MAY
2013
T
Garden Center Services
HE LEAFLET
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Ken & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 GCS FAMILY SPOTLIGHT Page 2 EVENT UPDATES Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
To say last week was a wonderful one for me, would be an understatement! On Thursday, May 2nd, I celebrated my 10 -year anniversary as the Executive Director of Garden Center Services! Then on Saturday, May 4th, my son, Danny, and his wife Karen delivered a beautiful baby boy, Patrick, our first grandchild!! A great bridge between these two marvelous events is the fact that Danny and Karen met at the agency while working summer jobs at the end of their freshmen year in college. As much as I’d like to share photos and discuss my grandson, for this newsletter article I will focus on the last 10 incredible years here at Garden Center.
I arrived at the agency already having worked in the field of developmental disabilities for thirty-one years; several years as a volunteer and student intern, 20 years with the Illinois Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities, and seven years working for other community based disability providers. For many of those years, I often dreamed about what it would be like to lead an agency in valuing and supporting persons with developmental disabilities in the ways that they expressed to me would truly meet their needs. I am so grateful that the opportunity came at Garden Center Services.
“I often dreamed about what it would be like to lead an agency in valuing and supporting persons with developmental disabilities in the ways that they expressed to me would truly meet their needs. When I got here in the spring of 2003, the agency was supporting 67 individuals through our one day program on State Street, and our three residential sites; the Moody CILA, the Lorel CILA, and the Burbank ICF. Garden Center had been established in 1956 and maintained through the selfless, dedicated efforts of our families, and the evidence
of their values and support was experienced throughout the organization. It became obvious fairly quickly that our programs needed to expand in order to meet the needs of an aging guardian population, and to broaden our financial base. A commitment was made by myself, the board of directors, and our staff, to do this in a way that kept the consumers at the center of every decision, and that each new program would improve the quality of our services and supports. The agency now offers training and assistance to approximately 150 individuals through our three day programs and 14 residential sites. Included in our expansion is also the Second Chance Thrift Shoppe and Garden Gallery & Studio! I am so pleased with what we have accomplished over the past 10 years, and am excited about the plans we have to enhance the agency in the years to come. None of this could have happened without the extraordinary collaboration and encouragement of so many of you. My heartfelt thanks goes out to the families, the staff, the board of directors, our community partners & friends, and most of all, the persons that attend our programs which have enriched my life beyond measure. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You!!!