center, was A fantastic event was held at the agency very real and inspirational. on Friday, April 29th. It wasn’t a fundraiser, a social club dance, or a dedication I hope all of us have this same passion ceremony. It was a RALLY to demonstrate for the importance of agencies like ours against the proposed budget cuts that were in the lives of persons with developmental being discussed by the Illinois legislature. disabilities. It appears likely that we will be And what was so fantastic about the event? incurring some cuts to our funding for this It was the excited and active coming fiscal year beginning participation of so many Though we are July 1st, and I appeal to you of the consumers as they not yet sure what for your understanding and stood or sat out by State impact our advocacy support of any necessary Road holding up the signs changes we make that will that they had made, and efforts will have, the allow us to continue serving as joining in the chants of “No many individuals as possible. experience of our More Cuts!”. Additionally, your generous consumers feeling Though we are not yet participation in and donations sure what impact our empowered and to any of our fundraising efforts advocacy efforts will speaking out on their is vitally important. Please join have, the experience of us this Saturday for our annual our consumers feeling own behalf is worth Walk ‘N Roll-A-Thon. Please empowered and speaking review the agency’s Wish List its weight in gold. out on their own behalf is on the back page and consider worth its weight in gold. Of donating any of these items. If the many lessons and skills we attempt to there’s any benefit to times like these, it’s teach at Garden Center, I would suggest that they bring people together to protect that none is more important than helping and sustain those entities that are most individuals to know and use their own voice, essential to them. however it is they communicate. At the rally it was evident that they understood Thank you for your support! what was at stake, and the frustration they expressed towards the State, as well as the
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OUR MISSION Garden Center Services’ mission is to do everything in our power to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities.
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A 5 0 1 (c ) ( 3 ) Nonprofit organi zation