Summer 2010 - Envision Unlimited

4
C A R I N G S U M M E R 2 0 1 0 w w w . c a r c . i n f o
Ryan Erickson receives the “Volunteer of
Distinction” Award from President and CEO,
Kristin V. MacRAE
Amazing Girl Scout
Troop Completes
Very Special Project
Ryan Erickson Receives
the “Volunteer of
Distinction” Award
In 2006, a handful of socially conscious
University of Chicago students took it upon
themselves to make a difference in the lives
of persons with developmental disabilities.
These students created “U-CARC” – The
University of Chicago’s Chapter of CARC,
and the group formed with the gallant
purpose of furthering CARC’s mission within
the collegiate community.
Since day one, Ryan Erickson has been
an essential member—his dedication and
leadership has kept the group strong and
focused. U-CARC has indeed advanced
CARC’s mission of providing quality services
to persons with developmental disabilities
and other special needs that promote choice,
independence and community integration
by volunteering at several agency programs.
For his dedication to CARC and his drive
in sustaining and building U-CARC, we are
honored to present the 2010 Volunteer of
Distinction Award to Ryan Erickson.
Girl Scout Troop 20145 is a remarkable group in many ways. The first feature you
cannot help but notice is its size: there are only two members. The second quality
you cannot overlook is that what the Troop may lack in numbers, it more than makes
up for in sheer dedication and hard work.
Troop 20145 is composed of two remarkable teenagers: Jillian Dreixler and Blair Marshall.
They contacted CARC to see if they could perform a volunteer activity at an agency program
site. After some choices were discussed, Troop 20145 decided to direct their efforts at the
Whitehill CILA, and create a beautiful backyard area—complete with a vegetable garden
from which residents may enjoy fresh tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and basil.
The volunteer day was set for June 5, 2010. Yet because of the troop size, Jillian and Blair,
accompanied by their mothers, Julie Dreixler and Beth Marshall, visited Whitehill on the 5
consecutive weekends prior to the event, preparing for the actual volunteer day. After their
preparatory work was completed, the girls and their mothers would visit with Whitehill
residents. Friendships between the girls and Whitehill residents formed quickly.
On the actual volunteer day, the skies opened with a cloudburst. This may have dissuaded
many groups from continuing…but not Troop 20145. The girls just worked through the downpour
and when the weather cleared, the project had been completed. Whitehill residents had
a beautiful backyard with benches, an enclosed garden, hanging baskets of colorful flowers,
a bird feeder and a new bed of plants.
We thank troop members, Blair Marshall and Jillian Dreixler for their simply extraordinary
level of dedication and diligence. Likewise we thank “moms” and troop leaders, Beth
Marshall and Julie Dreixler, along with fellow Girl Scout leader, Kirsten Corbett and “troop
dad,” John Dreixler for supporting the girls’ strong efforts every step of the way.
Thrive Connection Vision Kindness Support
From our earliest roots
until today, our mission
has been to provide quality
services to persons with
developmental disabilities
and other special needs that
promote choice, independence
and community integration.
2010
» 2010 CARC BECOMES ENVISION
CARC officially changes its
organizational name to Envision