Supporting People with Disabilities Since 1934
Easter Seals Kindcare Southeastern Wisconsin
1016 Milwaukee Avenue South Milwaukee, WI 53172 414.571.5566 phone 414.571.9212 tty
www.eastersealswise.com
Fall 2008
After School Programs
Easter Seals is meeting the needs of young adults with disabilities
Easter Seals After School participants enjoy hanging out with friends and staff during activities.
Most child day care centers accept children age 12 and younger, and
most adult day cares accept ages 18 and older. So what happens to the children and young adults who have a need for specialized care, but fall between the age gap? Easter Seals is working to meet the needs of these individuals. Our After School Programs work with children with or without disabilities, offering an inclusive environment during the school year at four locations Milwaukee, New Berlin, Waukesha, and Wauwatosa. We provide respite to families and caregivers, while the participants have opportunities for socializing and developing additional life skills to increase their overall independence. “The program is very person centered,” says Amber Mavroff, Inclusion and Respite Manager at Easter Seals. “Everything is based on what each participant wants to do that day.” Staffers work with the individual participants on homework, crafts, games and a variety of other activities at each site. In addition, every year we look for additional opportunities to use off-site community resources. We find partnership opportunities to enhance our existing programs; and this year our site in New Berlin is collaborating with student volunteers from Eisenhower High School to get involved with our participants in study or recreational activities. We are also adding physical therapy and fitness into our programs. The Waukesha Central Middle School site, in collaboration with Carroll College and a grant from the Stackner Family Foundation is piloting the Thera-Wii program, which increases motor Continued on page 3
“The program is very person centered”
A Message from our CEO
For many people autumn is viewed as a loss of the carefree days of summer.
Children see the long days of school ahead. We, here in Milwaukee start seeing visions of winter and snow. At Easter Seals, September 1 is the start of our new fiscal year. It is a time of reflection coupled with the excitement of new plans and opportunities for the new year. On reflection, this year has been challenging in many ways, as it probably has been for your family. We have seen the rising costs of gasoline and other items, increased unemployment and the weak housing market. Couple that with questions about the direction of our economy and who will be our next President, it seems uncertainty is in the air. These national and personal challenges dominate our thinking and much of our conversations with others. But, if we stop and think of where we and our families have been, in the long run no matter what, we persevere; we develop, grow and move ahead. Much is the same with Easter Seals. This autumn we begin celebrating our 75 years of service through wars, depression, and recessions. As an organization we have been part of a revolution in changing the lives of people with disabilities from institutional care to community-based services, taking part in ongoing developments and advances in education and rehabilitation services, and today provide services to cope with the epidemic of Autism. These 75 years are brightly colored and shaped by a kaleidoscope of faces of participants, the very young and the not so young, families, staff, volunteers, donors, and friends who have joined the Easter Seals family. So as we begin to celebrate our 75th anniversary, we know that the challenges of today will be overcome. We will continue to adapt and grow as a learning organization to meet the challenges of tomorrow. We are confident in our future because we have a history of caring people like you, who are there to help us. So, as we have done for 75 years to literally thousands of donors and volunteers—we say, thank you so much for giving to Easter Seals and the children and adults we serve, a gift from your heart. Happy Anniversary Easter Seals!!!
Easter Seals Kindcare provides exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work and play in their communities.
Board of Directors
President Patty Gregor, J & P Investments Vice President Melissa Koeppel, Grant Thornton Secretary Linda Ryan, RE/MAX Realty 100 Treasurer John Bosbous, Bucyrus International Valerie Clarke, We Energies Ron Groepper, Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare - St. Joseph Robert Mueller, Aurora Health Care Julie Murphy, MAPS WI Geriatric Education Center Marquette University Karen Ordinans, Children’s Health Alliance of WI James J. T. Pittelkow, Equitable Bank Mitchell Quick, Michael, Best & Friedrich LLP Roger Schaus, Generac Beth Schimel, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. Frank Windt, Schenck Business Solutions
Bob Glowacki, CEO
Honorary Board Member B. Artin Haig
This summer participants and staff celebrated their move to the Wauwatosa Center one year ago. Our newly purchased Easter Seals van now resides there.
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After School Programs
Continued from page 1 and interaction skills by implementing the use of the popular Wii game system. The children and young adults who participate in the after school programs like attending because of the caring staff, the friends they make and the variety of fun activities available to them. But the entire family benefits from the quality respite that the programs provide. After school care helps parents who have a difficult time juggling work schedules or allows time for simple tasks like shopping, appointments or getting other siblings to their activities. Families can feel assured that their loved ones are well cared for in a safe environment. All of our staff have completed extensive training and have experience in working with people with disabilities. They are able to meet each participant’s individual needs, whether it be assisting with feeding, administering medications, or other specialized services. As the need has continued to grow so have our after school programs. Our one-year-old Wauwatosa site is off to a great start with the largest increase in enrollment this fall, from 9 to 12 participants. Our Milwaukee site has reached full capacity at 19 participants, and has developed a waiting list. Easter Seals will continue to listen to concerns from school districts and families and grow our after school programs where there is need.
Families of After School participants are grateful for the program, knowing that their loved ones are in good hands.
After school supplies, snacks, educational outings and specialized training all come with costs which continue to increase as family and individual needs increase.
Please consider a $50 gift to support a child in our After School Program.
Your gift provides: • 3 days of programming for an After School student • Healthy snacks for 20 children for a month • Craft and activity supplies for a month for 15 children • Adaptive games for children with autism & other special needs to develop interactive skills Your gift will support quality of life for families and opportunities for young adults with disabilities to gain greater independence through the After School Programs at Easter Seals.
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You Can Make a Difference
Promotes Easter Seals
CVS Pharmacies recently introduced the Easter Seals Donation Card. Featured in gift card racks at CVS stores nationwide, the Easter Seals Donation Card provides CVS shoppers the opportunity to purchase a card at check-out in denominations of $5 and $25 to give in honor of a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or as a memorial gift. Look for Easter Seals donation cards in your local store. CVS is excited to provide this community awareness and fundraising opportunity to Easter Seals!
Support Easter Seals by contributing Program Supplies
craft supplies construction paper washable markers craft paint paint brushes craft glue watercolor paint sets safety scissors colored copier paper craft tape craft stickers color pencils coloring books tie dye kits Play-Doh & accessories beads storage containers adaptive cooking utensils non-perishable snacks (crackers, etc.) sugar free juice (Crystal Light, etc.) food processor paper plates disposable cups paper towels Clorox wipes baby wipes diapers (all sizes) swim diapers latex free gloves sunscreen bug spray tooth paste & tooth brushes finger nail polish & remover pill crusher puzzles (child and adult) cards (regular, old maid, etc.) braille Uno & board games awards & prizes inflatable pool toys magazines word search books crossword puzzle books no-spill bubble tumblers wooden knob puzzles shape sorting toys Fisher Price farm animals color matching games dolls & clothes dress-up clothes & costumes balls (foam, Nerf) disposable cameras adaptive bicycle Nintendo Wii technology & games fitness and sports equipment entertainment center step climber flat screen HD TV DVD’s (ages 7-21) toddler music CD’s low impact exercise DVD’s Karaoke machine Wal-Mart or Target giftcards
Create a Web page. Tell your story. And raise funds for Easter Seals! Be an Easter Seals Champion
Raise funds online with a personal Web page
You already know that Easter Seals provides help, hope and answers to people living with autism and other disabilities. Now you can spread the word to friends and family and raise funds with your own fundraising Web page! Just visit the Be an Easter Seals Champion link on www.eastersealswise.com. Step-by-step instructions make it easy to: • Create a campaign theme -- Raise funds in honor or memory of friends and relatives, to celebrate birthdays or weddings, or simply to tell your own story about Easter Seals. • Design your personal fundraising Web page --Tell your story with text and pictures, set a fundraising goal, include a guestbook and add a photo album. Each personalized Web page links to a secure donation page. • Update your Web page -- You can log into your Champion Center at any time to update your story, pictures, layout or fundraising goals. • Reach out to friends and family -- Built-in email tools make it easy to spread the word about your campaign, send follow-up reminders and provide progress updates. • Track your fundraising progress -- Donations are automatically processed, tallied and updated on the fundraising page. You can track who has donated, and enter offline donations to be included in the reports. It’s easy, it’s fun, and it’s a powerful, personal way to support Easter Seals. Be an Easter Seals Champion. Create your personal fundraising Web page today!
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Feel Good About Giving
What does it mean to leave a legacy? Ask Bill Hoffman
by Sue Russell I got to know a little about this generous man over lunch recently. Bill, an energetic octogenarian has never been married, but his life has been enriched by family, friends, great fishing trips and a love of big band music. After serving our country in WWII Bill began his career at the Veterans Hospital here in West Allis as a cook, a challenge indeed, feeding hundreds of people, three times per day. Bill loved his work but certainly was not earning the kind of wage that one would expect a major philanthropist would earn. As a matter of fact, Bill told me that he remembers feeling pretty excited when his hourly rate reached $7.00. So how did Bill become a philanthropist? He made a decision right after the service to set aside a small portion of his earnings for investments. As you can imagine, over a lifetime, this added up. In his 80’s Bill began wondering how he could make a difference for others with his savings. In addition to providing for family members, he researched local and national charities and came up with a list of 18 that he decided to include in his will. Easter Seals is fortunate and very grateful to be one of those charities. Bill took a tour of one of our adult day service programs and was immediately moved by our work and struck by the importance of our program to our participants and their families. Bill will be leaving Easter Seals a gift that will support one participant in our respite program for the next 6 years! What is exciting for us at Easter Seals is that, by knowing about his bequest ahead of time we not only have an opportunity to continually show Bill how his gift will help people but we and our participants also have many opportunities to say Thank You. Bill is very humble about his legacy gifts, but excited that someone “like him” who was never the head of a big corporation will be able to help so many people. You can make a commitment to strengthen the work of Easter Seals in Southeast Wisconsin like Bill did. Through a variety of estate planning vehicles, a future gift that is thoughtfully planned allows you to combine your personal financial objectives with your charitable giving goals and establish a lasting legacy. For more information contact our development department at (414) 449-4444, or visit www.eastersealswise.com.
Thank You for Supporting Easter Seals WALK WITH ME 2008
Thanks to our supporters and sponsors, Easter Seals will continue to provide exceptional services to ensure all people with disabilities or special needs and their families have equal opportunity to live, learn, work and play in their community - like our Honorary Ambassadors: Sam, John, Delaney and Gus. Because of all of you, WALK WITH ME 2008 was a success – together we raised nearly $63,000. We are already thinking ahead to next year – we hope you’ll partner again with us for WALK WITH ME 2009!
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SPARC Sailing
Avery, of the SPARC Summer Respite Camp couldn’t wait to go sailing this summer. She got off of the bus and excitedly guided her camp leader by the hand to get on the sailboat for her favorite field trip. She couldn’t get her life jacket on fast enough, or get to the dock quickly enough. She was allowed to put her hand in the water and even steered the sailboat with the help of the sailing crew. Thanks to the sailing center’s lift, the children who use wheelchairs were also able to experience the joy of sailing. It was such a beautiful day for sailing!
Wheelchair Soccer Game
Our Waukesha campers had an exciting game of wheelchair soccer at camp this summer. The camp leaders got a large exercise ball and teamed the campers and staff together into groups. The children in wheelchairs enjoyed kicking the balls, laughing and having a great time. This activity was a camp favorite!
Mad Science
Mad Science, a hands-on science education program visited the Respite Camps this summer to do their fire and ice show. The campers got to see a variety of demonstrations and worked with all sorts of laboratory equipment. At the end all of the campers got to make slime to take home and gross out their parents.
All Camp Softball
The staff and campers of Camp Wil-O-Way Underwood said their most memorable activity of camp was the all camp softball game. At the field trip to Konkle Park, they got to play on a real baseball diamond! The camp leaders got all the campers involved by rotating the hitters and runners so everyone got a chance to participate. The looks of enjoyment on the campers faces were priceless.
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A Scrapbook from Summer Camp
Shelly’s Summer
This was the first year Shelly was able to attend the Holler Park camp due to the assistance of a scholarship. Within the first 2 weeks of camp, her grandmother reported that she would get up at 5am and wanted to go to camp right away. And when she got home, she was so tired from a fun filled day that she would go to bed early everyday. Shelly developed many camp friendships and enjoyed activities with the other girls at camp, such as making necklaces and working on her tan in the pool. One day, Shelly told one of the camp staff that she liked being at camp because she felt “like a normal kid.”
Spirit Weeks
At camp, our staff worked hard to make the summer as special as possible for our campers in many ways. The staff at Holler Park took a different approach to the weekly camp themes. Each week the camp had a theme in which they created a different play, skit or performance. During these weekly activities, staff encouraged the children to use their creativity to bring their ideas to life. The campers created everything from stories to costumes to props with assistance from the camp leaders. They were all so proud of their accomplishments. Families of campers were so appreciative of the dedication to our campers the staff exhibited everyday at camp!
Camp Carnival
During circus week, the camp staff at Wil-O-Way Grant decided to have a carnival day for the campers. The camp staff dressed up as carnival folk and set up carnival games for the campers to participate in to win prizes. The campers were able to test their skills by knocking over cans, ring toss and pin the nose on the clown. The best moment captured was a photo of friends cheering on a participant who uses a wheelchair to hit the target in the bean bag toss. This camper has very limited mobility and strength in his arms but with encouragement, he was able to hit the target and win a prize.
Pet Therapy
This summer, Health Heelers Therapy dogs brought special moments of fun, excitement, skill development, and fun to the campers at all 4 of our summer camp sites. Once a week, a parade of registered Therapy Dogs engaged campers in games, projects, arts and crafts and other activities. One camper demonstrated an unprecedented response by leaning over the armrest of his wheelchair; extending his entire upper body and arm to the maximum capacity so that he could touch the dog’s soft fur. Another camper with Autism expressed the need for a hug, feeling safe and connected with one of the Therapy dogs. Some campers found the gentle dogs (German shepherds, labs, retrievers, mixes and more) a good place to rest their 7 heads for a moment of calm and quiet.
Easter Seals 75th Anniversary
We begin this Fall by celebrating our of providing programs and services for children and adults with disabilities and their families in Southeast Wisconsin. Our programs started at Holler Park, a summer camp—look what we are today—early intervention, autism services, recreation, adult day, summer camps, and support services like long term support, guardianship and family services. Do you think our founders believed that what they started would still be here 75 years later? Well, we are still here, and serving thousands of people every year! As we begin our “75 Years of Inspiration” celebration, we invite you to be inspired by participating in our first three upcoming events celebrating success for people with disabilities. Please save the dates for: • Easter Seals Child Development Center’s Therapeutic Playroom Grand Opening – Thursday, October 16th • Art Display at General Mitchell Airport during October – National Disabilities Awareness Month • Annual Meeting and Kick-Off Celebration – Thursday, November 6th at the Milwaukee Athletic Club
75th Anniversary
AND SO MUCH MORE!!
For more information about upcoming events, or learn how you can hold your own fundraising event for Easter Seals, please visit our website at: www.eastersealswise.com or call Susan Hallenbeck, Special Events Manager, (414) 571-5566 x. 431.
Easter Seals THEN ... AND NOW
Since 1934 the seal has raised awareness of the organization and its programs for people with disabilities, in addition to raising funds. Today the seals have become an icon of spring and a part of the fabric of America.
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Milwaukee, WI Permit No. 2781
Easter Seals Kindcare Southeastern Wisconsin 1016 Milwaukee Avenue South Milwaukee, WI 53172
www.eastersealswise.com 414.571.5566