THIS MONTH’S ISSUE

Over 98% of the applicable standards met in the Community Integrated Living Program! 95% of the relevant standards for the Developmental Training Day Program were fulfilled! These are the agency’s scores from the recently conducted Annual Survey by the state’s Bureau of Accreditation, Licensure & Certification. These marks are certainly something to take satisfaction with, given they demonstrate our staffs’ ability to interpret and apply the direction contained in the Rules imposed by the regulatory bodies of the Illinois Department of Human Services.

But the outcomes of the survey that I am most heartened by, and which I believe to be most important, were the affirmative statements made by both consumers and guardians about their services and supports here at Garden Center. It was such pleasant experience to sit and listen to the surveyors share comments about the responses they had received from their interviews. It was obvious that statements like, “This agency saved my brother”, “My staff really like to hang out with me!”, or “ The worst days are when the day program is closed”, were not

comments the surveyors hear every day. Please join me in applauding and thanking our wonderful staff for creating such a caring place to work and play at.

As this newsletter goes to print, we are still unsure of our funding for the fiscal year that begins Friday, July 1st. What is certainly obvious is that disability providers

will be heading into their 9th straight year with no Cost of Doing Business increase, which if you take into consideration an annual 2.5% inflation rate, results in a 22.5% reduction in funding over the last 9 years. This situation, in addition to the uncertainty of our rates for the coming year, have lead to decisions that are necessary to tighten our financial belt. I ask your understanding and support for these decisions and any changes they create.

Certainly, your ongoing financial and moral support is so appreciated during these times. As any of you have creative ideas that could help the agency’s bottom line, do not hesitate to contact me. I want to thank everybody that contributed to the recent Walk-A-Thon. It was a magnificent event and certainly a celebration of Garden Center Services.

THE LEAFLET

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.

The View From My Chair

Garden Center Family Spotlight

Heard You Need a Will?

Friends of Garden Center

01020304

ISSUE JUL YEAR 2011

a MESSaGE FrOM OUr ExECUTIVE dIrECTOr

A 501(C)(3) NONPROFIT ORGANIzATION

The View From My Chair

But the outcomes of the survey that I am most heartened by... were the affirmative statements made by both consumers and guardians about their services and supports

here at Garden.

“

”

Kelvin Griffin has been with Garden Center for over three years. He works at the Moody House. Kelvin says he loves working at Garden Center because, “The family atmosphere is a place where I can be myself.” Part of being himself is playing practical jokes on his coworkers for which he is infamous. Kelvin is also well known around Garden Center for his impeccable fashion sense and is referred to by many as “The best dressed man at Garden Center.”

Recently, Kelvin and a coworker made arrangements and took a group of four Garden Center consumers to Memphis, TN. It was a dream come true for the group who visited popular local landmarks including the Martin Luther King, Jr. museum. The group is still talking about the great time they had!

When not working Kelvin is busy studying as he works toward his Bachelor degree in Psychology at Governor’s State University. He will graduate in Spring 2012. KELVIN

GRIFFIN

Garden Center is helping the people we serve AND the Earth with our newest endeavour. With our partner, Think Recycle, Garden Center is gathering unwanted cell phones, laptops, inkjets, toner cartridges and digital cameras from the community to recycle. Garden Center earns money for each approved item that we collect. Greentec, the company behind Think Recycle, processes and recycles the products, diverting the electronic waste from entering local landfill sites. Think Recycle will also donate money to have one tree planted, through American Forests for every 24 qualifying products collected by Garden Center. In addition, this summer Think Recycle is awarding an additional cash prize of $750 to the group that collects the most recyclables between July 1st and September 30th. Help us grab the top spot and make a difference by donating your old printer cartridges, cell phones and cameras for recycling. You will find a donation bin at Garden Center’s Main Building and one at our Wesbrook location. Visit the Garden Center website for a list of qualified items we collect.

If your company or civic association would like to place a GCS collection receptacle at their location or would like to donate or help us in another way with our collection efforts, please contact Sheila Ryan-Henry at (708)-398-6587. Your donation will not only support Garden Center Services, but will also help our planet!

Garden Center Goes Even GREENER!

Garden Center Family SpotlightAdam Mack moved to Garden Center about two years ago. He lives at the Berwyn home and is a member of the Community-based group at Wesbrook. Adam loves the numerous activities he is involved in throughout the day. Each week Adam and his group volunteer for multiple charities including The Children’s Museum of Oak Lawn where they sanitize the toys and straighten up the play areas, Meals on Wheels where they deliver food to home-bound seniors, Hansen Center Horse Farm where they sanitize riding helmets and rake the riding ring, Ronald McDonald House where they bake cookies and cakes for families staying there, and The Food Circle where they work out of a local police station to organize and bag extra food donated from Trader Joe’s for needy families.

Somehow even with his busy schedule, Adam finds time for movies, bowling, shopping and his favorite pastime, basketball. Adam loves to go to the park to shoot hoops with his friends. He says he loves to practice shooting long range jumpers and is well-known for his ability to make shots from half-court. When asked about his remarkable talent Adam says, “Sometimes I make a basket and sometimes I miss. I’m good with that. It takes time.”

ADAM MACK

Becca, Steven, Tracey and Lisa recy-cle printer cartridges and small elec-tronics for GCS’s recycling program

A will is your opportunity to help the people and organizations that mean the most to you; to sort out your investments, real estate and other property; to save taxes for your heirs. It’s the most important opportunity you’ll get in your life to tell the world what you want and how you want it done.

On the other hand, without a will your property will be taxed and distributed according to the rules and formulas of the state’s “intestacy” law. Under that law no provision can be made to give extra assistance to a family member who needs it; to pass your Civil War collection on to the friend who shares your interests; or to make a gift to your favorite charity.

There’s still time to make sure that your wishes will be taken into account. Begin to make your plans today: Who will get what? Does anyone need extra, ongoing care? Would a trust for young children or grandchildren be prudent? Next, consult an attorney and get the job done. You’ll experience real peace of mind when your will is complete.(Already have a will? Now is a good time to review it. Tax laws change, and so do family circumstances—births, deaths, divorces, moves to another state... Take the time to make sure that your will still works the way you want it to.)

When you write (or re-write) your will, please consider including a bequest to Garden Center. You’ll be building our future financial strength and helping to ensure that we’ll keep on providing excellent services to people with developmental disabilities for generations to come. You can do all this with a gift that costs you nothing during your lifetime!

We’ll be happy to provide more information about wills and bequests. Just call Michele Hula at (708) 398-6506.

This article is intended to provide general gift planning information. Our organization is not qualified to provide specific legal, tax or investment advice, and this publication should not be looked to or relied upon as a source for such advice. Consult with your legal and financial advisors before making any gift.

Heard You Need a Will? Here’s Why

Garden Center is helping the people we serve AND the Earth with our newest endeavour. With our partner, Think Recycle, Garden Center is gathering unwanted cell phones, laptops, inkjets, toner cartridges and digital cameras from the community to recycle. Garden Center earns money for each approved item that we collect. Greentec, the company behind Think Recycle, processes and recycles the products, diverting the electronic waste from entering local landfill sites. Think Recycle will also donate money to have one tree planted, through American Forests for every 24 qualifying products collected by Garden Center. In addition, this summer Think Recycle is awarding an additional cash prize of $750 to the group that collects the most recyclables between July 1st and September 30th. Help us grab the top spot and make a difference by donating your old printer cartridges, cell phones and cameras for recycling. You will find a donation bin at Garden Center’s Main Building and one at our Wesbrook location. Visit the Garden Center website for a list of qualified items we collect.

If your company or civic association would like to place a GCS collection receptacle at their location or would like to donate or help us in another way with our collection efforts, please contact Sheila Ryan-Henry at (708)-398-6587. Your donation will not only support Garden Center Services, but will also help our planet!

Garden Center Goes Even GREENER!

Pool tableLarge flower potsPicnic tableszoo passesEvent ticketsNew dishesFlat screen TVBookshelfVacuum & attachmentsNew gardening toolsLaptop computersCraft suppliesWall art Frames for artworkBlank canvasesX-Box & dance gamesLiving room setXbox KinectGym dues/passesClub dues

Living room set

GardEN CENTEr’S

NEEdS LIST

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

scrapbookers, Bonsai enthusiasts...

WE NEEd YOU!

Garden Center is looking for everyone

with a hobby or special talent to share.

Volunteer at Garden Center this summer

to share your gift with us!

GCS BULLETIN BOARD

dId YOU KNOW?You can now purchase artwork by Garden Center Artists on our

website!Just visit

www.GardenCenterServices.org and click on the Art Gallery tab to view and

FRIENDS OF GARDEN CENTERWHErE 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 CombsSecretary Shelly ScintoTreasurer r. pat Ballis

Members: John J. Kunkes Frances MientusLinda Stearns daniel Wenzler

http://www.facebook.com/gardencenterservices

http://twitter.com/gardencentersrv

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

$1,500-$3,500UNITED WAY

$1,000 - $1,499• Margaret M. Horny

$500 - $999• ILLINOIS STATE COUNCIL #3582• CHICAGO LAWN SERTOMA

$100 - $499• BURBANK WOMEN’S CIVIC CLUB• THE MPOWER GROUP, INC.

MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• FREEBORN & PETERS LLPMEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• THE CLOROX COMPANY FOUNDATION• Sherry L. VanKuren • Jeff Cyga

MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Dorothy Ballis• Mr. and Mrs. Walter Jurkiewicz

MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Anne BurgessMEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Eric StortzMEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Nicole SchaeferMEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Judith StortzMEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Eileen ThomasMEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Angela MartinezWISH LIST IN HONOR OF THE MCGRATH FAMILY

Up to $99• Elsa Heinemann -

MEMORIAL FOR GENE OLIVOMEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Melissa C. Schaefer• Elsa Heinemann -

MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• CORONA BRUSHES, INC - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• HALLMAN LINDSAY PAINTS, INC. - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Mary Ann Lawlor - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Cheskis - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Mr. & Mrs. David zelis - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Beverly Peters - DONATION FOR JANET & MYRTIS WINTERS’ BIRTHDAYS

• Frances Mientus - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Joseph zaremba -MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Mr. & Mrs.Dimitri Hoteko -

MEMORIAL FOR DEAN STOVER HOTEKO

• Shelley Schmitt - MEMORIAL FOR WALTER CARBONNEAU

• Shelly Scinto• Myrtis Winter -

MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Linda Sherwood -MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Michael O’Grady - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Deborah Arends - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Barbara Clarke -MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Linda Stearns - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Barbara BierigMEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Helen Pietryla - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Steffi Bierig -MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Andrew Weis - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Antoine HintonMEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Richard WasserMEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• SEYMOUR MANUFACTURING COMPANY - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Frances Mientus - MEMORIAL FOR VIOLA FREDRICKS

• Elizabeth Forster - MEMORIAL FOR VIOLA FREDRICKS

• Mr. & Mrs. Douglas CombsMEMORIAL FOR VIOLA FREDRICKSMEMORIAL FOR RON HARALSONMEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Vicky Shalaby - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Robert E. Spain - MEMORIAL FOR ARTHUR KLOOSTEEMAN

• Edward Crowe - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Grace Woodin - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Maureen Pietryla - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Mr. & Mrs. James D. Russo - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• RECORD COPY SERVICE - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Lillian Wessel - MEMORIAL FOR BETTY L. OLSON

• Mr.& Mrs. Peter Buzane• Mr. & Mrs. Cianain Rickard -

MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

• Marguerite Marcinkiewicz - MEMORIAL FOR STEVE CYGA

March-May 2011