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