United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Angela Bertoni: Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc., provides a refuge for those abused

Originally published Sunday, October 27, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc., provides a refuge for those abused
By Angela Bertoni, Chief Executive Officer at Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc.

Violence, whether in our schools, places of work or on the streets, usually begins at home. In the United States, a woman is assaulted or beaten every nine seconds, making domestic violence the leading cause of injury to women—more than car accidents, muggings and rapes combined.

During October, we recognize Domestic Violence Awareness Month, raising awareness for this serious public health problem that affects millions of people in the United States. Domestic violence has no biases and affects anyone regardless of race, age, gender or economic status. Acts of domestic violence can be physical, emotional, sexual or financial.

Moreover, approximately 75 percent of children of abused mothers are also victims of domestic abuse, making domestic violence the No. 1 risk factor for child abuse.

Sojourn Shelter & Services, Inc. is the only...Read More

United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Greg Birky: The value of our community fund

Originally published Sunday, October 20, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Mobilizing a community of volunteers 
By Greg Birky, President of Illini Bank

Illini Bank, a locally owned community bank, I understand firsthand the importance of reinvestment in our community. A thriving, local economy allows our business to grow, provides security for our employees and allows local businesses to reinvest money back into our community.
As president of

However, our local economy can only continue to grow if we, as a community, protect our most vulnerable and invest in the future of our children. For this reason, Illini Bank, like so many businesses in the area, lends its support to United Way of Central Illinois and our Community Fund.

For more than 90 years, United Way of Central Illinois has worked to mobilize resources to meet community needs. One way in which United Way addresses community needs is through its annual campaign to raise money for our community fund. These funds are then allocated, by a panel of local volunteers, to nonprofit programs throughout our community which provide vital services in the areas of shelter, food, healthcare, victim services and education.

Decisions are always made at a local level because...Read More

United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Addressing homelessness in our community

Originally published Sunday, October 13, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Addressing homelessness in our community
By John Kelker, President at United Way of Central Illinois 

In the coming days, our city leaders will engage in a lively debate over the future of services addressing homelessness in our community.

Although the subject of this debate centers on the relocation of Helping Hands of Springfield, this discussion demonstrates the need for community leaders to develop and implement sound strategies which promote coordination of care, provide sufficient services and position those services in areas of town with the greatest need.

Addressing the issue of homelessness begins with the coordination of care. Fortunately, the Heartland Continuum of Care was established to encourage agencies to work together to plan, organize and deliver services to meet the needs of the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless.

Among Heartland’s most important initiatives was...Read More

United Way - SJ-R weekly column - Mobilizing a community of volunteers

Originally published Sunday, October 6, 2013 in the State Journal-Register.  Look for weekly United Way columns in the Our Towns section during the annual campaign.
 
Mobilizing a community of volunteers 
By John Kelker, President at United Way of Central Illinois

Horace Mann once said, “Doing nothing for others is the undoing of ourselves. We do ourselves the most good doing something for others.”

In those words, the great education reformer and abolitionist captured the essence of humanity and in many ways summarizes why we work every day to encourage others to give, volunteer and advocate.
I was reminded of these words on Friday as more than 250 volunteers, including many from the company named for Horace Mann, headed to local agencies to spend an afternoon in service to our community. These individuals spent time painting, building, organizing and cleaning at agencies throughout the Springfield area.

From helping with fall preparations at Henson Robinson Zoo to working the Fall Festival at Concordia Village, these individuals...Read More

Support local & autism-related projects during the month of April

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Help Hope and The Autism Program of Illinois earn a $25,000 grant through the Pepsi Refresh Project during the month of May. Visit for upcoming details as we roll out our "Get out the Vote" strategy.

April is Autism Awareness Month and to demonstrate our support of our local community and other national organizations providing services to those with an ASD, we have compiled a listing of several organizations that need your support by voting for their project in the Pepsi Refresh Project.

Local Organizations:

Bleachers for Bruins - Blessed Sacrament School
http://www.refresheverything.com/bleachersforbss

AMBUCS - Give 100 children with disabilities therapeutic tricycles. (AMBUCS has been a strong supporter of The Hope Institute)
http://www.refresheverything.com/amtrykesforchildren

Honor Flight - Helping send WWII Veterans to Washington
http://www.refresheverything.com/illandoflincolnhonorflight


Ben-Gil Elementary Boosters - Help rebuild our elementary school condemned due to mine subsidence.
http://www.refresheverything.com/bengilelementary



ASD Related Projects

Autism Center of Toledo - Provide Free Early Intervention to Children with Autism
http://www.refresheverything.com/bengilelementary

Kardon Institute for Arts Therapy - Dance & Art Therapy for children with Autism
http://www.refresheverything.com/kardon

The SMART Foundation - Produce the Concert 4 Autism and stream it worldwide
http://www.refresheverything.com/concertforautism

KEEN USA - Help kids with disabilities play with volunteers
http://www.refresheverything.com/keenusa

S.M.I.L.E Autism Services - Comprehensive, Cutting-Edge, Family-Based Autism Therapy Center
http://www.refresheverything.com/smileautismservices


You can vote for each of these great projects once per day at http://www.refresheverything.com/ and please visit us often for information on our "Get out the Vote" effort in May.

WFMB Radio interview with Dr. Nyre discussing Hope's campus conversion agreement.

The Hope Institute introduced campus conversion agreement from Communicating Hope on Vimeo.

The Hope Institute's Tom LeClair gains fame nationwide

The State Journal-Register published an article on The Hope Institute's Chief Development Officer, Tom LeClair, this past week.  The story has been picked up by Gatehouse Media agencies nationwide, serving as a testament to the selfless actions of Mr. LeClair.  Tom's story has been published across more than 70 news agencies throughout the nation. 

Original December State Journal Register Article

Illinois

• Brookfield Suburban Life
• Glen Ellyn News
• West Chicago Press
• Daily American - West Frankfort
• Wheaton Leader
• LaGrange Suburban Life
• Lemont Reporter
• Clay County Advocate Press
• DuQuoin Evening Call 
• St. Charles Republican
• Lombard Spectator
• Westmont Prgoress
• Berwyn Life
• Woodridge Reporter
• Bloomingdale Press
• State News - Freeport, IL
• Lincoln Courier
• Daily Register - Harrisburg

New York

• Observer Dispatch - Utica
• Evening Times, LittleFalls

Massachussetts

• The Enterprise - Brockton
• Taunton Daily Gazette
• Metro West Daily News - Framingham
• Burlington Union - Concord

Ohio

• Times-Reporter - New Philadelphia

California

• Gridley Herald

Missouri

• Lake News - Osage Beach/Camdenton
• Rolla Daily News - Rolla
• Boonville Daily News - Boonville
• Macon Chronicle

Delaware

• Sussex Countian - Georgetown
• Dover Post

Other Locales
Helena Daily- Helena, AR
Siftings Herald - Arkadelphia, AR
La Junta Tribune, LaJunta, CO
Norwich Bulletin - Norwich, CT
Bastrop Daily Enterprise -  Bastrop, LA
Leesville Daily Ledger - Leesville, LA.
Cheboygan Daily Tribune - Cheboygan, MI
Crookston Times - Crookston, MN.
Echo Pilot - Greencastle, PA
Wellsphere.com

Plus atleast 28 other papers not including coverage in September and October.

Springfield's Own Magazine Article on The Hope Institute for Children and Families

Download or View the article as a pdf by clicking here

or view in a slideshow below (you can click on the icon to make the article full screen).

So Magazine Article Dec 2009

View more documents from The Hope Institute .

Chicago Outreach Radio promotes the AFAA National Town Hall Meeting

Chicago Outreach Radio interviewed The Autism Program of Illinois' Director of Operations, Georgia Winson about the upcoming Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall Meeting.  Listen in streaming audio or on video.

Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism on Outreach Radio from Communicating Hope on Vimeo.

Examiner: Addressing the needs of adults with autism: Inside the national town hall meeting

From the Examiner: Addressing the needs of adults with autism: Inside the national town hall meeting

...The Advancing Futures for Adults with Autism National Town Hall Meeting represents a departure from typical agenda-driven symposiums or conferences. The "town hall" format will not include long-winded speakers or panelists; nor will the "town hall" meeting be driven by a single organization's agenda. Rather, the national town hall format is designed to break down participants into smaller groups, providing each participant the opportunity to provide substantive feedback and address the issues specific to their own experiences. The use of technology will aid in consolidating participant discussions into a clear set of shared priorities and recommendations. Producing and facilitating the event is AmericaSpeaks, an organization that has facilitated dozens of "town hall" style events over the past 12 years.


The AFAA National Town Meeting has brought together more than 42 organizations nationwide including The Autism Program of Illinois, The Hope Institute for Children and Families, Easter Seals, Autism Speaks, The Daniel Jordan Fiddle Foundation, Alpine Learning Group...read more

The Hope Institute's Rachel Rambach still making headlines

The Hope Institute for Children and Families', Rachel Rambach continues to gain media attention following an article in Monday's State Journal-Register.  This morning another 11 news sources were passed along to us.

Canton Dail Ledger - Canton, IL

Pekin Times - Pekin, IL

SJ-R cover story on Hope's Rachel Rambach picked up by 17 nationwide papers

A story released on Monday by the State Journal-Register featuring The Hope Institute for Children and Families' music therapist, Rachel Rambach, was re-printed Wednesday across 17 newspapers nationwide.  The story, Musician offers lyrical learning with music therapy, was re-printed from Boston to Louisiana.  Great Job Rachel!

Illinois
Galesburg Register-Mail
Olney - Olney Daily Mail

SJ-R: Music therapist uses songs as teaching aid at Hope Institute

Rachel Rambach has a song for almost every occasion or teachable moment, from "Yummy Summer" and "Friendly Words" to "Fall into Fall" and "Under, Over, In and Out." The 26-year-old Springfield native has composed more than...Read More at SJ-R

Examiner: Sixteen city national autism town hall to offer unprecedented opportunity for legislative change

During the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in the prevalence of autism-related disorders. A recent Centers of Disease Control report shed further light upon the increase with revised statistics showing that 1 in every 100 American children have been identified with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). Increased prevalence, early diagnosis and awareness initiatives have led to an increase in demand for both appropriate and effective services for adolescents and adults with autism. Unfortunately, such demand has far exceeded... Read More