Have Dreams 2020-2021 Gratitude Report

ADVANCING AUTISM SERVICES

Gratitude grat·i·tude \�gra-t - � tüd \ the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness.

“ Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens

can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.

”

— Margaret Mead

Dear Friends of Have Dreams, It has been an extraordinary past couple of years for our world, and for Have Dreams. In the midst of a global pandemic, we all learned new ways to connect with one another, share experiences and celebrate milestones, including Have Dreams’ 25 th Anniversary in 2021. Reflecting on our collective experiences of a global pandemic in 2020 and 2021, you may question associating the word gratitude with 24 months of such challenging times. Undeterred by circumstances, and through the support of our entire community, Have Dreams was able to reimagine our work—and for this, we are grateful! The days and months of isolation that each of us felt due to the pandemic lockdowns, provided us with a first-hand glimpse of the persistent isolation that is often experienced by individuals living with autism, and by extension, their family, each and every day. While 2020 and 2021 presented significant challenges for our participants, their families, our staff and our organization, these difficult years fueled extraordinary growth for Have Dreams. Despite the backdrop of a global pandemic, these two years inspired fresh and innovative approaches at Have Dreams to defeat isolation. We are humbled and proud to share that it was due to the collective generosity of our donors and supporters, and the continued involvement of our professional and family member communities, that Have Dreams was able to responsively transform its programs and services to meet the needs of children, teens and adults with autism, and their families. We invite you to look through our 2020-2021 Gratitude Report to read the stories from our grateful community and Have Dreams staff. We hope that the words and snapshots that follow adequately express how very thankful we are to each and every one of you receiving our Gratitude Report. Your unending support helped our organization continue to serve as a vital resource for our participants and families during unprecedented times, helping them combat isolation by offering connection, community and friendship through our programs and services. The road ahead is exciting! Have Dreams has its eyes on the future as we continue to innovate and advance our responsive programs and services to meet the needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) today and for years to come! We cannot do this work without you. Your partnership and steadfast commitment to our mission and work are invaluable to Have Dreams.

With deep GRATITUDE on behalf of all of us at Have Dreams, Kristina Johnsen Robert Creevy CEO and Founder President, Board of Directors

“

We are grateful to the Have Dreams family for everything they do, not only for Frank, but for all the other children and adults they help. We thank you all.”

— Tom Shero Father of Have Dreams Participant

A PARENT'S GRATITUDE for Our Have Dreams Family

FRANK SHERO has been a participant at Have Dreams for many years. He came to our Park Ridge location as an elementary school student to participate in our after-school social skills club. He joined Have Dreams’ Teen Club in Evanston when he was 14 and enjoyed music, games and art activities with his peers. After Frank transitioned out of high school at 18, he joined Life SCILS, a comprehensive, community-based program for adults with ASD. Today, when Frank comes to Life SCILS, he gets to be with his friends in an inclusive environment while focusing on increasing independence, community and social skills. Throughout the years, Have Dreams created individualized programs for Frank to address his needs while also providing ongoing support and resources for his family. When the Covid-19 pandemic arrived in March of 2020, Have Dreams had to quickly shut its doors and suspend in-person programs.

We spoke to TOM SHERO , father of Frank, about that experience and what it meant to Frank when Have Dreams was able to safely reopen in June of 2020.

“

Frank has been a part of the Have Dreams family since he was seven years old. Frank started with the after-school programs at Have Dreams in Park Ridge. Frank was one of the first students to participate in the full-time day programs in Evanston. The transition to high school was extremely stressful for Frank and Have Dreams was a perfect fit. Quite honestly, it was a godsend. When Have Dreams closed it was very difficult. Although we explained there was a terrible epidemic and that people were getting sick and needed to stay home, Frank believed he was being punished. Frank believed he did something wrong and was asked to leave. We had to drive him by the facility many times just to show him that it was closed for everyone, just like the schools. Without the program Frank became depressed and anxious. The questions - When would Have Dreams open, If the staff still loved him, and If he could return soon - were asked numerous times a day. The loss of Have Dreams in-person programs was devastating. Frank was at such a loss, he had no direction, no set schedule to follow and he was so sad. Frank is not very communicative when it comes to his emotions but he told us a number of times that he missed everyone and hoped he did not make anyone mad. We always understood the impact on Frank’s life, but not to its true extent. Have Dreams is his family as much as we are. The Have Dreams staff reached out via email and telephone. There were numerous check-ins and updates. It gave us hope that everyone was trying to figure a way to get the program back on its feet even while the pandemic was in full force. Frank’s return to the in-person program has been great. Frank is at his second home. One day after the re-opening, Frank asked if we could build him a room at Have Dreams so he can stay there. We are grateful to the Have Dreams family for everything they do, not only for Frank, but for all the other children and adults they help. We thank you all.

” Have Dreams is his family as much as we are.” “

“

I truly felt like Have Dreams helped me

become a better manager, better listener, and more proactive problem solver by reminding me that training and development isn’t one-size-fits all.”

— Bill Reschke

Manager, Walgreens

A BUSINESS PARTNER’S GRATITUDE for Enhancing the Workplace

BILL RESCHKE worked closely with our Have Dreams Academy (HDA) workforce training participants as a Walgreens manager. For many years, Bill supported HDA participants and staff by hosting interns, assisting with the application process and getting graduates hired at his store or other Walgreens locations. Since the addition of our on-site Walgreens Training Center in 2013 and through partnerships with Store Managers like Bill Reschke, Have Dreams has been able to enrich our Have Dreams Academy workforce training program and successfully partner with other Walgreens stores in the community for internships and employment. My relationship with Have Dreams was as a local partner with them and their students. Walgreens had set up a storefront in the Have Dreams building where their students could learn some of our tasks and day-to-day operations with hands-on experience. After they received some training there, my stores would take either groups of students, along with supervisors, or individual students, who would work under my supervision in the same manner my own employees did, with Have Dreams staff checking in periodically to monitor progress. “

Have Dreams interns performed all the tasks that my employees would, outside of cash management and transactions. The students were customer service ambassadors, always on the sales floor assisting, and in between those interactions they trained to manage inventory, check expirations, daily price changes, stock the shelves, reset departments and bring in vendor products. Once we were sure that the students were comfortable in the roles we were asking them to fill, they would assist in any task that was needed. The customers that would come in and recognize the students were always a fantastic reminder of why we were able to thrive as a business. We need community support in order to do well, and the best way to get that is to give to the local environment. The students were a huge help to the day-to-day workload of a busy retail location. Once they were well trained on a task, they were able to gain independence and complete the tasks much more efficiently. I truly felt like Have Dreams helped me become a better manager, better listener, and more proactive problem solver by reminding me that training and development isn’t one-size-fits all. We had customers come back to my locations because they recognized the students and appreciated their work. I came away with a heightened recognition of the need for inclusion in the workplace. All in all, working together with Have Dreams was a win for my stores and teams all around. We built community, strengthened our team, improved our training, and became a more inclusive and welcoming environment in a very diverse area of Evanston. ”

See the full video interview with Bill Reschke here

A DONOR’S GRATITUDE for The Opportunity to Give Back

RON LABEDZ has been regularly supporting Have Dreams since 2006 through a variety of employer-based payroll and contribution programs. Ron, whose son participated in Have Dreams programs, was also a 2010 Team Have Dreams member running the Chicago Marathon to benefit Have Dreams. As a dedicated, longtime supporter, Ron shares why he has been inspired to donate to Have Dreams, and the variety of ways he has championed the organization since 2006.

“

What I believe sets Have Dreams apart is their workforce training program. Their workforce

“

training program truly does allow us to have dreams that our children can have an independent and productive future.”

We first heard about Have Dreams from friends after we moved to Highland Park when our children were three years old. We were interested in programs that were skill-based with a social component and several friends mentioned Have Dreams. Our son participated in several programs when he was in the 4 - 6 age range. I witnessed the value of the programs first-hand, and in about 2006, I started donating to Have Dreams through my employer’s United Way campaign. In addition to monthly donations via paycheck deductions, I have requested matching donations from my employer’s charitable foundation, raised funds by running the Chicago Marathon and getting a team of friends to run along with me, and listing Have Dreams as my sponsored charity on Amazon Smile. If your employer has a charitable program, I encourage you to use it. My monthly donations are automatically deducted from my biweekly paycheck. It makes it easy and painless to donate—and painless to incrementally increase my donations year to year. Have Dreams has an array of programs that help children on the autism spectrum improve their communication and social skills. But, what I believe sets Have Dreams apart is their workforce training program. Their workforce training program truly does allow us to have dreams that our children can have an independent and productive future.

— Ron Labedz

Have Dreams Donor

”

KATE ANDERSON is the principal at Washington Elementary of East Maine School District 63 and has been a valued partner with Have Dreams for many years. Her staff takes part in our professional trainings and Washington Elementary hosts Have Dreams’ multi-day Classroom Set-Up professional training.

A SCHOOL PRINCIPAL’S GRATITUDE for Professional Development Training

“

All of the special education teachers, teachers, teacher assistants and related service staff have participated in a variety of trainings through Have Dreams. Our self-contained STIL (Structured Teaching for Independent Learning) teachers attend Have Dreams' Five-Day Classroom Set-Up Training in the summer before they start working with children in August if they have not received formal training. Staff need to understand the complexities and uniqueness of each person with ASD and how to teach social skills, communication and independence. East Maine School District 63 believes that every child should have high quality education and [Have Dreams] training allows teachers to implement structured teaching for students with ASD in their schools. This structure allows students to have a predictable environment with individualized instruction which reduces negative behaviors. Students are able to increase their understanding and skills since teachers are able to provide support to make their environment more comprehensible for them. Have Dreams has had other schools or districts observe Washington’s STIL classrooms and adapted specials. The students have excelled since the staff have a solid pedagogy, in part to the training they received from Have Dreams. I have attended the Five-Day training as a teacher but I think all administrators need to attend a Structured Teaching Training in order to know what instruction and the classroom environment should look like. The job-embedded professional development will positively change your programs. Teachers feel supported by the consultant and you will see students blossoming academically and socially. The Have Dreams consultant will work with your special education team, general education teachers and special teachers. You get what you pay for and the job-embedded professional development and continuous support is the best service Have Dreams offers!

“

Students have excelled since the staff have a solid pedagogy, in part to the training they received from Have Dreams.”

— Kate Anderson Principal, Washington Elementary of East Maine School District 63

”

HAVE DREAMS’ GRATITUDE for Our Generous Donors

Program Director ANDREA FRANCKOWIAK on her role at Have Dreams, the difficulties of navigating Covid and the importance of our incredible donors.

“

I started volunteering as a “social buddy” in the special ed classroom at Carpenter School in Park Ridge when I was ten years old. Instead of going to recess, my friends and I would head into that classroom and play games with the students. Once Have Dreams was established, I started volunteering after school in their social skills classes. I continued as a social buddy throughout junior high, high school and college in a variety of programs. I had many different jobs during those years, but nothing compared to how I felt when I was working with the participants at Have Dreams. I watched first-hand how Have Dreams evolved and made significant impacts on each family. It was a place where I watched kids having fun, dedicated staff working tirelessly, families finding comfort in their toughest moments, and I knew I had to be a part of it. No one had any idea how to create virtual programs during the lockdown. Everything we have been taught and trained to do has always been in person and hands-on. We knew how isolated everyone was feeling so we taught ourselves how to use Zoom. We

recreated all our materials and activities virtually. It was a relief to our families and participants when they realized they could still see their friends and staff virtually while doing familiar activities at home. As soon as we were able to have 10 people in the building in early June 2020, we resumed in-person programs. It was not easy and there was a tremendous amount of anxiety for the participants, their families and the staff. My job was to ease everyone back in and reassure the families and staff that we would be safe. We had all participants rotating days in the building with assigned pods. When it was not their day to come in, we continued to offer the virtual Zooms to keep that relationship and structure going. We also had to restructure our daily schedules because our participants were used to being out in the community and during this time we couldn’t go anywhere. There was not even a question in my mind about coming back in person. Although our staff worked tirelessly to create meaningful, structured virtual programming, it was not the same. Our participants needed that face to face. Our mission is to fight isolation, so we needed them back in person to continue developing relationships and to get back to some normalcy and stop the regression. Predictability is crucial to our participants and we were living in the most unpredictable of times. What we could give them was at least some reassurance of normalcy by coming back to their safe place, Have Dreams. The financial support of our donor community in 2020 and 2021 was crucial. If not for it, we would not have been able to sustain our staff to continue our mission. Because of our donors, not only were we one of the first [organizations] to resume in-person programs, but we were able to keep our incredible staff. We were able to do that for our families. There are no words to describe how meaningful it was to our staff that our donors rallied around our mission and helped us keep our doors open. In the toughest of times, that support rejuvenated our spirits to keep going every day. When other organizations were struggling, we were thriving and progressing because of donor support.

Because of our donors, not only were we one of the first to resume in-person programs, but we were able to keep our incredible staff. We were able to do that for our families.”

“

— Andrea Franckowiak Program Director

”

See a brief overview of Have Dreams Programs

Programs and Services "When Have Dreams had to shut down during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, program staff shifted LIFE SCILS - COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM

strategies to support our participants while they were at home. We created a Google classroom to upload visual supports and directions for parents to use with various projects and activities. We uploaded videos of the staff modeling the activities so their child could follow along. Staff volunteered their time to host structured Zoom video classes for each after-school program and multiple Zoom calls for our adult programs. We also set up a forum where participants could share videos and pictures of things they were doing with their families. For our employment programs, we digitized our curriculum and made it interactive so our participants could continue to develop and sustain their job skills with typing games, practice interviews and social games." — Program Director Andrea Franckowiak on Have Dreams reimagined programs and services during Covid-19

See a Life SCILS community outing.

See an overview of our SCILS Program

SOCIAL SCILS - AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

"There was a lot to do before we reopened our doors! We prepped our participants for changes like mask-wearing, social distancing and the change in their schedules. We also had to restructure our entire physical space to adhere to CDC guidelines." — Program Director Andrea Franckowiak on Have Dreams reimagined programs and services during Covid-19

Programs and Services PROFESSIONAL TRAININGS & EDUCATIONAL SERVICES

See Have Dreams Training in action here

Programs and Services HAVE DREAMS ACADEMY - WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAM

Scan here for our Have Dreams Academy Program

"Since our employment programs had to be on hold in 2020 because they were dependent on in-person internships, we pivoted to counseling services. The isolation and unpredictability of Covid was challenging for everyone but it was excruciating for people of the spectrum. I continued to be bombarded with inquiries from parents and people on the spectrum needing counseling, so it was a no-brainer to develop these services. We also knew that this need would only continue to increase, so it was full steam ahead." — Program Director Andrea Franckowiak on Have Dreams reimagined programs and services during Covid-19

Scan here for our Counseling and Employment Services

Events 2020 • 2021

Have Dreams hosted a combination of in-person, virtual and outdoor socially distanced events from February - September 2020 including: Boozy Brunch in February • Virtual Night of Dreams Gala • Summer Virtual 5k Run/Walk for Autism and the Have Dreams Golf Classic. 2021 marked the 25th Anniversary of Have Dreams, and celebrations throughout the year including: Pizza with a Purpose • Park Ridge Mayoral Proclamation of Have Dreams/25th Anniversary • Raise Your Glass for Autism Virtual Wine Tasting • Racing Ahead for Autism Virtual 5k Event • Have Dreams Golf Classic • Chicago Marathon and the Night of Dreams 25th Anniversary Gala.

Financials DECEMBER 31, 2021

2020 2021

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

DECEMBER 31, 2020

ASSETS Current Assets

683,008 53,554 5,257 741,819 115,854 250,000 365,854

1,112,165 50,550 5,257 1,167,972 141,154 193,140 334,294

Land, Buildings and Equipment (book value)

Other Assets

LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS Current Liabilities Non-current liabilities

Total Liabilities

Beginning Net Assets Prior Period adjustment Change in Net Assets Ending Net Assets

317,697

Beginning Net Assets Prior Period adjustment Change in Net Assets Ending Net Assets

375,965

58,268 375,965

457,713 833,678

TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS

741,819

TOTAL LIABILITIES & NET ASSETS

1,167,972

STATEMENT of ACTIVITY (Condensed) for the 12 Months Ended December 31 st, 2020 REVENUES Contributions

STATEMENT of ACTIVITY (Condensed) for the 12 Months Ended December 31 st, 2021 REVENUES Contributions

936,100 39,541 414,885 250,149 10,388 1,651,063 576,698 243,403 213,480 1,033,581 22,962 324,171 13,606 21,479

869,827 39,541 558,161 348,120 11,973 1,827,622 671,160 263,357 219,288 1,153,805 27,974 305,640 24,129 11,060

In-Kind Contributions Program Service Fees Special Events Revenue Miscellaneous Income Total Revenues EXPENDITURES Staff Costs Direct Care (Program) Management & General

Fundraising

Total Personnel Costs

Professional Fees & Contract Service

Occupancy

Classroom Expense

Public Relations and Marketing

Insurance

26,105 8,798

Insurance

28,789 8,581 29,269

Printing and Reproduction

Other

47,004 ,

Other

TOTAL EXPENSES DEPRECIATION

1,604,515 15,394 1,619,909 457,713

TOTAL EXPENSES DEPRECIATION

1,482,438 25,385 1,507,823 58,268

TOTAL EXPENSES WITH DEPRECIATION TOTAL CHANGE IN NET ASSETS

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS BOARD Greg Lucchesi, President Nicole Selvitella, Vice President Chris Fahey, Secretary Dana Fenceroy, Have Dreams Staff Liaison Rick Bake Mark Huber

MEDICAL ADVISORS B ennett L. Leventhal, M.D. Catherine Lord, Ph.D. Lauren Wakschlag, Ph.D. STAFF Kristina Johnsen, Chief Executive Officer and Founder Christine Bellosa Michael Bolton Alex Bonk Cameron Boone Kate Carlson

HAVE DREAMS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert X. Creevy, President Steven C. Gustafson, Vice President Jeffrey Devlin, Treasurer Christopher Cassidy Ann Egger Kristina Johnsen Janice McDill LIFE TRUSTEES Gil Fergus Peggy Gilger Labern Richard Malone William and Connie Manika Dale Seaberg

Bobbi Frazes Goldman Maureen Hartwig Madison Hegedus Alicia Hubbard Melanie Johnsen Deirdre King Caroline McCarthy Cathy McCarthy Christine McQuinn

Amanda Labern Michele Labern Courtney Litchfield Tommy Muck

David Murray Andy Norkett Kelly Passaneau Lora Slutsky Joanne Wilken Paulette Wilkins Lydia Wissing

Dana Fenceroy Megan Fleischel Andrea Franckowiak

With deep gratitude to our entire Have Dreams community for your ongoing support and commitment to our mission and work.

ADVANCING AUTISM SERVICES

515 Busse Highway, Suite 150 Park Ridge, Illinois 60068

2020 Dempster Street Evanston, Illinois 60202

havedreams.org

www.facebook.com/havedreams

www.instagram.com/have.dreams

www.linkedin.com/company/havedreams

www.twitter.com/havedreams

Have Dreams’ mission is to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) learn, function independently and socialize so that they may realize their full potential and develop into contributing members of their communities.

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