THIS MONTHS ISSUE

The View From My Chair Garden Center Family Spotlight GCS Gears up for Reading Friends of Garden Center

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THE LEAFLET
ISSUE JUL YEAR 2012

The View From My Chair

a MESSagE frOM OUr ExEcUTIvE dIrEcTOr

Check out Gerry's Blog at www.GardenCenterServices.org

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 couple of Saturdays ago, a memorial the lack of adequate funding service was held for a wonderful woman we experience year after year has that had been attending programs at the made it harder and harder to provide agency for over 24 years. Karen, who had programs and activities that exceed struggled with cancer for the last several minimal standards. The challenge of years, continued to exhibit her goodness, attracting and retaining the kind of staff we friendliness, and strong work ethic, though want working with the individuals we assist the effects of her illness and treatments is made more difficult by the insufficient were obvious. During the time that I have wages we are able to pay. been lucky enough to work at Garden Center Services, Karen was not just a Our agency has remained financially consumer of our services, she became a sound by increasing the number of persons attending our programs, friend. There were certainly a review of the days that our interactions; Did we do however,packets identifiescurrent referral many chats about weekends or everything individuals whose needs would holidays, touching base about how we both were possible to help not be effectively met by the states feeling, joking about/with her this person funding paradigms. But I honestly think the overriding source of my classroom staff, and the hugs, concern is tied to how well are we brought as much or more have the life nurturing to me as it did to her. they wanted? affecting the quality of life for the 150 or so individuals we serve. I had been with Karen in the hospital shortly before she passed, and It seems the older I get the faster time I know her leaving was a thing of mercy. passes. I so appreciate all of you that What weighs on me, and this has happened are reading this newsletter, and the many every time weve lost someone weve ways that you provide the backing and supported, is dealing with the question, encouragement that strengthens our efforts Did we do everything possible to help this to provide the best services possible. I ask that you take up a sense of urgency about person have the life they wanted? persons with developmental disabilities There are a number of factors that make it having the necessary resources to craft stressful to be a provider of supports and the lives they deserve. services to persons with developmental disabilities in the state of Illinois. Obviously
A 5 0 1 ( c ) ( 3 ) N o N p R o fIt oRgANIzAtIoN

Garden Center Family Spotlight

Kristin came to Garden Center Services almost five years ago. She lived in Garden Centers Burbank Manor Apartments (BMA) until her recent move to the newly opened Oak Lawn home. Kristin is very happy with the move because the open, one-level layout of the Oak Lawn home makes it much easier for her to get around. Kristin moved from BMA with one of her good friends, Karen, as well as one of her favorite support staffs, Nicole, which helped to make her feel at home right away. Kristin loves hanging out at her new home with her housemates, watching her favorite show Jeopardy, and, her friends say, she is always ready for a party. This past week, Kristin took a vacation to attend summer camp. She has been attending the camp each summer for several years now and enjoys going back every year to see the many friends she has made there.

KRISTIN KIMBALL

Brian is Garden Centers Director of Maintenance and Transportation. He joined the Garden Center family in March of last year. Brian is responsible for overseeing the maintenance of GCSs 12 program/residential sites and our ever-growing vehicle fleet. Despite the demanding schedule of his position, Brian is always quick with a smile and a laugh. He says his favorite thing about Garden Center is definitely the people. The consumers really make this place. They make it a lot of fun to be here. Before coming to Garden Center, Brian was a volunteer fireman and worked in the building trades for over 10 years. Brian grew up in Alsip and now lives in Chicago Ridge with his wife, Emily, their three-year-old daughter and their seven-year-old twin son and daughter.

BRIAN FRAIDER

Garden Center Remembers...

It was with tremendous sadness that we learned about the death of Karen Marcinkiewicz. She had been battling cancer for some time but until recently it seemed as if she was winning the fight. We will long remember Karen and the wonderful attributes she brought to the Day Program. No matter the stage of her battle, Karen always had a smile on her face, never letting on what physical struggles she might be enduring. To the contrary, she always showed the warmest caring and concern for those around her. There were two other qualities about Karen that we will always remember - her extraordinary story telling ability and her astonishing aptitude at bowling! A hole has been left in our hearts, one that we will try to fill by remembering all the wonderful things that Karen was. Our heartfelt condolences to the family.

Karen Marcinkiewicz

Garden Center Gears up for Reading

This past fall, Garden Center received a grant from RR Donnelley, a Chicago-based global provider of integrated communications, to start our literacy project. The project is now well underway and we wanted to share some of the highlights with you. Thirty GCS consumers received a reading evaluation using READ, an informal reading inventory for low-literacy adults. Twenty-eight of those individuals, 21 at the Main Building and seven at our Kedzie building, are actively participating in the literacy program.

gardEN cENTErS NEEdS LIST

Desktop or laptop
Literacy Program participants at GCS Kedzie building attend a meeting.

Sofa/Chairs for our Umbrellas reading area

Computers

Funding from the RR Donnelley grant allowed the purchase of computers, literacy software and curriculum for the project. Readers at both locations have been divided into groups by reading level and are meeting with our literacy instructor, volunteer Jo Liebermann, once a week. The participants also work on individualized learning plans throughout the week with their team leaders support. We are working to create reading lounges at our day sites. If you have books or furniture that we could use for that purpose, please contact Sheila Ryan-Henry at sryan-henry@ gardencenterservices.org or 773-941-4151 Ext. 201.

Bar-type stools Printer Phone

Free-standing shelf units

Office desk Microwave Books Large coffee maker

Second Chance Thrift Shoppe turned 4 years old on July 1! They have had another great year and continue to do fantastic things for Garden Center. Thank You Second Chance Staff and Volunteers!!!
Knights of Columbus St. Louis de Montfort Council # 14553 donated $500 toward the relocation to our new Kedzie building

Electronic keyboards Event tickets (music)

Craft supplies

Frames for artwork Blank canvases X-Box games

BULLETIN BOARD
SAVE THE DATE !
GCS has earned over $240 from our supporters online shopping! To sign up and help GCS every time you shop, go to www.igive.com/ GardenCenter today!

GCS 56th Annual Fa shion Show Friday, Novembe r 4th Doubletree Hote l 5000 W . 127th St . Alsip, IL

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

FRIENDS OF GARDEN CENTER

WHErE WE grOW dIgNITy aNd INdEpENdENcE
phone 708.636.0054 email info@gardencenterservices.org web www.gardencenterservices.org

$1,000- $3,000

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

William Ramsden UNITED WAY OF METRO CHICAGO TRUIST UNITED WAY

Brian & Elizabeth Wojak Mr. & Mrs. Randy Duncan

February 2012 - APRIL 2012 Bridget McGrath

Memorial for Anna Pfieffer

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

Mr. & Mrs. Jerre Santschi Mr. & Mrs. John Haugh Mr. & Mrs. William Shaughnessy Connie Saviano

MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

$500- $999

Up to $99

Joan Strainis Lila Helme

Beverly Peters

DONATION FOR JANET WINTERS BIRTHDAY

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

BOard Of dIrEcTOrS
president 1st vice president 2nd vice president Treasurer Secretary Members: daniel Wenzler Scott Hardek doug combs r. pat Ballis annmarie caulfield John J. Kunkes Linda Stearns Linda Sherwood Sharon duncan Jenny Wojcik

Ronald Nowobielski BURBANK SERTOMA CLUB

Patrick J. Malloy Ann McGrath-Harty Mary Cullen Myrtis Winter

Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Combs

MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

Memorial for Lorey OGrady MEMORIAL FOR PEARL REID

Mr. & Mrs. Berniece Buttinger Linda Stearns

MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

$100- $499

Mr. & Mrs. Buford

BURBANK WOMENS CIVIC CLUB William Duncan

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

Sheila Ryan-Henry Richard Rivera

Mary Dalrymple

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

MEMORIAL FOR CATHERINE KRICKL MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

MEMORIAL FOR PEARL REID

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Lesiecki Margaret Metz

MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

Dorothy Ballis PRYME TYMERS/TRINITY EV COVENANT CHURCH Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Strainis Deborah & Dennis Conway Clorox Co Foundation Employe Giving Camp Sherry L. VanKuren Mr. & Mrs. Shawn Kane
MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Green Mr. & Mrs. Dimitri Hoteko Mr. & Mrs. John Wright

MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME MEMORIAL FOR DEAN HOTEKO MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

Diane Peterson

MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

Mr. & Mrs. Gilbert Gizowski

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

Mr.& Mrs. Calvin Smith

Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Pernice Diane Doody Josephine Lapp

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

Mr. & Mrs. Mark Sarich

us Fundraiser Knights of Columb y, July 16th Monda rant YB Hungry Restau reet St 6840 West 95th Oak Lawn, IL ION SHOW ANNUAL FASH 4th vember Friday, No sip Doubletree in Al

Dont Forget!

Steven Zitowsky Gary Duncan LEE coUNtY

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

Memorial for Jackie Menzel

MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN MEMORIAL FOR JANET DUNCAN

Mr. & Mrs. Brian Clark

iGIVE ONLINE SHOPPERS James Pawluczyk Mr. & Mrs. Dennis Galeher Dolores Keating
MEMORIAL FOR DEBBIE HELME

gc

Give GCS the Gift of Long-Term Financial Strength

S
Contact Michele Hula to learn about GCS Planned Giving Opportunities mhula@ gardencenterservices.org (773) 941-4151 Ext. 212

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPE

Prepare Building for Occupancy GOAL 22,500

SALE
HALF OFF EVERYTHING

http://gardencenterservices. wordpress.com/

July 29th 12pm-4pm

$21,770

Were almost there!

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

http://www.facebook.com/ gardencenterservices

GCS in the NEWS

See Gerrys interview on the Tinley Park Chamber of Commerce Cable TV show, airing every Tuesday in July at 6:30pm on Comcast Community Channel 19. Stay tuned for a story on Garden Gallery & Studio to air on ABC7 Sunday Morning News with Karen Meyer this August.