Celebrating the Spirit 2025 at Cuneo Mansion & Gardens exceeded all expectations, with sunny skies, lively games, exciting auctions and a record-breaking paddle raiser.
As guests arrived and checked in, many paused to take photos in the beautiful, historic entryway of the mansion. Participant volunteers then guided them to the ballroom and tent, where everyone enjoyed appetizers, cocktails and games before dinner. The evening’s program officially began with a fun game of Heads or Tails, followed by welcoming remarks
from Board Chair Joe Milburn and Honorary Gala Chairs John and Cheryl Durbin.
President & CEO Kathy Buresch took the stage to share exciting updates about the many projects at Lambs Farm, made possible by the ongoing support of our generous community. She highlighted the new Greenhouse and LF Studios program, two growing initiatives that were first presented at past galas and now provide meaningful new experiences for our participants.
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Artwork Made with a Mission
The LF Studios team showcased their creativity by crafting over 300 gorgeous favors for this year’s Celebrating the Spirit gala. Their handmade suncatcher coasters and candle holders, created with resin techniques, added a beautiful and personal touch to the evening.
Participants also contributed to our silent auction with a unique collaborative piece. With guidance from instructors, artists took turns launching paint onto the canvas using a custom pendulum rig. As the paint-filled bucket swung back and forth, it released vibrant colors in rhythmic patterns, turning movement into artwork.
Big Things are Happening at Lambs Farm
Dear Friends,
Together, we are making things happen at Lambs Farm, and I couldn’t appreciate you more!
I’m delighted to share the wonderful news about our recent gala. It was a magical evening filled with laughter, joy, and a deep sense of connection to our mission. The silent auction featured artwork from LF Studios, showcasing the talent and creativity of our participants, artwork that was made possible by last year’s gala paddle raiser. Together, we made our 2025 gala the most successful ever!
Did you know that we have officially opened our new greenhouse? Our greenhouse program marks a milestone for Lambs Farm and an opportunity to expand the depth and reach of our job training for adults with developmental disabilities. Together, we are nurturing growth for participants and a sustainable future for Lambs Farm.
In another development, our sensory room is now open. This versatile space invites participants to take part in controlled sensory experiences tailored to their needs and interests. Together, we are fostering a calm, safe, and supportive atmosphere that encourages sensory exploration and well-being.
I also want to shine a spotlight on our amazing Special Olympics participants and their recent accomplishments. We are proud of their hard work and dedication. Together, we are empowering our athletes to embrace their unique talents.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support and commitment to Lambs Farm. Together, we are making things happen and creating a bright future for all!
Warmest regards,
Kathy Buresch President & CEO
Artist Libby and LF Studios Manager Helen pouring resin into molds
Participant artists with the finished pendulum piece
President & CEO Kathy Buresch
presents participant Bob Stein, one of our 2025 Living Legacy Award winners, with his award
Ric tending to plants in the Greenhouse
Proud athletes posing with their latest medals as they prepare for State Games
The evening continued as we honored our 2025 award recipients. Gina Mork, Wynn Rosengarten and Bob Stein, Lambs Farm participants and emerging artists, received the Living Legacy Award. This award recognizes individuals who embody the vision of our co-founders by learning, growing, sharing and contributing to their community. We were proud to highlight these three courageous participants, who are exploring their creativity in ways like never before at LF Studios.
The Casanova Award, established in memory of Vince Casanova, holds a special place in our hearts. Vince was a longtime Board member and devoted supporter of Lambs Farm. This award honors his legacy by recognizing someone who shares his passion and dedication to our participants. Anne Mullen, this year’s recipient, is a hardworking volunteer and sister to Mike, a Lambs Farm commuter. She volunteers nearly full-time, navigating tax returns and federal and state benefit programs to ensure participants receive all the support they deserve. In addition to her office time, Anne also serves on the Lambs Farm Family Advisory Council. She goes above and beyond, and we are thankful for everything she does to support our mission.
Our final award of the evening, the Spirit of Giving Award, recognizes the remarkable generosity of individuals who have made a significant difference to Lambs Farm over time by donating their time, talent, leadership and resources. Lynn and Gwen Lyall, our 2025 recipients, continue to build on a family legacy that began in 1981 when Lynn’s sister, Laura, came to Lambs Farm. Their generous support over the years, even after Laura’s passing in 2018, has enabled important projects such as the
renovation of the Green-Field Residence, weekend recreational programs, and most recently, the creation of a beautiful Greenhouse garden in loving memory of Laura and Lynn’s parents. They have also helped transform the surrounding area into a refreshed and inviting space for weddings, corporate picnics and other events. Their generosity, kindness and love for Lambs Farm has made a lasting impact.
After celebrating our award winners, announcing the Golden Ticket winner and wrapping up an exciting live auction, we moved on to another highlight of the evening: the paddle raiser. During this moment, we shared our exciting plans for the upcoming Farmyard renovation. These enhancements, including a brand-new barn, will lay the foundation for future developments that could triple the number of visiting families each year. This expansion will offer more meaningful opportunities for visitors to connect with our participants and the amazing work they do. The revitalized Farmyard will not only provide year-round job opportunities, but also shine a spotlight on the remarkable things happening for people with disabilities here at Lambs Farm.
The generosity of our guests made this year’s gala our most successful yet. While we had much to celebrate, there’s even more to look forward to!
Thank You, Celebrating the Spirit 2025 Sponsors!
We can’t thank you all enough for supporting our mission and the participants of Lambs Farm.
Jubilee Sponsor
Packaging Corporation of America
Rejoice Sponsors
Alera Group
Michael & Toby Liner
John Jennings & Anne Mullen
Joe & Carol Milburn
Nancy & Bob Goerne and Barbara Sheahan
Susan Siebers
Cheer Sponsors
Abbott
Belmont Bank & Trust
DiVinci Painters
Libertyville Bank & Trust/Wintrust
Marsh McLennan
Uline
Toast Sponsors
Hahn Loeser Parks LLP
Pam Diedrich, in Honor of Linda Schuh
Joan Fuller
Mesirow Financial
Uline
Eric Buresch, Casanova Award recipient Anne Mullen, John Jennings & President & CEO Kathy Buresch
Lynn & Gwen Lyall accept the Spirit of Giving Award Thank
Ice Cream Parlor Demo
Did you know that Lambs Farm opened an ice cream parlor in 1986?
The building, located behind the Dogwood Garden & Pet Center, has been vacant since the parlor closed a number of years ago.
With the help of Milburn Demolition and Eric Buresch, last year’s “Demolition Operator for a Day” live auction winner during our Celebrating the Spirit gala, the structure was recently taken down to make way for future developments.
Staff and participants got a front-row seat to history as the building came down!
The Greenhouse Is Open!
The sun was shining as we officially opened the doors to our brand-new Greenhouse on May 24, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to explore our newest venture and support this wonderful addition to Lambs Farm!
If you didn’t make it out, we would love to welcome you soon. The Greenhouse is now open daily from 10am to 4pm, featuring a vibrant selection of flowers, veggie starts, and garden décor.
We are just getting started, and we can’t wait to grow with you!
Lambs Farm participant Cameron invites you to come check out the Greenhouse
Lambs Farm participant Ja’Don and Greenhouse Manager Shelby transplanting vegetables ahead of the opening
Eric in action
The building coming down
The beautiful Greenhouse ready for guests
The pavilion behind the Greenhouse is currently being renovated, a project that was made possible by the Lyall family
look
The patio behind the Greenhouse has plenty of space for guests to enjoy
Multi-Sensory Environment
We are excited to share that we recently opened another new space, and that is the Multi-Sensory Environment (MSE) in our Wellness Center! This thoughtfully designed area is an impactful addition to our programming and offers participants a dynamic and engaging space that supports wellness, relaxation and growth.
The MSE Room is equipped with tools that allow staff to control all sensory elements. By adjusting light, sound, touch and scent, staff can create individualized environments to engage participants in ways that are both calming and stimulating.
This space is full of possbilities, and we want to extend a thank you to the family of one of our staff members, whose generosity made this room possible.
Benjamin Green-Field Hatter Day Celebration & Contest
Did you know our Green-Field residence is named after Benjamin B. Green-Field?
Mr. Green-Field was a Chicago born-andraised businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist and was known as Chicago’s “Mad Hatter” for his whimsical, elegant and extremely unique hat designs.
Participants and staff celebrated Benjamin B. Green-Field by making their own cool hats and voting for their favorites. Take a look at some of the creative ideas they came up with!
Recreation Manager Ginny and Lambs Farm participant Tim exploring different sounds
Recreation Specialist Maddie and Lambs Farm participant Barb using the sensory wall
Liz checking out the bubble tube and all the colors
More Fun on the Farm
Here are some other fun things participants have been up to lately!
Special Olympics Update
From golf, bocce, bags and softball games to exciting outings and summer kickoff parties, the Recreation program is as busy as ever. Recently, our dedicated athletes competed in the Special Olympics Track & Field competition, showcasing months of hard work and determination.
We couldn’t be more proud of their hard work. Each participant gave it their all, demonstrating sportsmanship and heart. Sixteen athletes earned gold medals and will be advancing to the State Summer Games this month. We cannot wait to cheer them on as they compete!
To celebrate these outstanding achievements, we will be honoring all of our athletes and Recreation participants at our Night of Stars celebration later this month. It is shaping up to be a season full of pride, joy and amazing accomplishments.
Athletes posing with their new medals
Participants at LF Studios made this stunning piece for New Tier Township
Participant bakers are busy decorating cookies to stock the bakery cases
Participants headed to American Family Field to cheer on the Milwaukee Brewers
Athletes love going for a run around the track while enjoying the beautiful sunset
Participants in Cookbook Quest class made their own aprons to wear as they make their favorite recipes
Mike proudly accepts his gold medal and is one of our athletes headed to State Games
Action shot of Josh getting some air mid-jump
Donor Salute
Lambs Farm is grateful for the support we receive from our many friends. Listed below are the names of those especially generous individuals, foundations and corporations whose gifts of $1,000 or more were received from Janauary - April 2025.
$50,000 and above
Mr. & Mrs. Warren Aldridge
Mr. & Mrs. Seymour Levine
$10,000 to $24,999
Mr. Russell Dann
Mr. & Mrs. David P. Glover
Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Liner
Mr. Robert N. Savoie
Mr. & Mrs. Warren Wiegand, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. James P. Zils
$5,000 to $9,999
Abbott Laboratories
AbbVie
Anonymous
Exclusive Woodworking
Dr. Shari B. Glynn and Dr. John Glynn
Mr. Donald P. Maves
New Trier Township
nuHaus
Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Reilly
Mrs. Gertrude Smutney
Mr. & Mrs. Philip Wernick
Mr. & Mrs. Robert N. Zaun
Mr. Sheldon O. Zisook
$2,500 to $4,999
Apex Wood Floors
Paul Barter
Mrs. Virginia Cleary
Mr. Gerald H. Elbin
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Gabuzzi
Mr. & Mrs. Keith Hickman
Dr. Richard A. Hirth and Dr. JoAnn S. Hirth
William & Susan Jacobs
Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Kimble
Mr. Ronald Krupp
Ms. Eiko Terao
$1,000 to $2,499
Clyde & Becky Anderson
Eilah & Ben Beavers Fund
Ms. Michelle Benham
Bujak Family Fund
Mr. Scott Busse
Tim Callahan
Nancy Cirone
Patrick Edwards
Mrs. Joan Fuller
Robert Glavin & Linda Post
Linda Grade
Mr. & Mrs. Jerry R. Jenkins
Mr. & Mrs. Mark J. Johnson
Mr. & Mrs. Andrew Karpek
Dr. Melvin P. Katz
Rajesh Keswani
Mr. & Mrs. Kennen H. Kim
Lions Club of Lake Forest - Lake Bluff
Andrew Mazar
Mr. & Mrs. Joseph P. McFadden
Mr. Timothy T. Miller
Mr. & Mrs. Mark Moore
Mr. & Mrs. Bryan Mork
Northwestern Memorial Healthcare
Mr. Chaitanya Patel
Photo’s Hot Dogs
Ms. Rosalie Piazza
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Schleiden
Mr. Steven E. Scott
Barbara Silverman
Mr. & Mrs. Phillip L. Stern
Synchrony Financial
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Thill
Mr. & Mrs. Charles Vogl
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Willix
Jojo Yap
Tributes and Memorials
Facebook Fundraisers Lisa Lichtenstein
We are always especially honored by the decision to honor and remember friends and loved ones with a gift to Lambs Farm. Below, we list the names of those individuals who have been honored or remembered with a gift received from January - April 2025.
In Honor Of
James D. Baker
The Bock Family
Carolyn Cleary
Sarah L. DeMoon
Mary Kristin Fox
Marc Henry
Maverick Israil
Susan Koehler
Lisa Lichtenstein
Andy Linders
Kat Metzger
Bruce Moyer
Ruth I. Moyer
Mary Palici
Ruby Ann Perzan
Lianne Piccione
David B. Schwartz
Jeffrey Sears
Ben Shively
Jen Slater
Sarita Still
Erin Thill
Jon Zils
In Memory Of
Rosemary Bailey
John R. Bartels, Jr.
Gloria Benham
Mort Berkowitz
Steve Brandwein
Tammy Busch
Janet L. Curto
Kaitlin Englehart
Gertrude E. Fredrich
Frank Froncek
Irene Froncek
Janie Froncek
Jennifer Hart
Daniel High
Peter Jones
George Karahalios
Helga Larsen
David Lerche
Constance (Connie) Lester
Robbie Levensbaum
Dolores Lewandowski
Norbert Lewandowski
Michael C. Martino
Lois J. Mengarelli
Judy Meyer
Burt Miller
Dick Mueller
Dorothy Murphy
John “Jay” B. Murphy, Jr.
John B. Murphy
Katherine M. Murphy
Michael F. Murphy
Paula O’Connor
Carolyn Page
Dennis Page
Ann Piccione
Nancy Sauseda
Ronald Schleiden
Bob Schmidt
William Silet
Laura L. Strohmayer
Bob Terese
Mary Ruth Terese
Bean Waud
Bessie Waud
Jean Weber
Ruth Wittenberg
Walter L. Zimmerman
Upcoming Summer Events at Lambs Farm
Puppy Painting Party
Sunday, June 29 | 10am - 1pm
Dogwood Garden & Pet Center
Come make a masterpiece with your pup!
Yoga on the Farm
Tuesday, July 8 | 6pm - 7pm
Farmyard
Relax and unwind with our Farmyard friends!
40th Annual Lambs Farm Golf Day
Tuesday, July 15
ThunderHawk Golf Club
Lambs Farm Car Show
Sunday, July 27 | 10am to 3pm
Lambs Farm
Come check out all the cool makes and models!
Summertime Craft Fest
Saturday, August 9 | 10am to 4pm
Sunday, August 10 | 10am to 4pm
Camp Big Timber
Join us at Camp Big Timber in Elgin to stock up on your favorite Lambs Farm products.
