Easter Seals Fox Valley gets new home in Elgin

March 8, 2012
4:00 pm	to	7:00 pm

The public is invited to a ribbon cutting and open house of the new Elgin location of Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region from 4 – 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, at The Jayne Shover Center, 799 S. McLean Blvd., Elgin.

At 4 p.m., a ribbon cutting will take place. A child who attends Easter Seals will wield the scissors, and on hand will be members of the Elgin Chamber of Commerce including President Carol Gieske, Elgin village officials, Easter Seals staff members, Easter Seals families and the public.

“We are happy to invite the entire community to our new space,” said Theresa Forthofer, president and CEO, Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region. “The quality of our facility was achieved with careful planning in order to match the excellence of our skilled and experienced therapists.”

The open house will include guided tours, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and an activity center called the Kid Zone for family-friendly activities. In addition, free hearing screenings will be available to adults.

The new Elgin location features a new bilingual social work program, the first at Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region.

“We are very happy to offer our social work therapies in Spanish as well as in English,” Forthofer said. “With the goal of helping more families, this is a vital step.”

Also, the Elgin location has increased space – 7,200 sq ft.; a more open design with spacious halls; warm, natural light; and larger therapy rooms. All improvements create a warm and welcoming ambiance.

Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region has three locations: Elgin, Villa Park and Naperville. It serves nearly 3,200 infants, children, and adults with therapy and audiology services each year. Its mission is to enable infants, children, and adults with disabilities to achieve maximum independence and to provide support for the families who love and care for them.

Founded in 1952, Easter Seals is one of the largest and most highly regarded pediatric outpatient rehabilitation centers in the nation. Key services available include:

• evaluations,
• physical therapy,
• occupational therapy,
• speech and language therapy,
• assistive technology,
• social services,
• community outreach programs,
• specialty clinics,
• continuing education and
• audiology services.

“We have a staff of more than130 dedicated people, all of whom believe in a family-centered approach,” Forthofer said. “Our 65 therapists have knowledge, medical expertise and many years of skilled experience in child development.”

However, the professional staff doesn’t rest on its laurels. Through continuing education courses, the therapists are constantly creating new treatment options to assist children through infancy and beyond.

The open house is free and open to the public. For more information about the event, call Jill Garrett, project manager, at 630-261-6190, email jgarrett@eastersealsdfvr.org or visit: http://www.eastersealsdfvr.org.

Commons Crawl – ‘Taste of the Tropics’ benefits Marklund

July 19, 2010
6:00 pm	to	8:00 pm
7:00 pm

By enjoying tropical drinks and great food on a warm summer night, Fox Valley residents can help the infants, children and adults with severe developmental disabilities who are served by Marklund.

Marklund at Mill Creek is the beneficiary of the July “Commons Crawl,” hosted by the Geneva Commons. “Taste of the Tropics” takes place from 6 – 8 p.m. Monday, July 19, at the shopping center located at 602 Commons Dr., Geneva, IL.

Each month the Commons Crawl changes themes and benefits a different local charity. It takes place on the third Monday of the month from May through September. With tickets, patrons get goody bags as well as food and drink samplings from the Commons’ restaurants – California Pizza Kitchen, Claddagh Irish Pub and Houlihan’s.

Patrons will pick up their tickets, wrist bands and goody bags on the night of the crawl at Houlihan’s and then go on their way to enjoy the crawl.

“This event is a ton of fun,” said Vicki Krystof, director of development for Marklund. “I went to the May Commons Crawl and had a blast. You definitely get a lot for the money.”

Tickets to the event are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. A maximum of 300 tickets will be sold on a first come, first served basis, so participants are urged to purchase early.

For tickets, stop by the mall office or call 630-262-0044. Cash and credit cards are accepted.

For more information on Marklund, call Vicki Krystof at 630-593-5482 or go to: http://www.marklund.org

About Marklund

Founded in 1954, Marklund enriches the lives of those with special healthcare needs by honoring the unique purpose of each individual. Those served are able to enjoy a full and meaningful life supported by a compassionate nurturing environment; a strong partnership with the community; and an unmatched dedication to personal growth. Marklund’s vision: Rising above limitations. Marklund is not-for-profit.

Marklund’s main campus in Geneva, Ill., consists of six 16-bed residential homes for adults with severe and profound developmental disabilities as well as an educational and training center that provides for the intensive medical, social, emotional and physical needs of the residents.

In Bloomingdale, Ill., the Marklund Philip Center for Children encompasses the Children’s Home, a skilled pediatric nursing facility for infants, children and medically fragile adults; the Day School, an education program for children ages 3 – 21; early intervention for infants and toddlers age birth to three; and Marklund’s respite program.

For more information about Marklund, call Vicki Krystof at 630-593-5482 or visit http://www.marklund.org.