“We have been informed by the State that our funding will remain the same once again this year. Of course, with the rising cost of living expenses, this really means a decrease in funding levels.”

Super Sunny 5k & Walk

2013JULY

THE VIEW FROM MY CHAIR

Page 1

GCS FAMILY SPOTLIGHT

Page 2

SUPER SUNNY 5k

Page 3

AROUND GCS

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

HE LEAFLETTG a r d e n C e n t e r S e r v i c e s

A MESSAGE FROM OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

The View From My Chair

Here at GCS July begins the start of our new fiscal year. We have been informed by the State that our funding will remain the same once again this year. Of course, with the rising cost of living expenses, this really means a decrease in funding levels.

Through the well-planned expansion of services, Garden Center Services has been able

to generate additional revenue allowing

us to maintain

the services we provide. However, we recognize that we must find alternative revenue streams to maintain the quality of those services.

Over the past two years, we have opened two new homes providing residential services to ten new consumers. Additionally, our day programs have expanded to offer additional services to a number of new individuals. The Kedzie

program has given us the space to serve more people. At the State building, we are currently remodeling the program space to better serve the additional participants there. Finally, the Garden Gallery & Studio provides new day programming options for a number of new consumers.

Speaking of the Garden Gallery & Studio, I hope that you will be able to join us on Thursday, July 11th from 5-8 p.m., as we celebrate the Gallery’s one-year anniversary. There will be live music, refreshments, and a “Canstruction” Food Sculpture built collaboratively between our artists and Whole Foods Market. Please join us to celebrate a year of amazing accomplishments by our Gallery artists!

2COFFEE Co.COFFEE Co.

.Tastes Good. Does Good. Feels Good

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO SOUTH DIVISION CREDIT UNION

South Division Credit Union provided Garden Center with 30 tickets to a recent Windy City ThunderBolts game. They also bought hot dogs and drinks for everyone that attended. We had an amazing time and are grateful to our friends at South Division Credit Union for making this event possible.

Krista joined the Garden Center family this past May. She attends school at West Leyden HS and attends the

Kedzie Day Program in the afternoons after school lets out. Krista is a very social person, easy to talk to and quick to make friends. She says she loves “doing laps”

around Kedzie while listening to her iPod to visit with her many new Garden Center pals. She jokes that her favorite thing at Kedzie is taking a coffee break!

Anyone who knows Krista will tell you she loves music and is practically attached to her iPod. Her favorite musicians are Michael Jackson and Kenny G. She recently started

sharing her love of music with other fans at our weekly Kedzie music group.

Krista moved into our Oak Lawn house at the same time she started at Kedzie. She says the best thing about her new home are the people because they are “pretty nice”. We

think you’re pretty nice too Krista and we look forward to getting to know you even better.

What our customer, Chicago Metallic Corp., says about GCS WORKS!... “Chicago Metallic Corp, a major manufacturer of ceiling systems, has been working with the team at Garden Center Services for over nine years. Chicago Metallic sends all their ceiling clips to Garden Center for final assembly and bagging of parts. In 2012, Garden Center assembled over 230,000 bags for

Chicago Metallic. The work has always been completed in a timely manner and we consider the Garden Center team part of our family. We are extremely grateful to them for their excellent contribution to our company.”

Doug TierneyChicago Metallic Corporation

Sunny grew up in a sunflower field in Kansas... you know the kind... blue skies and lots of sun. Many people assume that is how she got her name, but actually, Sunny will tell you her mom was a huge Sonny & Cher fan and a terrible speller. Sunny recognized early on that she had a talent for staff recognition and always knew what she wanted to do. Although it was bittersweet, in 2012 Sunny left her home for Illinois. Why Illinois you ask? Well, as Illinois is ranked 42nd of the 50 states in regard to spending for disability funding, and providers in this state have not received a funding increase in the past several years, Sunny thought Illinois was a place that could use her special brand of support and encouragement. She was right! Sunny joined GCS as our official staff mascot in the Spring of last year and never looked back.

“Sunny has an unique way of making people smile and making clear to our staff just how much we appreciate the work they do.” says Cindy Haworth, Director of Operations, “It is not most work environments where a giant flower bursts in unexpectedly to thank you for a job well-done and pose for pictures.” Sunny agrees and says she wouldn’t trade her job with our awesome staff for anything.

GARDEN CENTER FAMILY SPOTLIGHT

Sal assembles parts for Chicago Metallic Corp.

Krista

Do good when you shop...GARDEN GALLERY ANNIVERSARY EVENTThursday, July 11th 5pm to 8pm at Garden Gallery & Studio - 17459 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SUPER SALESunday, July 21st 12pm to 4pm at Second Chance Thrift Shoppe - 44 Stephen Street, Lemont

Sunny

G C S B U S I N E S S C O R N E R

Carla caught a ball at the game!

Chris poses with Boomer

(Pictured with Calvin the

3Thursday, July 11th5pm to 8pm

17459 S. Oak Park Ave

Mark your calendar...

needslist

• Computers • Vacuum sweepers• Books• Event tickets• Puzzles• Games• Art/Craft supplies• Art frames• Blank canvases• CDs & players• VHS/DVD players• Exercise videos &

equipment• Music instruments• Digital cameras• X-Box and Wii

games• G a r d e n i n g

supplies• Storage bins• Storage cabinets• Electric Stove

If you have something to donate, please contact Anne McFerron at amcferron@GardenCenterServices.org

GARDEN GALLERY ANNIVERSARY EVENTThursday, July 11th 5pm to 8pm at Garden Gallery & Studio - 17459 S. Oak Park Ave., Tinley Park

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SUPER SALESunday, July 21st 12pm to 4pm at Second Chance Thrift Shoppe - 44 Stephen Street, Lemont

GCS’ SUPER SUNNY 5k and WALK n’ ROLL-a-THONOn Saturday, June 8th, Garden Center Services held its inaugural Super Sunny 5k and annual Walk N’ Roll-a-Thon at Newcastle Park in Burbank.

One thing is for sure, it was super sunny! More than 63 runners joined us in the beautiful sunshine for our first ever 5k portion of the event exceeding our goal of 50. The 5k was reviewed by Zack Freeman in his blog Zack Runs Chicago. You can read his review at www.zachrunschicago.com. The Walk and Roll-a-Thon started soon after the 5k and was enjoyed by all. Thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who made this event possible. A special thanks to The Knights of Columbus who volunteered their grilling expertise for the event.

The Gallery is partnering with Whole Foods to

create a nonperishable food sculpture that will be on display. Food from the

sculpture will be donated to Together We Cope.

SUNNY 5K& WALK ’n ROLL-a-THON

SUPER

A NEW GARDEN CENTER HOME

GCS has officially closed on a new home in Oak Lawn! It has been a long process, but we are finally making a dream come true. The State of Illinois is allowing individuals with disabilities interested in moving into a smaller setting to do so. A group of women living with Garden Center decided they would like to take advantage of this great opportunity. The organization, Celebrate Me Home!, was created by friends and family of one of those women in an effort to make that happen. They worked through Abide in Me, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting people with developmental disabilities, to help GCS raise money for the home. Through many pub crawls, raffles, painting parties and other fundraisers, the group raised money to help GCS purchase a home. We are grateful for the support of Abide in Me and Celebrate Me Home! in helping Garden Center bring this dream to life for those we serve. Stay tuned to our Facebook page and newsletter for updates!

BIG CHANGES AT GCS’ BURBANK DAY PROGRAM

GCS’s program building on Austin in Burbank has seen few upgrades since it was opened as a school by Garden Center’s founders in 1956. Space had become cramped with multiple groups sharing a large room. The current layout contributes to excess noise and makes it dif-ficultforindividualstoconcentrateontheirowngroup’sactivities.Thanks to the support of so many of you during our Christmas Appeal, GCS has begun much needed renovations. We are dividing a large space into three classrooms and adding a private area in another room to make it easier for individuals who need assistance with self-care. We will keep you posted on our progress!

Tracey and Melissa make their way to the start

Lots of dancing at the after party! Happy race winners Amazing cookout by the KOC (St. Louis de Montfort

Council #14553)

GCS’ newest home in Oak Lawn

Join us to celebrate the ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY

of Garden Gallery & Studio!

Renovations will decrease noise... .and increase privacy at

our Burbank location

If you would like to volunteer or make a donation toward needed home goods, please contact Jennifer at Jgeorgis@Gardencenterservices.org.

No First Friday in July

$1,000 - $2,499• BARNABAS FOUNDATION • TRUIST UNITED WAY

Matching Funds

• PATRON DONATIONS TO SEcOND chANcE ThRIFT ShOPPE

• Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Strainis

$500 - $999• EDISON INTERNATIONAL

$100 - $499• cSA FRATERNAL LIFE• UNITED WAY OF GREATER KNOXVILLE

Matching Funds

• BURBANKWOMEN’SCIVICCLUB• ThE cLOROX cOMPANY FOUNDATION• ANONYMOUS DONOR• Denise Gray• SOUTh SIDE BRUShES• James D. Walter• Mr. & Mrs. Dennis conway• Dorothy Ballis• Mr. & Mrs. Robert Willoughby• Mr.MichaelO’Grady•Up to $99 • iGive ONLINE ShOPPING• Ann Mcgrath-harty• Beverly Peters• cUB ScOUT PAcK #3665• Donna Driscoll

MARCH -MAY 2013FRIENDS OF GARDEN cENTER

Growing dignity and independence 8333 S. Austin Ave. Burbank, IL 60459

phone 708.636.0054

email info@gardencenterservices.org

web www.gardencenterservices.org

President Daniel Wenzler

1st Vice President Jenny Wojcik

2nd Vice President Doug Combs

Treasurer R. Pat Ballis

Secretary Annmarie Caulfield

Members: Sharon Duncan

Scott Hardek

John J. Kunkes

Sean O’Shea

Linda Sherwood

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

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.

SECOND CHANCE THRIFT SHOPPENeeds Your Donations!

Donations accepted Monday thru Saturday

10:00am-3:30pm

Adam checks out the latest trucks

Hanging out with NBC’s Andy Avalos at the Autism Speaks Walk

Tim, Inday and Mike show off their

2013 Walk ‘n Roll-a-Thon shirts

Albert has Blackhawk’s Pride!

Perry enjoys the fireworks