www.almosthomekids.org Fall20151

TheAlmost Home KidsfamilyroominChicagohasbeentransformedtemporarilyintoaphotostudioasDevontaepreparestohavehisGraduationphototakenbylocalphotographerLauraBrown.Typicallythisisaroutineeventinthelifeofateenager,butforDevontaeandhisfamilyitisamonumentalachievementandanenormoussenseofaccomplishmentforhisparents,TinaandTim.JustthreeshortyearsagoeverythingchangedforDevontaeandhisfamilywhenaseriousaccidentlefthimunabletowalk,feedhimselforevenbreatheonhisown.Thestruggleshisfamilyfacedwereimmense,andastheirnewrealitybegantosinkin,theyfoundthemselvesintheRonaldMcDonaldHouseat211E.Grandwithmorequestionsthananswers.That’swhen,thankstoRehabilitationInstituteofChicago(RIC),theyfoundAlmost Home Kids,andeverythingbegantofallintoplace.

DevontaetransitionedtoAlmost Home KidsfromRICinDecember2012,justtwomonthsaftertheAHKChicagolocationhadofficiallyopened.Hisconditionhadstabilizedbuttheyneededhomemodificationsandcareplanningbeforehecouldgohome.TinaandTimwereoverwhelmedbyhisequipmentandmedicationneeds,andtheyweredesperateforhelpandtrainingonhowtomasterhiscare.TinarecallsthebreathoffreshairshehadwhentheycametoAlmost Home Kids.

“There is a very different feel at AHK. The pace is more relaxed and there is time to get mentally and physically ready for the task at hand. If you don’t get something right away, the nurse explains it again until you know you understand exactly what to do and it becomes second nature.”

TinaalsocreditstheCaseManagementandSocialWorkteamatAHKforhelpinghernavigatethecomplicatedgovernmentagenciesandconnectingherwiththeDivisionofSpecializedCareforChildren,whichhelpedcoverthecostofthehomemodificationsandnursingcare.

WhenitwastimeforDevontaetotransitionhome,thewholefamilywasready.TinaandTimtookonadivideandconquerapproachathome,withmomfocusedonadministeringhismedicationsandfeedings,anddadtakingonthephysicaltherapy.EveryonewasconfidentandexcitedtobetogetherhelpingDevontaegainasmanyskillsashecould.Thatwastwoyearsago,andtheprogressthatDevontaehasmadesincethenisremarkable.

WhenDevontaerecentlygraduatedfromJeffersonHighSchoolinRockfordtogreatfanfare,itmarkedaverysignificantturningpointinDevontae’sprogress.Hecannowstandupoutofhischair(withsomehelpfromdad),henolongerrequiresaventilatorandequallyimportantly,hissenseofhumoris100%intact.Devontae’sinfectioussmileandabilitytomakehisfriendsandfamilylaughisunmatched.TinaandTim’sultimatewishforDevontaeisthathe’shappywithpositiveinfluencesaroundhim;averyattainablegoalwhenhe’ssupportedbythefaith,commitmentandloveofanextraordinaryteam.

From Tragedy to Triumph

HomeNewsFall 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

CoverStory 1Devontae – From Tragedy to Triumph

OurSupporters 2Healing Garden Update Gifts of Stock Physical Therapy in Action

OurEvents 4Share the Care Ball No Place Like Home Summer Soirée Upcoming Events Giving Tuesday

OurCommunity 6 Corporate Spotlight: Lendlease Volunteers of the Quarter Wish List

2

Our Supporters

Dedication Scheduled for Spring 2016OurchildrenhavebeenentertainedbytheunfoldingoftheMargaretM.&ThomasM.CurranHealingGarden.Thedaythatthekitesculpturewasinstalledtheywantedtogooutsideandcouldnotcontaintheirexcitement.Thebrightredkitesandplayfultailsblowinginthebreezehelpedusalltoimaginethethrillofflying.TomandMargaretlovedallchildrenandweresoproudoftheirownchildrenandmanygrandchildren.Familyalwayscamefirstforthem.OurnewhealinggardenatAHKwillbring

thebeautyandserenitythateveryonefeltinTomandMargaret’sgardentoourhomeinNaperville.AHK’schildren,theirsiblings,parents,guestsandvolunteerscannowenjoyasoothingwaterfountain,plants,flowersandtreesaswellaswhimsicalmetalkites,5-footflowersandevenadeer!Thankyoutoeveryonewhoparticipatedinthisproject.Itwillprovidemanyfamilieswithatranquilplacetotakeinnatureandsimplybreatheastheylearntocarefortheirchildandundertaketheirnewfamilylife.

Special Acknowledgements to Our Generous Contributors, to The Curran Memorial Fund & Healing Garden Project

Naming Opportunity Available for these lovely kites

Naming Opportunity Available for this beautiful doe

Donated by Jim English & JoAnn Crowe in celebration of Euan McLean

$10,000+JimEnglish&JoAnnCrowe

$5,000 – $2,500Mary&BillNeustadtEmployeesofLendlease

Tejal&MartyMullarkeyFTCaresFoundation

$2,499 – $1,000WarrenV.Beal&FamilyExchangeClubofNapervillePat&DavidHessNapervilleJayceesJaninaNieves&FamilyAnneM.Shannon

MaritaSullivan&FamilyArleneTimosciek&FamilyEmployeesofIllinicareHealthVelmaR.&ThomasT.Jerkovitz&MaryF.NailRobin&MikeZafirovski

Many, many more individuals donated brick pavers to the garden and there is still time to “Make your Mark” for someone you love or wish to celebrate.

5 large pavers are still available ($500) Thesepaversareguaranteedprominentplacementneartheentrancetothegarden.Thebricksare12”x24”indimensionandallowuptosevenlinesofetching,ifdesired.30charactersperlinemaximum(includingspaces).

74 small pavers are still available ($150) Thesepaversleadtoawaterfountain,whichisthefocalpointofthegarden.Thepaversare4”x6”indimensionandallowuptofourlinesofetching,ifdesired.11charactersperlinemaximum(includingspaces).

Namingopportunitiesandbrickorderformsavailableat630.786.1765orrjackson@almosthomekids.org

www.almosthomekids.org Fall20153

If You Normally Give Cash at the End of the Year, Transfer Stock Instead and Give Yourself the Added Benefit of Capital Gains Tax Savings.Whetheritsmilkorfrozenfood,almosteverythingwebuyinthegrocerystoreisstampedwith“bestby”or“useby”datestoletusknowwhenit’sbesttousethem.Shouldn’totherpartsofourliveshavereminderdatesonthem?Whataboutyourstocks?Howlonghavetheybeeninyourportfolio“shelf”?Ifyourstockshavebeenhangingaroundyouraccount’sshelfforawhile,considertransferringthemtoourorganizationbeforetheendoftheyear.Youwillreceiveanincometaxdeductionthatwillhelploweryour2015taxbill.Youwon’tpaycapitalgainsonthetransfer,andyouwillhelpusendtheyearwithagiftwecanuseequaltothefullvalueofthestock.

Simplyprovideyourbrokerorfinancialinstitutionwiththefollowinginformation:

TheNameofStock(i.e.Apple,Google,UPS,etc.)

TheNumberofShares

OurBrokerageAccountNumberis:NT2121857

Yourfinancialinstitutioncanmakeatransferdirectlyintooursecureaccount.

ContactRaeannOlsen-Jackson(312.282.7081orrjackson@almosthomekids.org)tolearnmoreabouthowyoucanendtheyearwithtaxsavingsandthegreatfeelingthatcomeswhenyouknowyouhavehelpedothers.©CrescendoInteractive,Inc.

Physical Therapy at Almost Home KidsThePhysicalTherapyProgramatAlmost Home Kidslaunchedin2014andweloveseeingourkidslightupwhenthePhysicalTherapistsarriveeachdayfortherapytime.We’resogratefultothedonorsandgrantorswhomadethisprogrampossible!

Savannah with Physical Therapist, Lynn

Enrique with Mary Pat

Ben enjoying time with Mary Pat at his recent respite stay

4

Coyote Riot

Emma Sohst giving the parent testimonial

Our Events

Share the Care BallOnOctober23,2015,TheDrakeHotelsetthesceneforaneveningofeleganceandfestivityinsupportofAHKChicago.OurfourthannualSharetheCareBallraisedmorethan$260,000forAHKChicagoandfeaturedanexcitingsilentandliveauctionanddancingtotheincomparableKenArlenOrchestra.Thetruespiritofthenightwascapturedinthewordsofourhonorees:SusanJ.Schwartz,Dr.AnnB.Karch,andPaulaNoble.

No Place Like HomeAsSpringmadeitslongawaiteddescentonChicago,theAlmost Home KidsYoungAssociatesBoard(YAB)capitalizedontheenergyoftheseasonwithafabulouslysuccessfulinauguralSpringfundraiser–“NoPlaceLikeHome”.TheKensingtonsetthesceneonMay12,2015

Event Chair Allison Cipolla addresses the crowd

Julia Chappell, Bill Neustadt, Paula Noble, Ann Karch, Susan Schwartz, Debbie Grisko

EmmaSohst,motherofTravisandLilywhohavebothspenttimeatAlmost Home Kids,ignitedthepassionforAHKwithintheheartsofallattendees,andeachoneofthemorethan340guestsinattendanceleftknowingthattheirsupportmakesatremendousdifferenceinthelivesofchildrenwithchronicmedicalcomplexitiesandtheirfamilies.

foralivelygatheringofnearly200youngprofessionalswhoenjoyedlivemusicbyCoyoteRiot,afantasticraffle,andthesatisfactionofraisingmorethan$25,000forourimportantcause.TheYABhasmadesignificantstridesthisyearandwecan’twaittoseewhatthefuturebrings!

www.almosthomekids.org Fall20155

Upcoming Events

April 3, 2016Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K

April 22, 2016 Naperville Gala – Esplanade Lakes

June 10, 2016 Golf Marathon – Zigfield Troy Par 3 Golf Course

TheStreetJaxksonBandbroughtthecrowdtotheirfeetaboardtheColumbiaYachtClubatthethirdannualSummerSoiréeonJune23,2015!Guestsenjoyedthefabulousview,greatcompanyandtopnotchentertainment,allthewhilesupportingthecriticalservicesofAlmost Home KidsChicagotothetuneof$20,000.TheSoiréecommitteeandLakeshaRoseleftnostoneunturnedandhostedamemorableandenjoyableeveningonLakeMichiganforaveryimportantcause.

Columbia Yacht Club provides a historic and unique venue for the Summer Soirée

Street Jaxkson Band

Summer Soirée

Mark Your Calendars for Giving Tuesday – December 1, 2015

#GivingTuesdayisamovementthathasinspiredaninternationaldayofphilanthropicgivingtokickofftheholidayseason.FallingontheTuesdayafterconsumer-focused“BlackFriday”and“CyberMonday,”the4thannual#GivingTuesdaywillbeonDecember1,2015.Pleasedon’tmissthisopportunitytoparticipateinoneofourfavoriteeventsoftheyear!Thisyear,TheColemanFoundationandRisingMedicalSolutionswillbematchinggiftsforcontributionsmadeonlineonDecember1stonly.Ifyouwanttodoubletheimpactofyouryear-endgift,pleasevisitourGivingTuesdaywebsiteon12.1.15:almosthomekids.kintera.org/ 2015GivingTuesday

6

ishappydowhateverisneeded.ShehasassistedourCommunityOutreachCoordinator,Lisa,byfillinginatBenedictineUniversityVolunteerFairstorecruitnewvolunteerswhenLisacouldnotbeattwoplacesatonce.WearepleasedtorecognizeMeghannasourNapervilleVolunteeroftheQuarter.

JackjoinedourVolunteerTeaminChicagoapproximately1yearagoandhaspackedalotofvolunteeringintothatoneyear!Heworksfulltimeandvolunteerswithourchildrenonaweeklybasisintheevening.ThenursesreallylovewhenJack’snameisontheschedulebecausehereallyinteractswiththechildrenandseemstoenjoyhistimewitheachandeveryoneofthem.Hisvolunteeringdoesn’tstoptherehowever.JackjoinedourYoungAssociatesBoard(YAB)andbecameveryinvolvedjumpingrightintovolunteeringatourFundraisingeventsinboththeChicagoareaaswellasourNapervilleGalalastyear.HehassteppeduptobealeaderbyrecentlyagreeingtothenewYABpositionofVolunteerRecruitmentandwelookforwardtoalongrelationshipwithJackaswegrowourvolunteerprograminChicago.JackhasmadeaverypositiveimpactatAHKChicagoasavolunteer,andwasaverypopularchoicefortheaward.

Allofourvolunteersgivealotofthemselvestoimprovethedailylivesthechildrenandweareverygratefultoeachandeveryvolunteer.Thehappinessourwonderfulvolunteersbringtranscendstoourchildren’shappiness.

Our Community

“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”–H.JacksonBrownJr.

ThisquotesumsupourvolunteerswhoarehappytodonatetheirtimeandcompassiontoourchildrenafewhoursaweekormonthatAlmost Home Kids.Volunteerinteractionwithourchildrenisvitaltotheirdevelopmentandhealingprocessastheyarepreparingfortransitionhomeorareawayfromtheirfamilywhilehereonarespitestay.WeareblessedtohavesuchathoughtfulVolunteerTeamatbothourNapervilleandChicagosites.

EachquarterweselecttwovolunteerstoreceivetheVolunteer of the Quarteraward—onefromNapervilleandonefromChicagowhoareloyaltoourVolunteerProgrambygoingaboveandbeyondatypicalvolunteercommitment.WewouldliketorecognizeMeghann VizintosandJack Koteckifortheir‘aboveandbeyond’volunteerefforts.

MeghannhasbeenvolunteeringatourNapervillesitesince2013andcametousasaBenedictineUniversitystudentlookingforavolunteeropportunity.TimefliesandsheisabouttograduatefromBenedictineUniversityandiscurrentlyapplyingtoPAschools.Meghannhasloggedover160hoursofvolunteeringandcanbecountedontwoorthreetimesaweektovolunteerwiththechildren.Sheisveryflexibleandwillingtofitinwhereverthenursesneedherandalwayshasasmileonherface.Ifthereisanadministrativeprojectthatweneedhelpwith,Meghann

Volunteers of the Quarter

Meghann Vizintos with Enzo Jack Kotecki with AHK RN, Alyssa

www.almosthomekids.org Fall20157

Corporate Group Highlight –Lendlease

2015willmarkthe9thconsecutiveyeartheamazingstafffromLendleasehaschosenAlmost Home KidsNapervilleasoneoftheirsitesfortheirGlobalCommunityDay.Yearafteryearacrewof10–14Lendleasestaffspendsthedayworkingonprojectsinsideandoutsideourhomeandbringwiththemtheexpertiseneededforsomeofourmorecomplicatedprojects.KristenPoradziszofLendleasehascoordinatedtheseprojectseveryyearwithourCommunityOutreachCoordinator&DirectorofOperationsandtheLendleaseteamalwaysasksforour‘challengingprojects’!Weknowwecancountontheseskilledemployeeswhocanhandlejustaboutanytaskwegivethem.Notonlydotheycomereadytowork;theyalsopurchase&providethemajorityofthematerialsneededsuchaspaint,drywallmaterials,concrete,lumber,mulchandevenoutsidelightingfixtures.Theyhaveprovideduswithover$6000worthofmaterialsforeachoftheirCommunityServiceDays.

Webeganourrelationshipin2007forLendlease’sfirstCommunityServiceDayandthenin2008,Lendleasegenerouslydonatedbrandnewstateoftheartappliancesforournewlyremodeled

kitcheninNaperville.Thebondbetweenourtwoorganizationshascontinuedtogroweveryyear.Over108Lendleaseemployeeshavevolunteeredoverthe9yearsequatingtoavalueofover$15,000of‘manpower’ifwehadtohirestafftoaccomplishalltheworktheyhavedoneforus.Someoftheprojectstheyhavecompletedforusoverthelast9yearsare:pouringaconcreteslabforourmailboxandourgarbagecoral,pressurewashedthehouse,insideandoutsidepaintingjobs,builtgardenbenches,laidmulch,collatedphotoalbumsandmassivecollageframes,repairedfencing,purchased&installedallnewlightingfixturesaroundtheoutside,trimmedbushes,demolishedtheagingplayhouse&vegetablegarden,laidsodandthelistgoeson…

WeareextremelygratefultoLendleaseforthecontributionstheyhavemadetoourhometoenhancethepropertysowecancontinuetooffertheverybesthomeawayfromhomeforthechildrenandfamiliesweserve.AHKlooksforwardtoembracingthegenerosityandcompassionofLendleaseformanyyearsasweworktogethertosharethecare.

Our Needs Wish List:Diapers(Size1,2&3)Poly-Vi-Sol(InfantMultivitaminwithIron&withoutIron)

Kleenex(Fullsizedboxes)GiftCardsinanydenominationtohelppurchasesupplies(Target,Walgreens,Jewel)

Babybottles(non-breakable)�Largebathtowels�Colorfulfittedcribsheets�Johnson&Johnsonbabywashandlotion�Destin–Maximumstrength�Babywipes(unscented)�K-CupKeurigcoffeepacks(onlybrands

thathaveKeuriglogoarecompatible)–tooffertofamily&guests

�Laundrydetergent–“AllUltraFreeClearLiquid”brand

IvorySoapliquiddetergentPapertowels1”3-ringbinderswithinsidepockets

Child Life Program Specific Wish List:8x11Scrapbookpaper&scrapbooksupplies

BigStampPads(allcolors)�Linksforinfanttoys�CribMirrors�ColoringBooks&crayonsorcolored

pencils�ModelMagic(artsupply)�GlueSticks(allpurpose)�Books;Touch&Feel,Sound/Music�Children’sCD’s(classical,lullaby,various

ages&languages)HandPrintMolds(2-Dor3-D/artsupply)

2015 Lendlease volunteer crew

Affiliated�with

7South721Route53Naperville,IL60540

Board of Directors

BillNeustadt,Chair JoshPrangley,Vice Chair RonBlaustein JuliaChappellTheresaDankoDeborahA.GriskoMichaelHoffmanMathewMullarkeyPaulaNobleLakeshaRoseChristopherSchenkenbergMichelleStephensonMaritaSullivan

President’s Council

DanAultPaulBogdanskiJenCluneJosetteGoldbergBreganHerroldJenHorsleyKimHylaCarolynJohnsonAnnKarchBethanyKeownMartyKoehlerKatieOssmanTomRothSusanSchwartzMaritaSullivanSarahTromansKathyWennerstrum

Our mission at Almost Home Kids is to provide transitional care in a home-like setting to children with complicated health needs, training for their families and respite care.

“Like”usonFacebookfordailyAlmost Home Kidsupdates!

Key Staff

DeborahA.Grisko,RN,President and Executive Director

Administrative:

DorothyGieren,Director of FinanceRaeannOlsen-Jackson,Director of DevelopmentJudithMcLean,Director of Marketing & Communications LoriHannon,Director of Business Development & StrategyGailLinhart,Director of OperationsLisaSnow,Community Outreach CoordinatorLizaLarsen,Special Events Coordinator and Strategic Development

Clinical:

PeterJ.Smith,MD,MA,AHK Chicago, Medical Director ChrisBender,MD,AHK Naperville, Medical Director AnnKarch,MD,Associate Medical Director MikeHoffman,MD,Associate Medical DirectorLayenieAnderson,RN,Director of Case Management

Writers, Editors and Key Contributors:

LizaLarsen,RaeannOlsen-Jackson,JudithMcLean,andLisaSnow

Contactusat630.271.9155orvisitourwebsiteatwww.AlmostHomeKids.org