In honor of Mother’s day this upcoming Sunday, RGA would like to take a moment to thank all of the wonderful mothers that have made huge differences in the lives of people with disabilities. At Ray Graham Association, we consider everyone family and celebrate the mother’s of all we employ and provide services to! Take a moment to read a few examples of how our mothers have made such a powerful impact on the people we serve. Thank you to all those mothers who have given so much to us and to their children.

Ann & Michael Farnham

Ann and Michael Farnham at the SLC

Ann and Michael have been with Ray Graham Association and the Iona Glos Specialized Living Center since 1980. As one of the original families at the SLC, Anne oversaw much of the construction. Michael came to RGA from a State-run facility and has shown incredible growth since his move over twenty years ago. Ann and Michael have a very close relationship. Ann visits Michael at the SLC for holidays and Special Events. Michael loves his visits with his mother, especially when they go to Casey’s, their favorite restaurant, for lunch. Ann calls frequently to check in on Michael and his fellow residents. She wishes she could visit more but understands that Michael’s independence is important and supports his need for this. Ann is a wonderful mother to Michael. We thank Ann for her involvement and her dedication to Ray Graham Association and her role as a mother. Happy Mother’s Day Ann!

Lorraine & Chrissy Yavorski

Chrissy’s close relationship with her parents is well-known by all at the SLC. Lorraine, along with her husband Michael, visit and take Chrissy home once a week. Chrissy and her mother often share long walks and car rides where they spend quality time together. The family’s favorite thing to do at home is turn on music and dance around the house, especially to Chrissy’s favorite “oldies!” The whole family enjoys long car trips and frequently travel to Starved Rock in Illinois where she and her mother particularly love to hike the trails and take in the beautiful scenery. Lorraine and Chrissy share a love for small, roadside diners and always stop at one on their way back home. The Yavorski’s take an annual trip to Gulf Shore in Alabama where Chrissy loves their waterfront property. Chrissy keeps a picture of their home by her bedside and reminices about the ocean everytime she sees it. Lorraine and her husband have noticed that within the past year Chrissy has begun hugging and cuddling with them much more even when it is not solicited. Lorraine described this as being a wonderful thing for her because as a mother of a person with a disability it is a great feeling to be able to see the love their child has for them. We hope that Chrissy gives her mother a hug from us this Mother’s Day too! Happy Mother’s Day Lorraine!

Betty & Robert Sheaks

Robert Sheaks

Robert Sheak’s relationship with his mother, Betty Sheaks, is not only admirable, but endless. Robert visits his mother almost every weekend and the two go on many vacations to Florida and Kentucky. Robert enjoys visiting her and writing her letters to fill her in with his life, how he is doing and the activities he participates in. Ray Graham Association provides transportation for Bobby to visit his mother on a weekly basis to support their exceptional bond. Betty fully supports Bobby in everything he does and often contributes to RGA to ensure it’s exceptional services and continued efforts to support and empower individuals with developmental disabilities. Ray Graham Association would just like to say Happy Mother’s Day to Betty Sheaks and to all the other mothers who continue to exhibit the courage and strength to impact their children’s lives.

The proceeds from the golf outing will be used to provide the very best in residential, educational, recreational, vocational and respite services to nearly 2,000 children and adults with disabilities.

The golf outing will be held on Monday, May 21, 2012 at River Forest Country Club in Elmhurst, IL. The shotgun start will be at noon.  

This is a year that you don’t want to miss! We have made some exciting updates to the event, including the change to a Shamble golf format. A Shamble is a type of golf tournament that combines elements of a scramble with elements of regular stroke play.

If you wish to support RGA while enjoying a day of golf, we have some great sponsorship opportunities available. Packages start at $1,500/foursome and up. Sponsorship benefits include items such as golf foursomes, company promotion on marketing materials and recognition at the event. If you are interested in learning more about sponsorship options or wish to purchase an individual golfer ticket, place contact:

Julia Baker, Community Relations/Special Events- Phone:  (630) 628-7274, Email: juliab@raygraham.org 

Pony Rides

Pony rides begin Sunday, April 15 at 1pm. A donation of $5 is requested for each pony ride, and this donation will be used to support RGA’s Therapeutic Horsemanship Program. Pony rides occur the second Sunday of each month from 1pm – 2pm, rain or shine.

Horse Lover’s Camp

This camp is great for children that are interested in learning more about horses! Camp occurs August 6, 8, and 10 from 9am to 2:30 pm. Cost is $250 for the three days. Children must be 8 years and older.

Campers will enhance their English and Western style riding skills and gain an overall understanding of horses. This includes learning about breeds, confirmation, tacking, grooming, health care, nutrition and barn safety. And that’s not all. Campers will play games, watch videos and create horse related crafts.

Hanson Center Birthday Parties

Looking for a place to host your child’s birthday party? The Hanson Center is the perfect location! Birthday parties occur each Saturday from 1pm – 3pm. The Birthday Party Package includes the following:  Supervised horse activity, participation in grooming and feeding sessions, visits to the petting zoo, playtime on the accessible playground, access to lower-level playroom for birthday cake and treat bags for all attendees.

Party packages start at $250 for up to 12 children; $15 for each additional child.

If you are interested in learning more about these activities, please contact Horsemanship Program Coordinator, Cathy LeBeau at 630.325.5330 or via email at cathyl@raygraham.org.

Not only was this elegant event enjoyable for all, it also raised funds for Ray Graham Association’s programs and services. Specifically, $207 of each $250 ticket was given back to RGA programs. A huge thank you to everyone that purchased tickets and made donations to RGA. Your endless support helped RGA sell enough tickets to be part of the First Look for Charity pool, making the donation to our organization even greater. We truly appreciate your generosity.

The stunning group of Ray Graham Association staff and supporters smile for a group photo at Chicago Auto Show’s First Look for Charity event. Thank you to all that attending this event!

Young Adults with Autism Face Barriers

What does this mean?  H.R. 3587 would require that states pay 90% of all clean Medicaid claims within 30 days of the date of receipt. States would also have to pay 99% of claims in 90 days. This is a big deal!  As the State shuffles through the backlogs of unpaid bills, nonprofit providers like Ray Graham Association wait months to receive payments. 

You can help make a difference!

Simply write a brief letter or make a telephone call to your Member of Congress at their Washington, D.C. office.  Directory:  http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_id

If you decide to call, ask to speak with the Health Legislative Assistant. Whether you call or write a letter, be sure to ask that your Member of Congress co-sponsor H.R. 3587. Tell your Member of Congress that organizations like Ray Graham Association have been waiting for payments since July. Be sure to express how important it is to have community-based services for children and adults with disabilities.

Thank you for your assistance!

The seventh annual Professional Development Day was hosted at DePaul University’s Naperville Campus at the beginning of December. More than 50 students attended the event which focused on the job search, interviewing and how to be a successful employee. There was even a panel discussion featuring young adults who had successfully transitioned to adult life. Thank you to our presenters and all of the students and staff that attended the event. A special thank you goes out to the Rotary Club of Elmhurst for sponsoring this great day! Your support is greatly appreciated.

Ray Graham Association (RGA) creates magical moments for nearly 2,000 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families throughout the year. This is especially true during the holiday season.

Billy lived in state-run institutions for 45 years before moving to his new home at RGA where he receives individualized services and supports. His mother states, “All he did at Howe Developmental Center was sit.” Since Billy’s family was discouraged from taking him home for the holidays, many holidays came to pass without Billy and his family celebrating, laughing and enjoying time with each other. Last year, a magical moment was created for Billy and his family. Billy’s mother said, “At the Annual RGA Holiday Party I watched Billy dance. I didn’t even know that he liked to dance!” While at the party, Billy and his family had their first family holiday photo taken in many, many years.

Whether it be a holiday, birthday or just some quality family time, Billy and his family enjoy taking advantage of every opportunity to spend time together. Billy is enjoying the freedom that comes with living in a community-based setting; he is making new friends, communicating more with his family and exploring new interests. Billy’s mother further says, “I’ve seen a lot of improvement with Billy since his move from the institution to RGA. We are very excited to see what Billy’s future will hold.”

Please help us continue to create magical moments.  If you wish to make an online donation, please click here. Your support makes a difference!

Warmly,

Kim Zoeller

President and CEO

Billy and his Family experiencing the magic of the Holidays at Ray Graham Association’s 2010 Annual Holiday Party.

The RGA cookbook is available for $30, and all proceeds will benefit RGA. To order, please contact Meg Nolan at 630.834.4106 ext. 111.