Individual. Family. Community
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Individual. Family. Community. FY18-19 Gratitude Report May 1, 2018-April 30, 2019 With Gratitude Western DuPage Special Recreation Association serves the communities of Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Glen Ellyn, Naperville, Roselle, Warrenville, West Chicago, Wheaton and Winfield Dear Friend, Thanks to your support, lives are being All of this was made possible because changed every day. of your support. Lives are changing because you made a donation, The health, well-being and overall attended an event, spread the word development of those who come to about our programs and services, or us are positively impacted. Individuals volunteered in one of our programs. discover acceptance and friendships. Families find respite and connections It is with your partnership that we with other families. Communities can Support Individuals, Strengthen grow stronger through meaningful Families, and Build Communities. experiences. I invite you to learn more through the three stories shared on the Thank YOU for making this an following pages. incredible year! The past year has been an exciting one. Our focus continued to be on transforming lives and creating access. I am proud to report that we were Sandra J. Gbur, CPRP able to serve more children through Executive Director inclusion; scholarships were given to 125 individuals; and greater access was given to those with physical disabilities through collaborative experiences. WDSRA MISSION The development of individuals through recreation. WDSRA VISION Opening a world of untapped potential and a lifetime of possibilities. 2 CHANGING LIVES with Your Support Supporting Individuals Every child, teen and adult comes to WDSRA to find instant acceptance, understanding, friends, a connection to their community, and a lifetime of rich experiences. When they find it, their lives change forever. Your donations help make WDSRA programs a large part of their life each and every day. Strengthening Families Raising a child with disabilities poses a unique family dynamic. A child with special needs requires a lot of attention. That means significantly less time for siblings and spouses. Family relationships can suffer. Your support helps families use the respite found with WDSRA programs to restore a healthy balance to the entire family. Building Communities Good relationships are at the heart of a strong community. It’s what connects us all. Being a part of the community means sharing common experiences, making meaningful connections and giving as much as taking from those experiences and connections. Your contributions help create a stronger awareness leading to a greater sense of community among participants, families and beyond. 3 SUPPORTING INDIVIDUALS When a child smiles we smile with them. When they cry, it breaks your heart. What should have been every little girls dream was actually just too much for 4-year-old Reagan to handle. With her severe anxiety, that very first dance class got her so nervous she cried and screamed the entire time. WDSRA inclusion staff encouraged Reagan to participate in class and interact with peers. They gave her the tools she needed to gain confidence and be more comfortable in her surroundings. Reagan learned how to manage her anxiety and enjoy ballet class. When she wavered, WDSRA was there to help. Reagan went from crying to smiling. So did mom. With WDSRA inclusion services, Reagan was able to be an adorable 4-year-old little ballerina! Reagan’s world opened up with the help of WDSRA Inclusion Services. “We never thought Reagan would be able to do the things every other child her age does. But we took a chance. With WDSRA inclusion services, Reagan went from crying to smiling!” Shannon, Reagan’s mom 4 STRENGTHENING FAMILIES Respite gives families the opportunity to stress less and focus on each other. Imagine leaving your child, a typical rambunctious 7-year-old who loves to get into everything, in the care of a stranger for the first time. Now imagine that he has Down Syndrome and is nonverbal. Until she found WDSRA, Elizabeth had only entrusted Maverick’s care to herself or a select family member. With a WDSRA one-on-one staff at summer camp, Elizabeth finally found a place she felt comfortable and that Maverick could enjoy. With Maverick at camp during the day, it gave Elizabeth the opportunity to give Mackenzie, Maverick’s younger sister, the undivided attention she deserved. Because of his needs, Maverick always had to come first. That was hard on Mackenzie. One-on-one time with mom was difficult. But with the respite found through WDSRA, Elizabeth had a chance to worry less about Maverick and focus “This was the first time, instead of more on Mackenzie. That was a gift to running after Maverick, I was able both of them. to spend the time he was at camp Having Maverick in a WDSRA camp with Mackenzie…. something that let Elizabeth take a step back and would never have happened if just be a mom…to both her children. Maverick was at home instead of at WDSRA summer camp.” Elizabeth, Maverick & Mackenzie’s mom 5 BUILDING COMMUNITY Collaboration creates acceptance and fosters unique relationships. On any given Monday evening, COD football athletes and WDSRA athletes can be found in the weight room working out together. The space is tight with about 50 athletes in the weight room. But once the music gets pumped up you can see the camaraderie build as they work out side-by-side. COD players teach technique and challenge WDSRA athletes. WDSRA athletes unsuspectingly educate COD athletes on how to see a person’s abilities rather than disabilities. The partnership transforms the COD athletes. They learn that everyone can work to maximize abilities while strengthening disabilities. The WDSRA athletes build relationships and begin to see themselves as peers. Athletes working out with other athletes. Everyone pushing each other to be the best they can be. Over 400 COD student-athletes have “The WDSRA weightlifting been a part of the program program has transformed our and afforded the opportunity to players and their viewpoint. I become better role models, know the WDSRA athletes are leaders and individuals. helping build champions.” Coach Foster, College of DuPage head football coach 6 Annual Appeal Going on Now through December 31, 2019 We depend on your gift to Support Individuals. Strengthen Families. Build Community. Help Meet the Match and Raise $12,500! Ways to Donate: Donations made online to www.wdsra.com Donate online at www.wdsra.com. between Nov. 1 thru Dec. 3, 2019 will be matched by the Mail your donation to: Donate WDSRA Foundation Coleman Foundation Online (up to $12,500). 116 N. Schmale Rd. Carol Stream, IL 60188 For every donation $175 or more Coleman will Make checks payable to the donate $175: WDSRA Foundation Your donation of $175 turns into $350 Your donation of $250 turns into $425 THANK YOU! Your donation of $500 turns into $675 If your company offers a matching gift program, simply Please give generously. return that information with your contribution. (WDSRA EIN #36-3932924). WDSRA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit Ask family and friends to give too. organization and all contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.the extent allowed by law. 7 FY18-19 IN REVIEW Impacting Individuals • 2,693 through seasonal programs • 822 served through Inclusion services • Overall Inclusion support increased 2% • Summer Inclusion support increased 8% • 100% of survey respondents rated Inclusion Services excellent or good • Special Event registrations increased 15% Transforming Lives • 656 scholarships given to 125 individuals • 94 people donated to Raise the Paddle • 410 volunteers donated their time • 3,426 volunteer hours helped support WDSRA programs • 358 seasonal staff worked WDSRA programs Building Community Spotlight: Rec & Roll Adult Day Program • 6 Rec & Roll sites • 132 individuals served • 7,350 recreation hours offered 8 Creating Access Spotlight: Synergy Adaptive Athletics (SAA) • Athletes attended an Archery Challenge, an Adaptive Climbing Trip and USA Boccia National Tournament • Collaborated with Adaptive Adventures, Shirley Ryan Ability Lab and multiple rehabilitation hospitals • Hosted the 2018 USA Boccia National Tournament with 93 athletes from across the country in attendance • At the 2018 USA Boccia National Tournament, athletes took gold and silver in teams, silver in pairs and three individuals placed 2nd and 3rd Challenging Athletes Spotlight: 2018 50th Anniversary Special Olympics Summer Games • 25 athletes qualified • 5 coaches qualified • 6 sports represented • 30 medals awarded Sharing Passions Spotlight: Seasonal Staff • 31 training classes offered • 321 individual staff trained • 1,057 training sessions completed 9 THE WDSRA FAMILY WDSRA Board WDSRA Foundation of Directors Board of Trustees Tim Reinbold, Chairman Jeff Hayden, Chairman Warrenville Park District Byline Bank Carrie Fullerton Mark Barnick Guggenheim Partners Bloomingdale Park District Jim Reuter Dr. Lori Belha Clutter Counselor, Inc. Carol Stream Park District Elden Brauer Dave Harris Advanced Insurance Glen Ellyn Park District Partners, Inc. Ray McGury Debra Dunne Naperville Park District Westell Technologies, Inc. Rob Ward/ Julie Evans Lynn McAteer Glen Ellyn Public Library Roselle Park District Dirk Glass Gary Major Advanced Insurance West Chicago Park District Partners, Inc. Mike Benard Kevin Lavin Wheaton Park District Lavin Companies Mark Pawlowski Pat Marks Winfield Park District St. Alexius Medical Center Sandy Gbur Board Secretary, WDSRA Nadine Roy