winter 2017 a publication of Mosaic in Rockford | www.mosaicinrockford
Forward in Faith in the Next Century of Service
Giving a Voice
#GIVINGTUESDAY 2016 by Brook Genna, Community Relations Manager
THEIR TIME TO SHINE
Dear Colleagues, Volunteers, Partners and Friends,
Prom night is an experience most students will never forget, but some people don’t get a chance to attend the traditional dance. Thanks to the our donors of Olive Garden, Rockford Park District, PepsiCo and local photographers and DJ, adults with special needs get the opportunity to dance the night away.
I want to share fantastic news about #GivingTuesday this past year. #GivingTuesday is an international movement to encourage people to give their time, treasure and talents to make the world a better place. Mosaic’s theme this past year was “Plan to Give” and supported the needs, goals and dreams of people with intellectual disabilities. Mosaic in Rockford was proud to join this movement to raise funds for the people we support right here in Rockford. This was our third year participating in the #GivingTuesday movement. We’re pleased to announce that each gift given to our local agency on November 29 was matched
dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 to support a Mosaic International Day Center in Tanzania, thanks to a generous donor. With this matching gift, we had the opportunity to raise $20,000 in one day to benefit our mission in Rockford and internationally.
“Mosaic in Rockford raised $1,540 on this day alone.” Simply put, this was a huge opportunity for us to work together to lift up the people we support around the globe. We were really excited! The total amount raised by Mosaic this year was $39,325. Mosaic in Rockford raised $1,540 on this day alone. Again, thanks for your support of Mosaic. Please join us again this year on November 28, 2017, for the #GivingTuesday movement.
The annual formal for adults with disabilities was held at the Webbs Norman Center. The Winter Wonderland-themed dance was open to our donors, parents and guardians, staff and all people in service. The people love this event, as it is their time to spend with friends in the Mosaic in Rockford agency as well as get a chance to dress up and dance the night away. This was Mosaic’s second annual formal and, because it was a success once again, we will definitely have it next year.
SUPPORT MOSAIC ON NOVEMBER 29
Help Mosaic support the needs, goals and dreams of people with intellectual disabilities.
Dancers at the Winter Wonderland Formal Rockford 1 Heart of the Forest
Volunteer Corner VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT featuring Tonya Mund How did you get started volunteering at Mosaic in Rockford? My boyfriend has a friend who worked at Mosaic for a short while and invited us to a meaningful day meeting at the office there and I was just hooked, line and sinker. Why are you so motivated to help people with intellectual disabilities? I have a brother who has Down syndrome and I just adore him. Because Mosaic is a faith-based organization, involved with bettering our community and individuals get to fulfill their interests and makes it so easy to get involved. It also makes me want to have my brother in a place like Mosaic, if that time comes. You guys do amazing things and it’s just so overwhelmingly wonderful! The smiles and expressions these folks have in their daily activities does it for me. Everyone has something to offer in life, just as these folks do. What a better world we have because of them. What does ‘A life of Possibilities’ mean to you? Taking one day at a time and living it to the fullest.
What do you do when you’re not volunteering? I work full-time for Common Wealth Edison as a T&S Scheduler for West Region Work Management Group. For fun, I love to spend time with my family, crochet, quilt and spend time with my horse (Blitzen’s Glitz). I am also learning to play the piano and am a bell ringer in the Bell Choir at Alpine Lutheran Church. What do you want to say to people about individuals with intellectual disabilities and how they can better their lives and how they can help too? Individuals with intellectual disabilities are people too. They have the same wants, needs and dreams as others. Everyone has something to offer in life, no matter what their situation is.
Open Volunteer Positions Administrative Assistant, Mentor/Buddy, Creative Assistant For more information on specific positions and hours of position contact: Brook Genna at 815.387.8390 x61516 or brook.genna@mosaicinfo.org.
Mark your Calendar Discover The Possibilities Group Home Tour: Lunch provided by Jason’s Deli Tuesday, Feb. 21 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 2 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Mar. 23 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 11 | 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. Held at our Hearthstone Group Home Parent Meeting Wednesday, Feb. 8 | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m. at the Mosaic Office Agents of Change Meeting Monday, Feb. 27 | 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Monday, Mar. 27 | 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. Monday, April 24 | 4:30 – 6:00 p.m. at the Mosaic Office Portillo’s for Good Fundraiser Monday, Mar. 6 | 5 – 8 p.m. Mention Mosaic in Rockford and 20 percent of your order will go to Mosaic. Granite City Food & Brewery Dine and Donate Thursday, Aug. 24 | 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. Mention Mosaic in Rockford and 20 percent of your order will go to Mosaic.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, in marriage or in life? From my godfather — if you can’t change it, if you can’t fix it, then deal with it. Mosaic Heart of the Forest Executive Director Community Relations Manager
carla.saelens@mosaicinfo.org brook.genna@mosaicinfo.org
Mission Embracing God’s call to serve in the world, Mosaic advocates for people with intellectual disabilities and provides opportunities for them to enjoy a full life. Integrity at Mosaic If you have a concern, call our national Confidential Reporting Hotline at 800.443.4899, or email integrity@mosaicinfo.org
Relationships Mosaic is an affiliated social ministry organization of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and a member of Lutheran Services in America. Non-discrimination Mosaic will not discriminate in matters of employment or service delivery on the basis of race, creed, age, color, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, marital status or veteran status. To be added or removed from the mailing list or to receive information via email, please contact Mosaic at the address given. ©2017 Mosaic. All rights reserved. Mosaic is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.
Rockford 2 Heart of the Forest
Caring Community MOSAIC IN ROCKFORD LAUNCHES DAY CENTER This January, Mosaic in Rockford, launched our first day center/hub in the Rockford community. The idea behind the day center was to create a space beyond our four walls and give people a new experience. This program is 100 percent community based, which means the community is involved with our people every day of the program. Mosaic offers day services that support the people with intellectual and development disabilities in a variety of ways. Services include community integration, base site programming, employment opportunities, problem-solving and decision-making in everyday living, and assisting people to prepare for vocational, recreational, or other community based programs. In addition, people participate in community events and leisure activities and have the opportunity to attend an array of classes that promote an environment which
offers lifelong learning opportunities. These activities include: Healthy Living, Community Safety, Behavioral Management Skills, Cooking & Baking, Nature & Science, Money Skills, Communications Group, Sign Language and Personal Hygiene. On January 17, we launched four day center sites, all at separate locations: • Tuesdays - Emmanuel Lutheran • Wednesdays - Our Saviors Lutheran • Thursdays - Alpine Lutheran • Fridays - Christ Lutheran. The day center/hub is overseen by Mosaic licensed staff. Each day people in service have a new space and activities to choose from. People will explore their community through daily trips to leisure and recreational activities, allowing participants to
become familiar with their local communities. Mosaic prides itself on offering participants a balanced program by combining education, wellness and FUN. The program offers weekly field trips to a variety of places including the science museum, county fairs, movie theaters, apple orchards, zoo, bowling, etc. We have some people who will come and go between the sites during the days, doing their own volunteer and job commitments. Ideally, this program will run five days a week and will rotate the people involved in the program. Mosaic in Rockford dares to dream beyond the limits we are handed from the state and local providers. We stand true to our ELCA partnership and creating a life of possibilities for the people we serve.
Thank-a-Thon Put simply, a thank-a-thon offers to attend, it’s nice to have a few outlets Mosaic in Rockford’s leadership team that remain modest, yet gracious a way to thank our Rockford commumethods for Mosaic to thank donors Connect with nity including donors, churches, without asking for anything in return. Mosaic in Rockford! community These calls will mosaicinrockford.org partners, be made on parents and Monday Feb. 13, mosaicinfo.org/blog guardians, between noon staff and and 5 p.m. facebook.com/mosaicinrockford vendors, Mosaic will also without an be sending out twitter.com/mosaicpossible Mosaic in Rockford is spreading the love. Mosaic in Rockford is spreading the love. additional ‘spread the love’ We cannot do the work we do for our people in service We cannot do the work we do for our people in service without you and for that we want to say Thank you! want to say Thank you! ask. In an cards to allwithout you and for that wedonate.mosaicinfo.org/rockford Have a wonderful Valentines Day from our heart to yours. Have a wonderful Valentines Day from our heart to yours. age where it people we have is standard on our list to to attach a call. We have donation learned that reply slip to thank you letters or ask for you can never thank the people who money at events that donors have paid support you too much.
Spreading the love
Spreading the love
Spreading the love
Spreading the love
Rockford 3 Heart of the Forest
1111 S. Alpine Rd., Ste. 401 Rockford IL, 61108-3940
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A life of possibilities for people with intellectual disabilities.
Providing a life of Possibilities ADOPT A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS 2016 Every year, residents and businesses share holiday cheer with neighbors in need by participating in the Adopt-AHome Program. For many people in service, their social security check is their only source of income. This money is often already stretched to its limits, and doesn’t include enough for buying Christmas presents. However, our people in service are some of the most deserving people during the
holiday season. Each person in service submits their ‘wish lists’ for Christmas and hopes on Christmas morning to receive something from their list. This year, we had all of our group homes, 84 people in service, adopted by different businesses and donors in the Rockford community. Our hearts are filled with joy that we could make Christmas wishes come true for each of the people in service.
People with developmental disabilities dare to dream outside the box of standard social services options with the guidance of smart, creative professionals, family, and community.
Donors for this year’s program include: Sam’s Club of Rockford – Appletree House Tonya Mund – Applewood House Grace Lutheran Church – 2nd Ave. House & Bauer House Linda Kayser – Edelweiss House Rockford Chamber Ambassadors – Hampshire House General Mills – Harlem House Midwest Family Broadcasting – Minns House Christ Lutheran Church – Norway House Park Hills Evangelical Free Church – Hearthstone House Anonymous Family – Trinity House Anonymous Family – Saddle House Rockford 4 Heart of the Forest