THIS MONTH’S ISSUE

THE LEAFLET

The View From My Chair

Garden Center Family Spotlight

Erin’s Children’s Fund

Friends of Garden Center

01020304

ISSUE JAN YEAR 2012

A 501(c)(3) NoNpRofIt oRgANIzAtIoN

I’m not going to say that 2012 is going to be a great year for garden center Services. What I want to say is that 2012 is going to be a great year for each individual supported by garden center Services.

I believe at times there’s a real benefit to not thinking about our agency as a whole, but to look into the eyes and faces of each person we serve. only then do you get a real sense of all the hopes, disappointments, and potential that lies within every consumer that attends our programs, and how the true purpose of our agency is really knowing and assisting each person individually.

the truth is, if 2012 is to be a great year for our consumers, it will take all of us making and acting on this statement together for it to become reality.

In this first newsletter of the New Year, I am simply asking each person that is reading this article to make a serious commitment to support this cause through your time, energy, and financial resources.

following are a few wonderful faces that should provide all the inspiration we need ☺.

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.

a MESSaGE FrOM OUr ExECUTIVE dIrECTOr

A 501(c)(3) NoNpRofIt oRgANIzAtIoN

the View from My chair

“ I believe at times there’s a real benefit to not thinking about

our agency as a whole, but to look into the eyes and

faces of each person we serve.”

Stacey joined the garden center family in September last year. She only planned to work a few hours on nights and weekends to make a little extra income, but quickly decided she liked what she saw at garden center. Almost immediately, Stacey quit her job with another disability service provider to work at garden center full-time. Stacey heads up the Community Crusaders group. the six person group spends their time helping various community organizations including: Ronald McDonald House, the Hanson center farm, Meals on Wheels, pryme tymers Senior group, Deborah’s place Women’s Shelter, oak Lawn children’s Museum and the recently added K9 Rescue. Stacey says she loves her job. She already volunteers for several local charities and to now have a job that involves volunteering as well is right up her alley.

Her favorite thing about garden center? “The people. Not even a question. The people I work with are great. People are excited to see me and I am even more excited to see them!”

Stacey, we hope to keep seeing you for a long time to come!STACEY

O’BRIEN

garden center family SpotlightSteven has been with garden center since 2007. He works with garden center’s Community Crusaders, volunteering at multiple community organizations each week. Steven says he really enjoys working with the group. His favorite project is baking desserts for the families at Ronald McDonald House. When not volunteering in the community, Steven’s group spends time at garden center’s Wesbrook building. there, Steven says, he likes working on the computer and spending time with his friends.

Steven is a huge music fan. If you are around him for very long, you may see him break into dance when the right song comes on. He also loves movies and recently saw The Muppets (2011), which he gives an enthusiastic two thumbs up.

Steven is one of the most positive people we know and we are glad he is a part of our family!

Check out the December 22nd ABC7 News Report about The Food Circle on our blog to see Steven and the rest of our Community Crusaders packing groceries for needy families.

STEVENSILIUS

We are very excited to be opening our newest cILA in oak Lawn! the house is a spacious flat ranch with four bedrooms and two baths. It will likely become home to five or six women. Because there are no stairs inside, we expect this house to be very accessible for folks with mobility issues. We’re wrapping up renovations on one of the bathrooms, making it fully accessible with a walk/roll-in shower and enough space to navigate the bathroom with privacy! the house has been painted throughout, and furniture is on order. the ladies who live here will be able to enjoy a huge backyard; there is plenty of space for a vegetable garden and several flower beds.

garden center opens a New Home

GCS’s New CILA in Oak Lawn

What an incredible and lasting tribute to a young girl with developmental disabilities. Erin Mitchell was born with Downs’ Syndrome and a congenital heart defect, and she passed much too soon at the age of five in 1981. Within a year, her father Jim, organized and ran the first annual Erin’s Handicapped Children’s Golf Outing to help support the work of local disability providers that support children and adults with the same needs his daughter had.

over the last 30 years, the Erin’s Handicapped Children’s Fund has donated over 3 million dollars to agencies in chicago and the surrounding suburbs. garden center Services has alone received close to $300,000! the impact these funds have had on the lives of the individuals we support is immeasurable, and has been the finest way possible to keep Erin’s memory alive.

Jim Mitchell is also the owner and operator of Enzenberger & Mitchell, one of chicagoland’s most reputable and respected collision repair shops. they have been providing quality repair services since 1979, and have established a great reputation with their customers and many of the major insurance companies. E&M also sells used cars and has a very broad selection of fairly priced vehicles that have been checked out and serviced by their certified mechanics.

As you or your family members require any of these services, please consider giving your business to a company that is truly a positive and contributing member of our community.

Erin’s Handicapped children’s fund Makes a Difference in the Lives of people with Developmental Disabilities

GardEN CENTEr’S

NEEdS LIST

Electronic Keyboards (music)Event ticketsNew dishesflat screen tVBookshelfVacuum & attachmentsLaptop computerscraft suppliesframes for artworkBlank canvasesX-Box & dance gamesLiving room setgym dues/passes

If you have an item to donate, please email Anne McFerron at amcferron@gardencenterservices.org

GCS BULLETIN BOARD

dIdN’T GET a CHaNCE TO CaTCH THE aBC7 STOrY ON GardEN CENTEr?

Visit our homepage at www.gardencenterServices.org to watch Karen Meyer’s story on garden center programs now.

Give GCS the Gift of

Long-Term Financial Strength

Contact Michele Hula to learn about

GCS Planned Giving

Opportunities

mhula@gardencenterservices.org

(708) 398-6506

gcS

Jim Mitchell

phone: 708-430-3666Website: www.enzenbergermitchell.com

Enzenberger and Mitchell, Inc.7420 West 87th placeBridgeview, IL 60455

WHErE WE GrOW dIGNITY aNd INdEpENdENCE

phone 708.636.0054

email info@gardencenterservices.org

web www.gardencenterservices.org

BOard OF dIrECTOrS

president Barbara Clarke 1st Vice president Scott Hardek 2nd Vice president doug CombsTreasurer r. pat Ballis

Members: John J. Kunkes Frances MientusLinda Stearns daniel Wenzler Linda Sherwood

http://www.facebook.com/gardencenterservices

http://twitter.com/gardencentersrv

http://www.youtube.com/user/gardencenterservices

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE SUPER SALE

January 8th 12pm-4pm

GCS MEMBERSHIP MEETING

January 20th 7pm at Main Building

Everyone Welcome!

Important Dates!

http://gardencenterservices.wordpress.com/

It’s not too late....

Visit our Main Building or www.gardencenterservices.org

to buy yours today!

$2,500-$5,000• RR DoNNELLEY foUNDAtIoN• SEcoND cHANcE tHRIft SHoppE• DoNALD p. AND BYRD M. KELLY

foUNDAtIoN

$1,000 - $2,499• ILLINoIS StAtE coUNcIL#144• BANK of AMERIcA

DONATION FROM WILLIAM RAMSDEN

• David Johnson

$500 - $999• ILLINoIS StAtE coUNcIL#967• claire fitz

DONATION FOR BROTHER M. SCHMUTTENMAER

$100 - $499• Michael Staisiunas• gerard Beagles & cindy Haworth• McMAStER-cARR

2011 MATCHING GIFT FOR ROBERT FIEDLER

• pEpSIcoDONATION FROM RICHARD LARSON

• tRUISt• tHE cLoRoX coMpANY foUNDAtIoN

DONATION FROM SHERRY L. VANKUREN

• Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri HotekoMEMORIALS FOR LILIAN KUCIA, MARK STRAOSTKA, DOROTHY CYGA

• Bernadette Adamowski• Dorothy Ballis • catherine conway• Barbara Eckman• patricia goldrick

MEMORIAL FOR CHARLES CROWE

• Judith StortzMemorial FOR DOROTHY CYGA

• Brian & Elizabeth WojakDonation - Miller Family

• Megan Wrenn

Up to $99 • Barb Kincaid• claire Marie temmerman• Daniel Heenan• Julie grace• Mr. & Mrs. Douglas combs

MEMORIAL DONATION FOR EILEEN HODAN

• Sharon Duncan• Mary Heerhold

MEMORIAL FOR LORI O’GRADY

• Mr. & Mrs. William JohnsonMEMORIAL FOR CHARLES CROWE

• Michael o’gradyMEMORIAL FOR LORI O’GRADY

September-November 2011fRIENDS of gARDEN cENtER

• terrence o’gradyMEMORIAL FOR LORI O’GRADY

• Mr. & Mrs. cianain RickardMEMORIAL FOR DOROTHY CYGA

• Jennifer Schindl• Hannah Watts

MEMORIAL FOR CHARLES CROWE

• peter & Shannon WilliamsMEMORIAL FOR CHARLES CROWE

• Adam Weis• Dolores Eder

MEMORIAL FOR CHARLES CROWE

• KRAft fooDS foUNDAtIoNDONATION FROM MICHAEL STAISLUNAS

• frances MientusMEMORIAL FOR DOROTHY CYGA

• Mr. & Mrs. David RiesMEMORIAL FOR DOROTHY CYGA

• Linda SherwoodMEMORIAL FOR DOROTHY CYGA

• Robert E. SpainMEMORIAL FOR CHARLES CROWE

• Jacqueline gutherie• Stanley Komperda

MEMORIAL FOR DOROTHY CYGA

• Stacey o’Brien• tom o’Hara

MEMORIAL FOR LORI O’GRADY

• Bill & pat RussellMEMORIAL FOR CHARLES CROWE

• gretchen WinterMEMORIAL FOR DOROTHY CYGA

• UNItED WAY of cENtRAL ILLINoIS• Robert Devens

MEMORIAL FOR CHARLES CROWE

• Barb Kincaid• Mary K. paxton

Gallery Calendars are still available