March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
We have been hard at work investing in more visibility for our organization and the people we serve. You may have seen our commercials, heard us on the radio or even seen one of our billboards. We must educated our communities as to the benefit of including and supporting the people we serve. EP!C envisions a world where people with disabilities are respected , engaged in community life, and have every opportunity to achieve their personal best.
In order to do that, we rely heavily on our Direct Support Professional (DSP) staff. 62% of our workforce here at EP!C are DSP’s and they truly are the heart of our organization. They care deeply for the individuals we serve and become like family. One look at our social media and you can experience several of our success stories. From the living more independently to finding employment in the community, we are here to help individuals with intellectual and development disabilities accomplish their personal gals and reach their full potential.
Please join us in supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
March 21st, 2019
Featuring Chef Shaun O’Neale, Masterchef Season 7 Winner
Visit EP!C Bon Appétit for more information.
For the past six months, EP!C has partnered with CxT Roasting Company in downtown Peoria to provide a new educational program. EP!C Espresso is an in-office gourmet coffee cart that tours our Townline office each Tuesday morning. Currently Dakota and Ryan are learning skills such as customer service, how to take and make an order, and social skills so they may be employed at a local restaurant or coffee shop one day.
Our program has been very popular with our staff and has even been replicated at the Academy for Autism with the Children’s Home Association
of Illinois.
Our EP!C Volunteer of the Month for December was George Hickman! George has been coming to EP!C each week for the past several years to teach aerobics to our individuals, and they absolutely love it. He encourages the individuals to participate and modifies different moves if they have difficulty with them. It’s evident how much he cares for our individuals, and he passes his love for fitness onto them. Thank you George for being EP!C!
Caterpillar Global Aftermarket Solutions Division and Caterpillar Energy & Transportation Commercial Process Division were our Volunteers of the month for January! Both groups came in throughout the month of December and wrapped LOTS of gifts for our folks to open Christmas morning! Even though their volunteer dates were in December, we sent out thank-you’s in January to those who participated in Giving Tree, so it made sense to thank our “elves” in this way!
Thank you to ALL of our volunteers for everything you do for EP!C!
For more details on these volunteers, check out the Facebook posts on our page @epiccentralillinois!
Contact Carmen McCarthy, Development Coordinator, at cmccarthy@epicci.org or call
309-689-3606 for information on how to be an EP!C volunteer!
Our Employee of the Month for September was Linda Thompson.
“She performed her own job duties as well as Accounts Payable duties until we could hire a new staff member and once hired, trained them on the position. Thank you Linda for going above and beyond to ensure staff and vendors were paid on time, at the same time as managing your own responsibilities.”
October’s Employee of the Month was Dalaisha Williams.
“She adapts well to each role she has at EP!C giving our individuals value and purpose. Even family members have commented on her work ethic during meetings.”
Third-party fundraisers are a great way to introduce a new audience to EP!C while raising funds to help with our mission. Here’s the fun part – you can get creative when it comes to the kind of event you want to throw! Hold a fashion show, have a private in-home concert, or plan a dodgeball tournament. Just keep in mind that the event should align with EP!C’s mission.
An excellent example of a recurring third-party fundraiser is our friends at Kiwanis Club of South-West Peoria. They held their 12th annual Trivia Challenge at EP!C on February 22nd, where proceeds benefited EP!C and Dream Center Peoria. Each year they have a different theme and also includes a silent auction, wine pull and cookie sale. This is a great example of holding a fun event each year to raise funds and awareness.
Want more information? Contact Carmen McCarthy, Development Coordinator, at cmccarthy@epicci.org or call 309-689-3606!
“CSA” stands for Community Supported Agriculture. A CSA allows individuals to have direct access to high quality, fresh produce grown by our EP!C Harvest participants. Sign up for either a Full Share ($500, weekly) or Half Share ($350, every other week) to receive a box containing 6-12 freshly harvested, in-season veggies.
Receive a $30 voucher to the greenhouse for spring flowers if paid in full by January 31st. Refer a friend and receive a discount off your CSA when they sign up!
Season produce offered include heirloom tomatoes, new potatoes, peppers, carrots, squash, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet corn, onions, hot peppers, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower beets, kohlrabi, melons, various fruits, microgreens and herbs.
Ready to join? Contact Katie Murphy at 309-689-3607 to get answers to your questions and to request sign-up materials.
Click here for more information.
PRESENTING
Advanced Medical Transport
UnityPoint Health Methodist / Proctor
Two Brothers
Pere Marquette
PLATINUM
Associated Bank
DIAMOND
Cullinan Properties, Ltd.
Hediger & Meyers
EMERALD
Architectural Design Group
Busey Bank
CEFCU
Heinold Banwart, Ltd.
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Professional Therapy Services
VoiceSpring
RUBY
Agera Energy
CityLink
Clifton Larson Allen
Commerce Bank
Ernest Young
G&D Integrated
Health Staff
Kuhl Insurance
Matt Byrd “FUN”raising Auctioneer
MUIR Omni Graphics
Mutual of America
Par-a-dice
Pekin Insurance
River City Construction
RLI
Simantel
Unland Companies
SAPPHIRE
Bard Optical
Brewers
Center for Health
Farnsworth Group
Heights Finance
Heyl Royster
Hilltop Wealth Management of Raymond James
IT360
Professional Benefit Administrators
Pharmacy Alternatives
Technicraft
Uftring Auto Group
Vonachen Group
PEARL
Anytime Fitness
Eurest
Hecht-Stout Insurance
Preckshot Professional Pharmacy
IN-KIND
Bremer Jewelry
RK Dixon
If you would like to support Bon Appétit as a sponsor, please click here or contact Chad Cunningham at ccunningham@epicci.org or 309-689-3771.
« Back to Newsletters
Donate