January / February 2019
January / February 2019
A Message from our CEO
Our EP!C family is growing!
EP!C is excited to welcome the People served, Host Home Providers and Staff from Illinois MENTOR Community Services to the EP!C family. Last month, EP!C closed on an Acquisition Purchase Agreement with Illinois MENTOR Community Services and assumed responsibility for providing services for Host Home and Supported Living programs in Peoria, Springfield and Swansea, IL. EP!C will continue to be headquartered out of Peoria, but will also be operating out of a second office in Swansea, IL.
We are proud of the comprehensive programs we currently provide for communities in a 9 county area of Central Illinois and are excited about expanding our services to the Springfield and Swansea areas. Both EP!C and Illinois MENTOR Community Services worked together for a smooth transition to ensure that the individuals didn’t experience a lapse in services.
Illinois MENTOR Community Services will continue to provide services in the Chicagoland area.This acquisition makes EP!C one of the largest provider of services for adults with disabilities in downstate Illinois.
EP!C BON APPÉTIT
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.
QUARTERLY FAMILY GATHERINGS
EP!C was started by families of people with disabilities almost 70 years ago. It’s imperative that families of the individuals we serve stay involved and engaged with our organization. Please mark your calendars for the 2019 Family Gatherings.
March 21
Join us for Bon Appétit.
June 20
Join us for an amazing evening.
September 19
Join us for another Family Fun Night.
December 8
Join us for a Sunday of Holiday Decorating.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
Our October Volunteer of the Month was Dan Klaus. Dan has been volunteering at EP!C for a few years and is a huge help in our garden program. Not only has he set up a recurring volunteer opportunity with Ameren to have their employees come out in the spring and fall to help prep our garden for the season, he personally volunteered his time and rented/operated a tractor to help our Master Gardener Marc winterize the Harvest Garden. His son Mitch receives services from EP!C, which makes it even more special. Thank you Dan for being an EP!C volunteer.
November’s Volunteer of the Month was Morton Jr. High School! Each year the students raise a certain amount of money in order to be able to participate in a field trip in late October. During their annual Help-A-Thon Students can choose their top two or three nonprofit locations to serve, and EP!C is one of the beneficiaries! These students come and learn about EP!C and our programs, and volunteer their time and talents to a project. It’s an amazing way to instill the importance of giving back early on.
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!
EP!C EMPLOYEES
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.”
EP!C GIVING TREE
THANK YOU!
EP!C thanks to everyone who participated in Giving Tree this year! We had a combination of repeat donors and brand-new donors who all helped to make the holidays a little bit brighter for the individuals we serve in our Community Living Services program.
Thank you also to our volunteer “elves” who helped wrap gifts and sort them for delivery! Once again Giving Tree was hugely successful – THANK YOU to everyone who participated!
EP!C BULLDOGS
We are proud to help adults with disabilities participate in everything life has to offer. This includes coaching and managing a team in the Special Olympics Illinois Basketball league. The EP!C Bulldogs are excited for another season and hope to bring home another championship title.
For more information or to purchase some fan gear click here.
EP!C HARVEST CSA
“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.
THANK YOU TO OUR BON APPÉTIT SPONSORS
PRESENTING
Advanced Medical Transport
UnityPoint Health Methodist / Proctor
Two Brothers
Pere Marquette
PLATINUM
Associated Bank
DIAMOND
Cullinan Properties, Ltd.
West Bend / Hediger & Meyers
EMERALD
Architectural Design Group
CEFCU
Heinold Banwart, Ltd.
OSF Saint Francis Medical Center
Professional Therapy Services
VoiceSpring
RUBY
Agera Energy
Matt Byrd FUNraising Auctioneer
Clifton Larson Allen
Commerce Bank
Ernst Young
Health Staff
Kuhl Insurance
MUIR Omni Graphics
Mutual of America
Pekin Insurance
River City Construction
Simantel
Unland
SAPPHIRE
Bard Optical
Brewers
Center for Health
Hilltop Wealth Management of Raymond James
IT360
Professional Benefit Administrators
Technicraft
Vonachen Group
PEAR
Anytime Fitness
Hecht-Stout Insurance
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.