Summer 2019

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Meet JacobWritten by our clients

HANDPRINTJULY 31

FAMILY PICNIC

4 Building Life Skills Brett’s first bike ride

6 Run for HHC Learn how you can support Team 5K

7High FiveWorking with Amazing Grace

5

A Night to Celebrate!

2 HELPING HAND CENTER SUMMER 2019 hhcenter.org HELPING HAND CENTER SUMMER 2019 hhcenter.org 3

Hello Everyone,

The past few months

have gone by so quickly!

I’m proud to share two

major accomplishments

in that time, that serve as

reminders of the wonderful

work happening here at

Helping Hand Center.

The first was the

completion of our CARF

accreditation (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities). All

of our programs are reviewed by many organizations each year, but we choose

to be reviewed by an even higher standard called CARF. It takes months of

reviewing, writing, interviews and training on procedures ranging from board

governance to medication administration. In total, more than 1,100 areas are

assessed. I am pleased to announce that the three reviewers that visited our

locations said we were far above their standards and were very impressed by

the dignity and respect given to the people we serve.

The second major accomplishment was selling out our 20th Annual Gala.

Standing at the podium in front of a packed room, I could feel the genuine

compassion of our 320 guests toward Helping Hand Center’s mission. It was an

honor to be in a room with so many individuals that are part of embracing the

value people with developmental disabilities bring to our lives.

Both of these accomplishments elevate Helping Hand Center and keep us

at the forefront of elite care and education. “Good enough” is not in our

vocabulary! Thank you for continuing to be part of our mission. Together, our

collective experiences hold the power to make a difference.

Be sure to check out our upcoming events. I hope to see you, again, soon!

Center BoardRobert Ackermann (Chairman) ACKERMANN CONSULTING, INC.

Bill Burris NPN 360

Mary Ann Cusick LAGRANGE HIGHLANDS DISTRICT 106 (RETIRED) LAGRANGE ELEMENTARY DISTRICT 102 (RETIRED)

Peter Daniels SWISS RE CORPORATE SOLUTIONS

Steve Deinzer ROLLING MEADOWS PARK DISTRICT

Michael Ettleson ETTLESON CADILLAC-BUICK-GMS, INC. ETTLESON HYUNDAI, LLC

Chris Kurimay US BANK

Carol McGury (Secretary) SMITHBUCKLIN CORPORATION

Thomas Rubey (Treasurer) THOMAS RUBEY & ASSOCIATES

Christopher Seifert KEELEY CONSTRUCTION, INC.

Colleen Stahurski NYCO PRODUCTS

John Stibich (Vice Chairman) MARION CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL CFO (RETIRED)

William Weigel SELDON FOX, LTD.

Foundation BoardFrank Pigatto (Secretary & Treasurer) FRANK PIGATTO REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

Mike Slinkman (Vice President) SKS PROPERTIES

Mort Westman (President) WESTMAN ASSOCIATES, INC.

To learn more visitwww.hhcenter.orgConnect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

@HelpingHandCenter

@HHCenter

@Helping-Hand-Center

President & CEO Bill Dwyer at 20th Annual Gala

See you soon!

Bill DwyerPRESIDENT & CEO HELPING HAND CENTER

Fundraising Success StoriesGALARaising over $138,000!

The 20th Annual Gala was a

sold out success this spring!

Held at The Drake Oak Brook,

320 attendees enjoyed an evening that included a cocktail reception,

silent and live auctions, the Dash, a Grand Raffle, dinner and live

music. Clients from Project SEARCH kicked the evening off with a

‘Car’aoke video. Special guests, Sarah and Ryan Rioux, shared the story

of their son Ryan and how he found his first words. Helping Hand Center

President & CEO, Bill Dwyer, noted how genuine, individualized care,

makes a powerful impact on the more than 600 children and adults we serve.

The Annual Gala is the largest fundraising event of the year for Helping Hand

Center. This year’s event raised a net of more than $138,000, a 29% increase

from last year’s totals. The invest in the mission portion of the evening featured

guests raising their paddles with donations that totaled more than $60,000.

Thanks to all who attended and showed their support by investing in our

mission of assisting children and adults with developmental disabilities!

COCKTAIL RECEPTION SPONSOR

Cashman Stahler Group

ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR

Kulhanek Family Foundation

GRAND RAFFLE SPONSOR

Nyco Products

LIVE AUCTION SPONSOR

Ettleson Cadillac, Buick & GMC

SILENT AUCTION SPONSOR

FNBC Bank & Trust

MISSION SPONSORS

AssuranceClark HillCurrie MotorsEsser Hayes Insurance GroupHUB InternationalSelden FoxUS Bank

PROGRAM SPONSORS

CintasContinental Motors GroupThomas Rubey & Associates, Ltd.

Thanks to our 2019 Gala Sponsors

4 HELPING HAND CENTER SUMMER 2019 hhcenter.org

Our client created centerfold is back! Thanks to Al and Betsy, our

contributing editors, who worked together to choose who to feature

and how to help readers learn more about Helping Hand Center. They

selected an interview style format to introduce you to Jacob. Jacob lives

in one of our residential homes, takes part in EMPOWER and is known

throughout the agency for his amazing abilities playing the piano.

By Al Dunn and Betsy White

How long have you been at Helping Hand Center and how do you like Stonegate?

I’ve been here for 9 months. I started in August of 2018. Stonegate is a pretty nice house. Joy and Ryan are my favorite staff. Where is your dream job? Doing what?

An Animal Behaviorist and helping people with their poorly behaved pets and

other animals. I would also like to be an Autism Advocate and be a voice for me and other people on the Autism Spectrum. How did you learn to play the piano?

In the beginning, I had a teacher that showed me how and taught me to read the notes. A few years later I became more fluent and I began to teach myself and

play by ear. I have been playing piano for 16 years this September. We all know you like music. What’s your favorite song/music group?

The Beatles is my favorite group. 80’s music is the mostly lively decade. I really like classic rock; stuff like Journey, Bob Marley, U2 and Coldplay. Pianoman is a good song by Billy Joel. What’s been the best moment in EMPOWER?

Playing the piano for everyone and they get to listen and applaud.

Do you have a piano at Stonegate?

I have a keyboard that has 88 keys. What do you like to do in your spare time?

I volunteer at The Hanson Center. I enjoy cleaning and caring for the horses there. I help with lessons, prepare food for the pigs, usually the horses and other animals. I love being around horses, they are very docile animals. I also enjoy going to Wild Monk, I do trivia there. It’s in LaGrange. I’m good at Trivia and that kind of stuff.

A Master  of the Keys

HELPING HAND CENTER SUMMER 2019 hhcenter.org 5

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

How long have you worked at HHC?

I’ve worked at HHC for three years, mostly in the Grace Room, 6th Ave and now Graceful Beginnings.

We all (EMPOWER clients) really enjoyed the play/musical Mary Poppins that you directed with the Graceful Beginnings clients a few weeks ago. What was your favorite song from the play? That’s great! I’m glad you enjoyed it. My favorite song is Feed the Birds. Where did you work before coming to HHC? Was it with people with developmental differences?

Yes it was. I worked at Little City as a 1:1 support for a young adult with developmental differences.

What do you like to do for fun or in your spare time?

I enjoy travelling with my family and playing with my two dogs (Otis and Presley).

What’s your favorite thing about working in the Grace Program/Graceful Beginnings?

The interacting with the clients of course! I enjoy finding new activities for the clients, singing and getting the graceful beginnings clients to explore new talents through signing.

What is your favorite outing at HHC?

Going to the meditation garden in the Courtyard here at East Ave. It is very peaceful and relaxing, the clients seem to really enjoy it.

We are proud of our more than 230 staff and the genuine care they provide each and every day. Our contributing editors, Al and Betsy, selected Veronica “Ronnie” Dunn to spotlight with a high five for all she does working with adults in our Grace Program.

Recently in EMPOWER clients have been discussing the term(s) that they would prefer to be called in regards to being considered disabled or having a disability. Track 4 decided that they like the term “developmental differences.” What do you prefer?Well I can’t speak for everyone one else, I can only really speak for myself, but I also do not prefer the term disabilities because people think that means that I can’t do something. But I haven’t really given that much thought yet.

BONUS QUESTION!

6 HELPING HAND CENTER SUMMER 2019 hhcenter.org

Brett found his home at Helping Hand

Center in 2005 where he began making

great strides as he started coming to

physical therapy in our Outpatient

Clinic and later attending the Adult

Day Program after transitioning out

of high school.

“Brett’s goal in physical therapy is to

improve his flexibility, strength and

endurance so that he can become

more independent,” said physical

therapist, Donna Olund.

Brett recently got to ride a bike for

the very first time. Olund introduced

him to an adaptive Creative Mobility

tricycle for the first time. With

perseverance, he was able use his own

strength to pedal and steer on the first

go-around.

Brett’s mother, Carol, has taken notice

of how physical therapy has affected

his life. “When we would go to the

grocery store, he would typically sit

down because of his low stamina,”

Carol said. “Now he doesn’t sit until

checkout so he has really increased his

endurance by keeping moving, which

is our ongoing goal.”

In the Adult Day Program, his

personality started to shine as he has

been able to build upon life skills.

Brett often uses sign language to

communicate but staff has worked

with him building on his verbal

approximations to help him produce

the sounds of words more clearly.

“I’ve learned his way of signing so that

I can better understand him,” said DSP

Team Leader, Michelle Cozza. “We’ve

also worked on the importance of

eye contact which has allowed him to

open up to others.”

The genuine care of HHC staff shines

through in their interactions with

Brett. Once someone gets to know

Brett, they will quickly learn that he is

quite the social butterfly.

“He likes the people that he comes

to see here. He wants to be here. He

wants to learn,” Carol said.

Brett can immediately be recognized

in the halls of Helping Hand Center

by his contagious smile. He is known

to make his rounds in the morning to

check in on staff members.

“You just have to spend a little time

with him to get to know him,”

said Recreation Coordinator, Linda

Coleman. “He is loveable, warm and

funny.”

If Brett isn’t attending a concert or play

with his family, then you could likely

find him making jokes with HHC staff

or showing off his dance moves in the

Afterhours program.

HELPING HAND CENTER SUMMER 2019 hhcenter.org 7

GOING FOR A RIDE

“People that appreciate the little things that clients

like Brett do and take so much delight in, that’s

what makes HHC what it is,” said Carol. “The staff at HHC wants them to do

well, be happy and be whoever they are truly

meant to be.”

Born with Down syndrome, Brett has encountered many physical and cognitive challenges. Through Brett’s perseverance and the genuine care of the HHC staff, Brett has opened doors that would have never before been opened.

What do runners have to do?• Commit to raise a minimum of $150 for Helping

Hand Center by October 9, 2019.• SIGN UP TODAY AT www.hhcenter.org/Team5K• Fill out the Helping Hand Team 5K Runner

Application online and submit by July 30, 2019• Use the runner code you receive after

submitting your Helping Hand Team 5K Runner Application to officially register for the 5K. Discounted entry is $23

All runners will receive a Helping Hand Team 5K shirt to wear on race day.

How can I get involved?• Sign up to run! www.hhcenter.org/Team5K• Join our High Five Crew and come out to

cheer on our race day participants.• Support our runners with a donation.

Be a charity partner! Come out and run for Helping Hand Team 5K in the Healthy Drive Naperville 5K on Sunday, October 20, 2019. Join us to raise awareness and funds to support programs and services.

NEW! for Helping Hand Center Sunday Oct. 20, 2019

Eight of our clients were the first to sign-up to participate. We asked a few why they are running.

“I’m running because I know if will help people out. I want people to learn that we have good staff.” — Leon

“I’m running because it’s good to exercise. I want people to learn that we do a lot of fun things here.” — Nicole

“I’m running because it’s something I can do with my family. I want people to learn that we go on outings.” — Dianne

ABOVE Join Leon,

Nicole and Dianne

and run for Helping Hand

Team 5k!

NON-PROFIT POSTAGE

PAID LAGRANGE, IL PERMIT 234

Helping Hand Center 9649 W. 55th Street Countryside, IL 60525

Save the date and plan to join us for upcoming events!For details visit www.hhcenter.org/events

Family PicnicJuly 31

Team 5KOctober 20

Annual Gallery NightNovember 14

Annual Family PicnicWednesday, July 31, 2019

Ty Warner Park, Westmont, 5-8pm

Thanks to several generous family donations, this event is again FREE to our families and staff.

Capacity is limited to the first 300 registrants.Sign-up today to reserve your space at

www.hhecenter.org/events.

Join us for burgers, games and an evening of fun