February 2012

Monthly Family Communication

 

Helping Hand Center in the News & Community Outreach

Win a Brand New iPod!

Helping Hand Center is holding its first ever Raffle-O-Rama! Contestants sell as many Grand Raffle Tickets for Helping Hand Center’s upcoming Gala & Auction by Monday, March 5th. Whoever sells the most wins a brand new iPod Nano! For contest details or to sign up, visit our website.

Raffle-O-Rama!

Disability Awareness Training

Representatives from Helping Hand Center recently visited Numark Credit Union in Countryside to conduct Disability Awareness Training. The training is a free service offered by Helping Hand Center to teach employees how to better communicate with coworkers and customers with disabilities. If your business is interested in receiving disability awareness training, please contact Lauren Narducci, Community Relations Manager at (708) 352-3580 x293 or lauren.narducci@hhcenter.org.

You can find out more on our website:

Numark Credit Union Receives Disability Awareness Training

Whole Foods 5% Day for Helping Hand Center

Shop at Whole Foods Market Hinsdale on Wednesday, March 14th where 5% of all purchases for that day will benefit Helping Hand Center.

Community Support Day at Whole Foods Hinsdale

Healthy Mom, Healthy Family Conference

Helping Hand Center is collaborating with the Center for Independence to offer a one-day conference for moms of children with disabilities and special needs on Sunday, April 22nd. Please see the following link for additional information:

Healthy Mom, Healthy Family

New Board Members

We will welcome two new Policy Board members next month: Jeff MacKay, a lawyer in the Lisle/Downers Grove area, and Susan Cox, who is returning to the Policy Board. Susan is now a federal magistrate judge. Welcome new Policy Board members!

Winter Newsletter

Be on the lookout in your mailbox for the Helping Hand Center Winter Newsletter. It will be mailed out shortly!

 

Helping Hand Center Program Updates

Licensure Review

The Department of Human Services showed up Monday, January 23rd to complete their yearly Day Training (DT) review and three-year Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) - our residential homes - licensure. The review team did a complete review on CILA and DT; they reviewed client files, residential personnel files, DT personnel files, policies and procedures, all fire and safety drills, Intermittent CILA review, residential site inspections, and the list goes on and on... We are so pleased that the reviewers were extremely complimentary of the organization and quality of work that was presented. They kept saying what an amazing program we have and how well organized the staff is.

We received a 100% for DT Licensure and 98% for CILA! This is really something to be proud of! 

Be a part of Helping Hand Center's

Extreme Residential Home Makeover!

We are currently renovating one of our oldest homes for adults with disabilities in LaGrange. We're reaching out to the community to see if you want to be a part of this exciting Extreme Residential Home Makeover and help to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in your community. Below is a list of some of the goods and services that Helping Hand Center needs now in order for this home makeover to happen. If you, your company, a friend, or neighbor is interested in helping or contributing to this home makeover, please call Beth Patterson at 708-352-3580 x228. After we complete the construction in early spring, we will transform this house into a home with housewarming gifts. We're registered at the stores below. Gather your friends and create a gift basket of items we need, host a shower, or tell a youth group about this Extreme Residential Home Makeover. Please consider making a difference in the lives of people with disabilities in your community.

Drywall

Paint/Painting

Plumbing

Ceramic Tile

Kitchen Cabinetry

Interior doors and trim

Lighting fixtures

Kitchen Appliances

Countertops

Generator

Concrete – Ramp and patio

Lumber – interior and exterior

Bathroom fixtures and accessories

Door and Cabinet Hardware

Landscaping services & materials

Target Stores Registry ID#: 017399100640882 First name: Helping Hand Last name: Center

Bed, Bath, and Beyond Stores Registry ID#: 6116142 First Name: Helping Hand Last name: Center

Special Olympics Basketball Teams

Both the Orange and Blue Wildcats teams participated in their District Basketball Tournament recently. Both teams played with a lot of heart!  The Orange team played against some very tough competition and took fourth place in their division.   The Blue team was able to take a silver medal. They won their first game and lost their second game in overtime, in an exciting and hard fought game. All of our athletes should be very proud of their season!

Volunteer News

Thanks to all of our wonderful volunteers for their tremendous support. Their efforts this past month added up to 570 hours and included:

Kiwanis volunteers continued to provide service to us and painted several rooms at one of our group homes this past month.

Three new DePaul Students started working in Special Recreation After Hours programs.

The Fenwick Hockey Team sponsored a fundraiser for Helping Hand Center at a home game and raised $515.

Volunteers continued to set up and organize the Children Services library.

Kohl’s volunteers attended and assisted at the "Friday Night" Wolves Hockey Game.

Best Buy volunteers continued to support our Gala & Auction with contributions and volunteer hours.

Our Thrift Shop volunteers continue to volunteer hundreds of hours each month!

Family Association Membership

Time to join the Family Association! This is a great way to support Helping Hand Center and our clients. Annual membership starts or renews now. Please contact us at Helping Hand Center if you have any questions.

 

Donations & Grants

Everyday, we receive donations to our organization. Thank you to all who give to Helping Hand Center - the support is wonderful and very much needed as we continue our quality programs and services! The following organizations and individuals recently provided donations to Helping Hand Center:

Anonymous Mr. & Mrs. Raymond T. Adams, Jr. American Girl Charitable Donations Mr. & Mrs. Paul Anandappa Mr. & Mrs. Jeffrey M. Anderson Appreciation Events Bennett & Brosseau Roofing, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Charles A. Benson, Jr. Best Buy Mr. Jim Breen Mr. & Mrs. William Brill Ms. Carol Brown Mr. & Mrs. Robert Burchette Mr. & Mrs. Kevin Burke Cafe Salsa Cashman Stahler Group Central Rehab, Inc Chicago Cubs Ms. Rose H. Christ ClearStaff Ms. Jane Ann Curto Ms. Regina F. Dalton Embassy Suites Mr. & Mrs. Milton Fanta Fenwick High School First National Bank of LaGrange Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Flynn Ms. Julie Francis Frank Novotny & Associates, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Donald J. Fries Mr. & Mrs. John L. Garlanger

Ms. Carole Gierloff Grace Lutheran Church of LaGrange Mr. & Mrs. Howard A. Graening Grand Lux Cafe Grand Victoria Casino Graue Mill and Museum Mr. Ervin Habada Dr. Margaret Hannon Mr. & Mrs. John Hesselgrave Mr. & Mrs. Dennis P. Higgins Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood River Casino Huizenga Capital Management Illinois Sports Facilities Authority Ms. Joan Joji Ms. Nancy Kahn Kane County Cougars Ms. Harriette F. Kelleher Mr. & Mrs. Thomas J. Kite Kohl's Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth T. Kostal Lawry's- The Prime Rib Mr. & Mrs. Albert Lawson Mr. & Mrs. Paul Leganski Lettuce Entertain You Mr. & Mrs. Dale Lilburn Lyons & Pinner Electric Companies Lyons Township Mental Health Comm. Mr. William Marr Mr. & Mrs. David V. May Mr. & Mrs. Thomas McCague Mr. & Mrs. Derek G. Metcalf

Mid American Group Midwest Sporting Goods Dr. & Mrs. George Moran Normandy Builders, Inc Nyco Products Company Oasis Women's Fitness & Spa Ms. Lora Oldham Parent Petroleum Preferred Health Care, Ltd. Mr. & Mrs. Kazys Razma Mr. & Mrs. Joseph E. Reynolds Riverside Township Lions Club Ms. Roseann Salerno Sci Tech Museum Mr. & Mrs. Robert J. Shaughnessy Shedd Aquarium Ms. Susan Shipper-Smith Ms. Julie Silverstein & Ms. Kim Colweck Mr. & Mrs. Richard Simnick Mr. & Mrs. Michael Smetana Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Snow Mr. & Mrs. Harvey Speaks Mr. & Mrs. Anthony E. Speiser Mr. & Mrs. William Splitgerber Strategic Hotels & Resorts TCF National Bank The Capital Grille Trust Company of Illinois UPS Ms. Gertrude A. Wimmer World  Fuel Services

 

Events

              

Pasta Supper

The Helping Hand Center Family Association is hosting its annual Pasta Supper on Friday, February 10th at 6:30pm in the Wellness Center in Countryside. There will be food, music, and socializing! Please contact Helping Hand Center if you are interested in attending.

2012 Helping Hand Center Gala & Auction

Mark your calendars for March 10, 2012 for Helping Hand Center’s 13th Annual Gala & Auction at the Burr Ridge Marriott.

The Gala & Auction is our largest fundraising event of the year! All of the proceeds go to the Helping Hand Center operational budget, which supports all agency programs and services. Look for your invitation in the mail! Reservations can also be made online at www.hhcenter.org. Look for the Gala tab. The event will include cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, “Invest in the Mission,” a Grand Raffle drawing, Client Achievement Awards, live entertainment, and much more.

Helping Hand Center Annual Gold Outing

Save the Date! The Helping Hand Center Golf Outing has been scheduled for July 16th, 2012. More information to come - mark your calendars now!

Mary Beth Hepp
Helping Hand Center Executive Director