Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Rockford

Thank you for making our 44th Annual Golf Classic a tremendous success! ⛳🧡

We had 280 attendees and, together, we raised more than $340,000 to support children and adults with disabilities and their families throughout Chicagoland and greater Rockford.

As we celebrate Easterseals' 90-year legacy of impact, it was inspiring to come together with so many dedicated golfers, sponsors, donors, volunteers, auction participants, and friends who share our commitment to creating opportunities for people of all abilities.

Because of your generosity, proceeds from this year's Golf Classic will help expand outdoor education and enrichment opportunities for Easterseals Academy students, strengthen Family Support Services that provide connection, respite, and community for families of children with disabilities, and support other critical Easterseals programs.

From the fairways to the auction floor, every sponsorship, donation, bid, volunteer hour, and act of support helped make this event unforgettable.

Thank you for being part of this incredible tradition and for helping ensure that children and adults of all abilities have the opportunity to learn, grow, work, and thrive.

☀️⛳ Today’s the day!

We’re ready for a beautiful day on the course at the 44th Annual Golf Classic benefiting Easterseals Serving Chicagoland & Greater Rockford at Grand Geneva Resort & Spa.

Thank you to our incredible sponsors, golfers, volunteers, committee members, donors, and supporters who make this event possible year after year. Your generosity helps create life-changing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities and their families across our communities.

Whether you're joining us on the course, supporting from afar, or helping behind the scenes, thank you for being part of this special day. We can't wait to celebrate, connect, and make an impact together.

Here's to a great day of golf—and an even greater day of changing lives. 🧡

Last month, Easterseals Academy proudly celebrated National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, recognizing the important role speech-language pathologists (SLPs) play in helping students communicate, connect, and thrive.

Throughout the month, students and staff participated in activities that highlighted the many ways SLPs support learning and development—from building communication skills and self-advocacy to encouraging social connections, confidence, and independence.

Communication looks different for everyone, but it is something we all use every day. We are grateful for the dedicated SLPs who help our students find their voices and strengthen the skills they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom.

Thank you to the speech-language pathologists in schools, clinics, and hospitals everywhere for the life-changing work you do!

🎉 Our 44th Annual Golf Classic Silent Auction is officially LIVE! ⛳

Now’s your chance to explore an incredible lineup of exclusive packages, travel experiences, golf outings, dining experiences, sports tickets, bourbon collections, and more — all while supporting life-changing programs and services for children and adults with disabilities.

Start browsing, place your bids, and help make an impact today!

Every bid supports Easterseals programs across Chicagoland and Greater Rockford, helping individuals and families access critical services, education, employment support, and community programs.

🧡 Bid early. Bid often. And share with your friends!

https://e.givesmart.com/events/MuY/i/

📚✨ Celebrating differences, inclusion, and the power of understanding. ✨📚

Our Easterseals Academy Machesney Park campus recently welcomed local Rockford author Emily Grobe for a special Sensory Supported Read Aloud of her children’s book Differences.

Students and families enjoyed an engaging and inclusive experience designed to support sensory needs while celebrating the unique qualities that make each of us who we are. From story time to meaningful moments of connection, the event was a wonderful reminder of the importance of creating spaces where every child feels seen, valued, and included.

Thank you to Emily Grobe for sharing your story and helping inspire conversations around acceptance, kindness, and embracing differences. 🧡

Watch our video recap to see some of the special moments from the day!
https://youtu.be/xYqhlWcd2GY

Our Easterseals Illinois Autism Partnership team recently spent the day volunteering at Bernie’s Book Bank! 📚🧡

We’re proud to support efforts that help put books into the hands of children and families across Illinois while also creating opportunities for connection and team building outside of our everyday work.

Thank you to Bernie's Book Bank for the opportunity to give back and help foster a love of reading and learning for children throughout our communities.

Watch Illinois Autism Partnership' recap video to see their team in action! 🎥
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DY5BCkdRdcJ/

✨🧡 A little Disney magic, meaningful connection, and much-needed rest. 🧡✨

This month, our Family Support Services team welcomed 35 incredible moms to their 16th Annual Galena Retreat for Moms of Children with Developmental Disabilities.

This year’s “Be Our Guest” retreat brought together mothers from across the region for a weekend filled with encouragement, peer support, laughter, reflection, and community. From Disney-inspired mocktails and princess swag bags to our Mad Tea Party and fairy jar crafts, every detail was designed to help moms feel celebrated, supported, and cared for.

Most importantly, the retreat created space for moms to connect with others who truly understand the unique joys and challenges of caregiving.

One attendee shared:
💬 “Being able to bond and connect with amazing mothers who are able to understand our daily struggles is what makes this retreat so important.”

Another mom wrote:
💬 “I am so grateful for this retreat. This is the one thing I have looked forward to all year.”

Thank you to StarNet Regions I and III, Hope WINS, Dr. Karen Maloney, Jack Deiter, and Megan Davis of 305 N. Main Street Inn, guest speaker Elizabeth Frisbe, and everyone who helped make this magical weekend possible! 🧡

We’re just 13 days away from our 44th Annual Golf Classic on June 4! ⛳🏌️‍♀️

That means it’s time to plan your golf-day look and get ready for one of the most anticipated traditions of the day — the Best Dressed Contest! From coordinated teams to bold golf style, we can’t wait to see what everyone brings to the course.

A special thank you to CCB Technology for sponsoring this fan-favorite tradition and helping make the day even more memorable.

This month, we were proud to celebrate the impactful work showcased at the UIC Department of Occupational Therapy’s Creating Tomorrow’s Practice Poster Symposium! 👏

This year, Easterseals Serving Chicagoland and Greater Rockford hosted two Occupational Therapy (OT) capstone students whose projects supported meaningful improvements across our programs.

One student partnered with Easterseals Academy Chicago to develop early literacy tools and resources for classroom teams, while another collaborated with HB Threads to create individualized workplace support tools that promote employee success and independence.

A special thank you to mentors Vivian Villegas, OTD, OTR/L; Emily Manchick, MOT, OTR/L; and HB Threads Director Korrey Kooistra, MPH, as well as our partners at the UIC Department of Occupational Therapy for helping bring these innovative projects to life!