2026 Volume 3 Fall
inside: page 2: A Message from the President & CEO page 4: 2026 Holiday Catalog page 5: Participant Happenings page 6: Participant Stars Present: Elf Jr.
our mission: Creating opportunities, connections, and shared possibilities for people with developmental disabilities www.lambsfarm.org
Celebrating 65 Years, Building What’s Next 2026 is a big year at Lambs Farm as we celebrate 65 incredible years of service! This milestone gives us an opportunity to reflect on our rich history, celebrate all we have accomplished together, and look ahead as we reimagine the future with new goals and dreams for the participants we serve. That future begins with a new mission statement. Inspired by our original mission, we have made it even stronger and more reflective of who we are today: Creating opportunities, connections, and shared possibilities for people with developmental disabilities.
Our commitment to this mission drives everything we do. It means continually creating more choices, programs, experiences, and opportunities for our participants, and turning long-awaited dreams into new possibilities. One of those dreams became a reality this year with the completion of Phase 1 of our new Farmyard. We now have a beautiful blue barn, accessible sidewalks, bathrooms, and landscaping, all of which are part of an exciting new chapter. The renovation also creates more opportunities for our participants to work, connect, contribute, and build meaningful connections with our guests and animals, (Continued on page 3)
Little Lambs Children’s Club
Celebrating 65 Years of Purpose, Possibility, and Community
The Greenhouse recently launched Little Lambs, a new educational program designed for children ages 2 to 5. Held every Thursday from 9am to 10am, from October 8 through November 19, these free weekly events offer hands-on activities that encourage young children to explore, learn and create.
Dear Friends,
Each week features a new theme, with activities focused on flowers, insects, pumpkins, seeds, herbs and art. With something new to discover each Thursday, Little Lambs offers a fun way for young learners to connect with nature and the world around them!ppen!
That same spirit was evident at our 65th Anniversary Gala, where we celebrated the remarkable people whose generosity, dedication, and advocacy have helped shape Lambs Farm throughout the years. As we honored our past, we also looked ahead to what’s next and the opportunities still to come.
As we celebrate Lambs Farm’s 65th Anniversary, I’ve been reflecting on what this milestone really means. It isn’t just a number. It’s 65 years of creating opportunities for people with developmental disabilities to learn, work, build relationships, discover their talents, and live lives filled with purpose and possibility. This year has been especially meaningful. The opening of Phase 1 of our transformed Farmyard marked the realization of a dream years in the making. Seeing participants, families, donors, and guests experience the space together was a powerful reminder that when a community comes together around a shared vision, incredible things can happen.
Across campus, participants continue to inspire us every day. From creating and selling artwork through LF Studios, to volunteering in the community, competing in Special Olympics, and exploring new interests through Quest, they are building skills, confidence, friendships, and independence in ways that reflect the very heart of our mission. None of this happens without you. Your support helps create opportunities, connections, and shared possibilities for the people we serve. As we celebrate 65 years and look toward the future, thank you for being part of the Lambs Farm family and for helping us build what’s next. With gratitude,
Kathy Buresch President & CEO
Participant volunteers at the Sanfilippo Estate
President & CEO Kathy Buresch and husband Eric at Celebrating the Spirit 2026
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Teo and Denise volunteering at the Lake Bluff History Museum
Mike poses with beautiful fall mums
Pam performs at the Quest piano recital
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especially now that the Farmyard is open year-round! In July, we celebrated the renovation and reopening with a special dedication ceremony attended by generous donors, dedicated staff, elected officials, and community leaders. Then, on August 15, we officially welcomed guests back to the Farmyard! We carried the excitement into our 65th anniversary gala, Celebrating the Spirit, held at the historic Sanfilippo Estate. It was a memorable evening filled with reflection and gratitude as friends of Lambs Farm came together to mark this incredible milestone. Guests enjoyed the unique venue and the opportunity to tour the magnificent home, bid on unique silent and live auction items, ride the historic carousel, and hear from President & CEO Kathy Buresch about Lambs Farm’s rich history and future plans.
Though she is no longer with us, her legacy continues to drive us forward. The Spirit of Giving Award was presented to Russell Dann, whose passion for Lambs Farm shines through in his ability to connect people, build partnerships, and inspire support. His generosity and endless ideas create meaningful connections that strengthen our community and make a lasting impact. The evening also focused on what comes next, as our paddle raiser helped support the next step in our Farmyard transformation. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our supporters, we are one step closer to Phase 2, which will bring even more exciting improvements to the Farmyard, including inclusive playgrounds, a new parking lot, lighting and more attractions. After such a monumental year, the spirit of Lambs Farm has never been stronger, and the future is brighter than ever!
Thank You, Celebrating the Spirit Sponsors! Anniversary Sponsor Packaging Corporation of America Celebrate Sponsors Abbott Alera Group, Inc. Estate of Terry & Donna King Mesirow Milburn Demolition Rejoice Sponsors DiVinci Painters John Jennings & Anne Mullen Michael & Toby Liner Joe & Carol Milburn Professional Medical, Inc. Uline Cheer Sponsors Belmont Bank & Trust Libertyville Bank & Trust Wintrust Marsh McLennan Agency Mission + Strategy Philadelphia Insurance Companies Toast Sponsors Larry Gerber (in honor of and the memory of Cy Rosengarten) Monohan Law Group TaskforceHR
One of the evening’s highlights was honoring our 2026 award recipients, each of whom represents the spirit, heart, and dedication that make Lambs Farm the amazing place it is. Participant Joe Jensen received the Living Legacy Award for embodying the spirit of Lambs Farm every day. From his 14-plus years at Lowe’s to his role on the Human Rights Committee, Joe’s joyful personality, determination, and commitment to others continue to inspire those around him.
Living Legacy Award recipient Joe Jensen with President & CEO Kathy Buresch
This year’s Casanova Award, created in memory of Vince Casanova, honors individuals whose passion, commitment, and heart have profoundly shaped Lambs Farm. We honored Mary McGonigel for her unwavering dedication and the lasting impact she made in helping Lambs Farm reach new heights.
Matt and Darlene Holop, Mary’s dear friends, accepted the Casanova Award on her behalf
Guests on the historic carousel
Patty Horgan, one of our Original Lambs, joined us for the memorable evening Russell Dann receives the 2026 Spirit of Giving Award
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New Products Take a sneak peek at our new holiday catalog offerings!
Snack Attack Collection
Participant bakers are ready for another wonderful holiday season!
65 Years: A Sweet Celebration Participant bakers are hard at work preparing for another busy, productive and joyful holiday season. From baking cookies and enrobing chocolates to assembling gift boxes, participant bakers help bring the season’s sweetest traditions to life.
Nuts for Cookies Assortment
This year’s holiday catalog, 65 Years: A Sweet Celebration, features many longtime favorites, including our beautifully sprinkled Famous Butter Cookies, decadent English Toffee Treat and fan-favorite Turtlettes. We also have several new offerings, including the Snack Attack Collection and a Nuts for Cookies Assortment, featuring Date Nut, Cherry Pistachio and Shortbread Almond Crescents. To commemorate our 65th anniversary, participant bakers have created two exclusive products. Cozy Morning combines signature ground coffee, an anniversary mug and cinnamon scones in one warm and festive gift. The 65th Anniversary Collection offers a thoughtfully curated assortment of sweet and savory favorites, including Strawberry Preserves, Famous Butter Cookies, Jumbo Turtlettes and Sweet & Salty Snack Mix, finished with our new Dark Chocolate Raspberry Sauce.
Cozy Morning Assortment
As you plan holiday gatherings, consider Lambs Farm for your gifting needs. Every batch made by participants at the Sugar Maple Country Store & Bakery represents more than a delicious treat. It represents an opportunity. Participants measure, mix, decorate, and prepare cookies and confections while developing valuable life skills, including teamwork, communication, and independence. Whether you need a single gift or enough for a crowd, we can accommodate orders of all sizes and can customize gifts to meet your needs. Scan the QR code to shop online and place an order. You can also call us at (847) 362-4636, Monday through Friday, from 8am-4pm.
65th Anniversary Collection
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Participant Artwork Participant artists at LF Studios create all kinds of beautiful, one-of-a-kind pieces that are available for purchase in our businesses. Be sure to stop by and check out their latest creations!
Participants made beautiful creations in their Fall Festival Quest class
Participant Happenings
The cutest turtle magnets
From pumpkin farms and fall dances to softball and Elvis Club, participants have plenty of ways to stay active, try something new, and have fun. With the new Quest term underway, participants are also exploring exciting classes, including woodworking, patchwork sewing, improv, science experiments, plant care, and a tie-dye workshop. They are building their skills, learning alongside their friends, and enjoying every opportunity to express their creativity. Giving back has also been a big part of the season. Many participants have been giving their time at local organizations, lending a helping hand by packaging meals, sorting clothing, and completing other projects that make a difference in the community.
The Farmyard has art inspired by our own animal friends
There is always something happening at Lambs Farm, and participants are making the most of it!
Participants packed meals at Fill a Heart 4 Kids
Impressive dog candles at the Dogwood Garden & Pet Center
Participant artists at LF Studios made a bags game set for the gala silent auction
Fall fun at Kroll Farm
Tom and Sari ready for Fall on the Farm
Participants at improv class
Liz up to bat
Jenny won the bronze medal
A new line of greeting cards is available for all occasions
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Breakfast with Santa 2026 Celebrate the holiday season with Breakfast with Santa at Lambs Farm. Begin with a delicious brunch at the Magnolia Café & Bakery, then head to our beautiful Greenhouse for a magical visit with Santa and a morning of holiday fun! 2026 Dates:
Saturday, December 12 Sunday, December 13 Saturday, December 19 Sunday, December 20 This event has become a beloved tradition for many, and we hope you will join us to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year! Seating times are at 9am, 10:30am & 12pm. Please call the Magnolia Cafe & Bakery at 847.362.5050 to make your reservations. If you would like to bring holiday magic to this event, we have volunteer opportunities available. You can contact Volunteer Coordinator Angela Ramert at asr@lambsfarm.org to learn more!
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Lambs Farm Stars Present... Elf Jr. For the past several months, our participant actors have been hard at work preparing for their latest musical production, *Elf Jr.* From memorizing lines and rehearsing scenes to building sets and creating costumes, participants have brought their creativity, energy, and enthusiasm to every part of the production. Now, the wait is almost over! Join us on Saturday, November 14, and Sunday, November 15, at Lake Forest High School as our talented participants bring this beloved holiday classic to life. Follow Buddy the Elf as he journeys from the North Pole to New York City in a magical adventure filled with laughter, love, and plenty of holiday cheer. Elf Jr. is a joyful celebration of the season and a wonderful showcase of the incredible talents, hard work, and dedication of our participants. We can’t wait to share the magic of this special production with you and celebrate the holiday season together! Get your tickets now at www.lambsfarm.org!
A look at the awesome cast and their fun and festive costumes! See you at the shows!
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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 May - August 2026. $50,000 and above Packaging Corporation of America $25,000 to $49,000 Joseph Kobal Vernon Township $10,000 to $24,999 Abbott Laboratories Cheryl Rabine Foundation IREM Chicago Chapter #23 Libertyville Bank & Trust Company Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Neiman Charles & M.R. Shapiro Foundation, Inc. The Edward S. Sprague Foundation $5,000 to $9,999 Mr. & Mrs. Warren Aldridge Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. William H. Brewer JMD Builders, Inc. Mrs. Christine Juiris Mr. & Mrs. Robert W. Kimble New Trier Township Ms. Parul Patel Mr. & Mrs. Michael J. Reilly Janet & Thomas Scarf Mrs. Gertrude Smutney Mr. & Mrs. Philip Wernick $2,500 to $4,999 Ms. Renate Ade Anonymous Apex Wood Floors Andrea Brewster Mrs. Virginia Cleary Mr. & Mrs. Frank Czaja Shawn & David Durand Grand Foundation William & Susan Jacobs Maron Electric Company Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Scialabba Ms. Susan Siebers Ms. Eiko Terao
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas A. Thill John & Pam Tithof Tithof Tile & Marble, Inc. Uline Mr. & Mrs. Myron C. Warshauer Mr. Eric Wright & Sarah Rulseh Mr. Sheldon O. Zisook $1,000 to $2,499 Allstate PAC Anonymous Mrs. Martha M. Boudewyns Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Breck Cisco Mrs. Rona Farber Mr. & Mrs. Albert D. Fox Carol Goldbaum Alvin & Nancy Gorman Mr. & Mrs. David Grady Guarantee Trust Life Insurance Company Mr. Rich Harty Heyn Family Mr. Keith Hickman Joan & Norman Chapman Foundation John G. Harty Ltd. Dr. Melvin P. Katz Mr. & Mrs. Kennen H. Kim Judy Kingery Mr. & Mrs. Richard Koehler Mr. & Mrs. Peter Levy Ms. Beth Lewis Eric Lindblom Mr. Paul M. Mandell Marsh & McLennan Companies McFadden, Dillon & Gattone P.C. Meltzer Purtill & Stelle LLC Mesirow Financial Omron Foundation, Inc. Ms. Rosalie Piazza Roof Management LLC
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Sabin Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Schleiden Mr. & Mrs. Gary Schuh Mr. & Mrs. Stephen A. Schumacher Mr. Joseph Scialabba Mr. & Mrs. Donald P. Seberger John & Cheryl Seder Dana & Julie Soukup Ms. Kathleen R. Stear Sub-Zero Group Midwest, LLC Subaru of America Inc. The Galley, LLC The Heller Group Ross Thomson Joe Trumble Vernon Hills High School Windward Roofing & Construction, Inc. Bequests Allen B. Frake Trust Margaret O. Kehoe Trust Estate of Donna C. King Estate of Ronald E. Nowak Ms. Daisy D. Patt Facebook Fundraisers Michael Bresnahan Kelly Donohue Dawn Miller Reinhardt Bob Neiman
Tributes and Memorials 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 May - August 2026. In Honor Of Michael Bresnahan Russell Dann Grayson Deeney Kelly Donohue Jenny Durand Nolan Finch Analiese Gabuzzi Stephen Garrett Joan J. Golder Christine Honeywell Joshua Johnson Mary Juiris Melvin P. Katz Clare Kennedy Utkarsh Kennedy Manoj Kinhal Susan Koehler Lambs Farm Participants Elizabeth Lewis Dawn Miller Reinhardt Gina M. Mork Greg Moyer Joey & Jill Moyer Robert E. Neiman Jason O’Day Kirsten Petersen Wynn A. Rosengarten Stephanie Scialabba Trevor Silva Oliver Smith Eli Spector Sarita Still
Erin Thill Jeanne Walter Bellamy and Bryn Wear Joanna Willix Ellen R. Zemel Rodd Zisook
In Memory Of Elizabeth “Betsy” Brake Hannelore Brookmann Bruce J. Burroughs Bridget Clarke Eugene Cohen Marion Crake Michael Crake Beau DiGregorio Jim Dooley Danna Dudnick Solis Dudnick John Durbin Kaitlin Englehart Archie Estey William Farber Gertrude E. Fredrich Frank Froncek Irene Froncek Janie Froncek Bernard G. Gardner Gerry A. Goldman Bob Hansen Jennifer Hart Henry Juiris Peter Juiris Ryan Johnathan Justen Susan Koehler Dolores Lewandowski Norbert Lewandowski George Marzano Mary McGonigel Joni Miller
Marilyn D. Mints Thomas M. Mints, Jr. Dennis Moss Katherine M. Murphy Marc Nachtman Elinor M. Newman Howard Newman Paula O’Connor Brenda Cheryl Olsen Mary Pepitone Thomas Philbin Catherine Reed Cy Rosengarten Don Rourk Margaret Schaefer Ronald Schleiden Michelle Schlesinger Stuart M. Schwartz Vincent Scialabba Rick Solesky Richard A. Stein Lawrence A. Venere Leo Wernick Trudy Wernick Joanna Willix Jeffrey H. Zemel Andrea Zisook Donald Zolla
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Non-Profit Organization U.S. POSTAGE PAID Libertyville, IL Permit No. 171
14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville, IL 60048
Change service requested
Celebrating 65 Years of Lambs Farm!
14245 W. Rockland Road, Libertyville, IL 60048
p: 847.362.4636
f: 847.362.0742
www.lambsfarm.org