old_annual-report-09.. - United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago

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When you look into the world of UCP, you come face to face with the need for our programs and services. > You see the need as a child struggles to speak. > You see the need as a man gazes down a flight of stairs he can no longer descend. > You see the need as a woman yearns for horizons beyond the walls of her mother’s house. > You see the need as parents face institutionalizing their child because they can’t afford to make their home accessible for him. Every day, UCP meets those needs and so many more. We help people with disabilities conquer challenges, overcome obstacles and find a brighter future. We make good on our commitment to create life without limits for people with disabilities. But we couldn’t do it without you. Look into the world of UCP and see what happens when caring people give from the heart. See the transformations that take place. See the wonder and the hope. See the difference you make. See the Need > One in every seven Americans has a condition that interferes with everyday living. > More than 9 million Americans age 15 or older require personal assistance with everyday activities. > Most of the people who rely on UCP’s services live on less than half the area’s median household income: $37,700 for a family of four. > Disability-related costs to the nation exceed $200 billion. > When a person with a disability is gainfully employed, costs of government benefits drop by $127 a month. > Of America’s 69.6 million families, more than 20 million have a family member with a disability. Thanks to Tom McCluskey for contributing his photographic talents to this year’s annual report.
Dear Friends, We live in challenging times. During this past year, recession has swept through our economy and our lives. Many of us have had to confront difficulties we never expected to see. Yet we recognize that others in our city and beyond face even more dire days. A harsh economy is always worst for those who are already struggling — and for people with disabilities and their families, struggle is often a way of life. For them, UCP is a lifeline, giving them the help and hope they need to stay afloat. Your support puts that help within their reach. When you give to UCP, you make a difference in the lives of those who urgently need our programs and services. Making the most of every dollar you’ve donated, we have achieved remarkable success with our programs. • UCP’s Ramp Up is the only nonprofit program selected to receive co-funding from the Chicago Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities for home modifications for the indigent and needy. In the past year, Ramp Up completed 53 home modifications, more than one a week. Another 162 people are awaiting our assistance. • Early intervention training has grown into a transformative force since it started seven years ago. UCP now has a $3.3 million Illinois Department of Human Services contract to train all early intervention providers statewide over the next four years. • The Levinson and Trutter centers have opened new opportunities in the community for adults with severe disabilities. Businesses in Oak Park’s Harrison Street Art District have welcomed Levinson Center program participants as part-time workers, while Cicero Town Hall has collaborated with Trutter Center to provide employment to our day training participants, creating hope for those in the program. • ATEN, UCP’s award-winning computer recycling program, distributed more than 4,000 refurbished computers at no charge to benefit students with special needs in all 102 Illinois counties. • Through the InfiniTEXT initiative, our online repository of scanned textbooks, UCP’s Infinitec is serving students in Illinois and Kansas for whom it is difficult or impossible to use traditional printed texts. • Infinitec’s Learner Box, a family of instructional tools based on universal design principles, is drawing positive feedback from educators who use it to teach literacy, math and life skills. After just one academic year, Infinitec has sold more than 300 Learner Box units to school districts in five states. We’re proud of achievements like these, but our work is far from over. Today, we’re asking you, our staunchest supporters, to dig deeper and give more generously than ever. Yes, we find ourselves in challenging times. Yet it’s in challenging times that we truly find ourselves — find what we’re made of and what we can do. Together, we can do so much. Please give today, and see the difference you make. Best regards, David Pepper, Chairman of the Board CEO, Pepper Construction Group Emily L. Barr, President of the Board President & General Manager, ABC7 Chicago
Page 1: See the wonder See the hope See the
Page 5 and 6: UCP Programs adults > It costs just
Page 7 and 8: UCP Programs professional developme
Page 9 and 10: Celebrating the Difference You Make
Page 11 and 12: Fiscal Year 2009 Honor Roll of Dono

old_annual-report-09.. - United Cerebral Palsy of Greater Chicago

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