OCTOBER
2014
Garden Center Services
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Gerry & Lisa
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 GARDEN CENTER FAMILY Page 2 LEGISLATOR TO WORK DAY Page 3 AROUND GCS Page 4
Recently, on our website, we changed some of the language that describes what we are striving to achieve in our programs, and I cited the 5 valued life experiences as targeted by Mr. John O’Brien, a consultant, trainer, and author in the field of intellectual and physical disabilities. It is suggested that as our lives involve having a number of these experiences on a regular basis, the quality of our lives and the amount of meaningfulness we feel, will significantly improve. The more we can assist the individuals that receive our services to truly live through these types of experiences, the more confident, comfortable, and happier they become.
• Sharing ordinary places: All of us love hanging out with people that know us, accept us, and just enjoy being with us. This could be at church, a bar, work, a coffee shop, our living room, ….. The important thing is, we know we’re among friends. • Growing in relationship: The connectedness we have with others becomes stronger, and there are expanded opportunities to meet others. In your own life, doesn’t this have such a powerful impact on your own frame of mind? • Making choices: Being allowed the respect and dignity of having a say in one’s own life is so empowering! This isn’t even necessarily about the big choices, but the many day-to-day choices we make that help us to feel safe, and okay about ourselves. • Contributing: Everybody wants to feel needed, and that their presence makes a difference. The growth in the self-esteem and confidence I have witnessed in our Community Crew members that do a lot of volunteering has been awesome. • Being respected: So simple, and yet so fundamental to our well-being. As we express more of this to one another, the more solid footing we have to reach upward, or to reach out to those that need our help.
Frequently in this newsletter, and by other means, we are asking for your financial support to help us meet the needs of those we serve, and goodness knows, it’s essential that we do this. That being said, there are certainly other ways that you can help us in our efforts to afford the persons that attend Garden Center Services to have some of the life experiences referenced above. If you have some extra time on your hands, we really appreciate individuals that volunteer at any of our program locations. It so nice to have extra faces & hands to offer additional attention and engagement to those we serve. It doesn’t matter in the least if you have any “specialized” talent or gift. What counts is your willingness and commitment to really listening to, and getting to know, the persons that you would spend time with. If you have any interest in volunteering, please contact Michele Hula at 773-941-4151, ext. 212.
GARDEN CENTER FAMILY MARY & THE TENNILLES BRING THE HOUSE DOWN On September 18th, long-time program participant and GCS State Street building receptionist, Mary, realized a dream. She performed a concert for a huge audience at our State Street location. Mary loves singing and has been a part of the Garden Center music program since Stephanie Burrow started teaching music classes at GCS in 2010. Through classes and private lessons, Stephanie explored Mary’s love of the music of Captain & Tennille. Of the duo, Mary says, “They inspire me”. For the past several months, Mary rehearsed with her back up gals, Ashley & Melissa AKA “The Tennilles”, and Albert “The Captain” with Frank on drums and Stephanie on piano. On the big day, they performed seven After concert photo op songs for an enthusiastic crowd with the help of the event’s announcer, Jonathan. The group performed Captain & Tennille standards including Love Will Keep Us Together, More Than You Know, I’m On My Way, and Dr. Jazz. Every detail of the concert had been painstakingly planned and rehearsed from staging to costume changes. It was a wonderful event that raised over $100 for Garden Center’s Music Program. Mary performs for the “standing room only” crowd Don’t worry if you missed this concert, plans are already in” ta ap underway for another event! Stay tuned for details. C he “T Mary &
Crystal Light Banquets 8400 South Cicero Burbank, IL
G C S
BU S I N E S S
E V E N T S
FIRST FRIDAY AT GARDEN GALLERY - Featured Artist Julie Dekker, See a LIVE Cooperative Painting Demonstration, LIVE music with the Famous Unknowns & Food by Ed & Joe’s! Friday, October 3rd 7pm to 9pm 17459 S. Oak Park Avenue in Tinley Park SUPER SALE AT SECOND CHANCE - Enjoy 50% off items storewide. Clothing, jewelry, outerwear, books, collectables and more! Sunday, October 19th 12pm to 4pm 44 Stephen Street in Lemont
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Do good when you shop... COFFEE Co.
. Tastes Good. Does Good. Feels Good
First Friday Featured Artist -Julie Dekker
BRING YOUR LEGISLATOR TO WORK DAY October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month championed by the Association for Persons Supporting Employment First (APSE). Each October, APSE runs a national campaign to raise awareness about disability employment issues and celebrate the many and varied contributions of America’s workers with disabilities. The theme for 2014 is “Expect. Employ. Empower.” Garden Center is working on various ways to participate in the APSE awareness campaign including hosting a Bring Your Legislator to October is National Disability Work Day. We are inviting legislators to visit Employment Awareness Month our workplace to show first-hand the power of community-integrated employment for people with disabilities. We are pleased to already have a few legislators who are planning to attend. It is a great opportunity for Garden Center to showcase the many amazing things the people we support are doing and stress the vital importance of funding for these essential services.
DRIVE OUR DREAMS UPDATE Greetings From
GARDEN CENTER
DRIVING
OUR FUTURE
THANK YOU to everyone who volunteered for TOOTSIE ROLL Days!
This past Spring, GCS embarked on a new fundraising campaign, Drive Our Dreams. It started as a response to meet the disparity between the rising costs of transportation and the stagnant funding rates of the state.
With the support of community members and local business partners, Greetings the DriveFrom Our Dreams campaign brought in enough funds to allow us to narrow the deficit we were experiencing. We are grateful to all the businesses and community members who have supported and continue to support us to reach our mission. S E RV I C E S
GCS supporter, Pinkie, won the hearts of many donors in her sweet costume!
If you are interested in supporting the Drive our Dreams campaign, please contact Jennifer Georgis at jGeorgis@GardenCenterServices.org or 773-941-4151 Ext. 218. GARDEN CENTER
DRIVING
OUR FUTURE S E RV I C E S
Mark your calendar...
Save the Date!
GCS’s 58th Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon GCS’s 58th Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon will be held Sunday, November 2nd at the DoubleTree Hotel in Alsip.
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First Friday at the Gallery 7pm to 9pm
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Garden Gallery Art Show AKB Chicago 5038 N Clark St, Chicago 11am to 3pm
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Columbus Day
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GCS Membership Meeting 7pm at 8333 S. Austin in Burbank
Second Chance Super Sale 12pm to 4pm
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Take your legislator to work day at Kedzie
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Halloween
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Sarah Brook CD Release Fundraiser at Garden Gallery & Studio 12pm to 2:30pm
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Growing dignity
FRIENDS OF GARDEN CENTER JUNE-AUGUST 2014
and independence
$1,000 - $5,000 • •
*general non-event donations
Anonymous Donor SECOND CHANCE THRIFT DONORS
$500 - $999
8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459
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10444 S. Kedzie Chicago, IL 60655
Mr. John Kunkes
$100 - $499
phone 773-941-4151
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email info@gardencenterservices.org web www.GardenCenterServices.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS President
Daniel Wenzler
1st Vice President
Jenny Wojcik
2nd Vice President
Doug Combs
Treasurer
George Sterba
Secretary
Sharon Duncan
Members:
Annmarie Caulfield
ale an for s r trashrtcShow e n ig s e d ts a oA Kyrie painthe AKB Chicag at
Up to $99 • • • • • • • • • • •
Mary Beth Herr John J. Kunkes Sean O’Shea Linda Sherwood
Eddie, Perry & Tim enjoy a warm day
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.
Joseph Strainis Florence Head Jenny Wojcik Sarai Navar Elsa Heinemann Sharon Duncan CIGNA Foundation Dorothy Ballis Pat McFerron Phyllis Hoteko
SAVE A TREE ...AND GCS MONEY
JULY
2014
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Deborah Conway Andrew Kapala Brian & Elizabeth Wokak Exelon Phyllis Combs Anonymous Donations Ann McGrath-Harty iGIVE SHOPPERS Project Onward Jennifer Georgis Individual United Way DonationsNorthwestern Medicine (Anonymous Donor) Joanne Miller Andrew Vanderbilt Daniel Schumm Janet Pawlicki
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Denise Prohaska
Memorial for Mr. John Kowalik
Garden Center Services
HE LEAFLET
When you sign up to receive THE LEAFLET online
The View From My Chair A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
by the referral agencies that require the person to take a number of assessments. The purpose of these assessments is to pinpoint those deficits in cognitive, physical, and lifeskill development that will
Nicole & Gerry
INSIDE THIS ISSUE THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR Page 1 GARDEN CENTER FAMILY
Looking forward to this coming weekend and all the 4th of July celebrations leads me to think about the term “independence” and the struggles we’ve all gone through, as individuals and as a country, to become the people we want to be, spending our precious lives doing what we want to do. I would say the overarching goal we have as an agency that provides services and supports to adults with intellectual and physical disabilities is getting to know each person well enough so that we can accurately identify what their hopes and aspirations are and then doing whatever we can to assist them in realizing this potential. Before individuals are “awarded” state funding so that they can attend our programs, they must be screened
“It is only by spending quality time with an individual, deeply listening to them, observing them, that one comes to grasp their aptitude and ambitions. ”
verify they meet the criteria of having a developmental disability. It seems to be such a “what’s broken” way of looking at human beings, and does not give proper emphasis to the unique presence and contribution that each person possesses. It is only by spending quality time with an individual, deeply listening to them, observing them, that one comes to grasp their aptitude and ambitions.
We so appreciate the input provided by the families about their loved ones, and also the insights contributed by our caring staff that spends so much of their day engaged with our consumers. As an agency, as we become more aware and sensitive to the hopes and possibilities that are within each person we support, we must strive to make those changes necessary that will give them better access to full lives of participation. As much as I wanted to mention independence in this article, I also wanted to stress the need and benefit of “interdependence”. It’s truly only through the acceptance and support of one another that we can really become our best selves. I often think that one of the greatest gifts bestowed on us by the persons we support at Garden Center Services is their innate understanding of this principle, and the enviable way they open themselves to receiving and providing kindness.
We need your help to cut postage costs! If you would like to continue to receive the GCS newsletter, please contact Sandi at scoleman@ gardencenterservices.org to receive your next issue via eMail. Page 2
GCS WALKS, ROLLS & RUNS Page 3
AROUND GCS Page 4
In both our day and residential programs we are continually working to improve the experiences and exposure our consumers receive driven by the approach described above.
Enjoy the newsletter, and have a great summer.
HELP GCS AND GET READY FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPING! In October, iGive will donate an extra $5 to GCS for every person who downloads the iGive button. Visit iGive.com and choose Garden Center as your charity to get started.
A Special Thank You to the Sponsors of the Drive Our Dreams Campaign • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Thomas & Lisa Beemsterboer Burbank Women’s Civic Club Frega & Associates Friends of Bill Cunningham Friends of Fran Hurley Daniel Heenan Francis E. Herr Anonymous Donors Pryme Tymers UMCMG Kevin & Jane Doherty Beverly Peters Elizabeth Gajos/ Chicago Lockbox
Thank you!!!