A Message from Our CEO – Kim CornwellSpring is a time of fresh starts, innovative growth, and new friendships and EP!C is flying high and looking to the future after the tremendous success of our annual Bon Appétit event on March 23rd. We only succeed when we pull together and through the cooperation of four presenting sponsors, corporate partners, in-kind donors, old and new friends of EP!C and staff, board members and event committee members we increased our fundraising by 78%. Final numbers are still coming in, but this growth deserves an EP!C Thank You!
The funds raised and the relationships cultivated by Bon Appétit will allow us to expand the number of individuals served, secure employment, and partner with the community through new found volunteer opportunities. Our technology lab and customized employment services through skill assessments, training, and individualized job placement, assist people with disabilities find employment utilizing technology. Events such as Bon Appétit ensure that we can continue making such an impactful footprint in our community!
On behalf EP!C, and the individuals we serve, we’d like to share with you our deepest gratitude for a very successful 6th annual Bon Appétit! The night was filled with aromatic smells, exquisite tastes and we even learned a few new cooking techniques thanks to our International Celebrity Chef and expert in Italian cuisine, Chef Mario Rozzotti.
We spent an evening with old and new friends enjoying a wonderful meal, great company, and most of all, sharing our mission. EP!C provides opportunities for individuals to learn new skills, express themselves in creative ways, and work in jobs that produce meaningful products and wages.
The evening featured silent auction artwork, decorative voila centerpieces, and arugula that was featured in the event’s delicious salads—these were all just a few examples of the amazing things our individuals can create to fulfill those opportunities to the best of their capabilities. We had an incredibly fun evening and can’t wait for Bon Appétit 2018!
For those of who do not know James Zogg, he is an individual that began services with EP!C three years ago and lives with one of EP!C’s Host Home providers. James also works in our Organizational Employment Services program!
In 2013, James joined our EP!C Host Home family and began living with his current provide and friend, Rick. James has lived with Rick for over three years yet if you had the pleasure to see them together, the bond these two friends have together you would think they have known each other their whole lives. James enjoys going on Host Home trips, watching basketball, and eating at various restaurants in the Peoria area. James has made a tremendous impact on our EP!C family.
Whenever EP!C hosts an event, James is always the first one to step forward and ask how he can help. We often need to remind James he should go and enjoy our events but James responds saying, “my favorite part is helping everyone out.” At this year’s Bon Appétit event, James was selected as an honorary guest/volunteer. James volunteered by helping people find their seats, he assisted the auctioneer during the auction, and enjoyed mingling with all of our Bon Appétit guests. Being the enthusiastic person he is James said, “I can’t wait until next year’s Bon Appétit!”
Hello from Galesburg!
Starting in February of this year Host Home program expanded its residential model to the Galesburg area. Mike Cheesman, VP of Community Options is introducing EP!C’s Host Home program to the Galesburg community and businesses through his new membership in the Galesburg Chamber of Commerce. Mike is raising awareness of EP!C as a new provider agency in the area for people with Intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The Host Home residential model offers an alternative to people living in a group homes or with aging family members. The Host Home residential model is an individualized residential option that matches people
with disabilities and a contracted provider together, resulting in a home environment were long term relationships are development. If you would like more information about EP!C’s Host Home program, please visit EPICPeoria.org/Programs/Host-Program.
For the last two years on any given day, news coming out of Springfield initiates hard conversations with many stakeholders on, “How is EP!C surviving without a state budget and no funding?” I start off that conversation telling them that we are getting funding based on 2008 rates. This is because our services fall under one of the Court monitored Consent Decrees (Ligas legal settlement) requiring the state continue to pay agencies like EP!C. 76 % of EP!C’s total revenue comes from our contracts with the State. Here is the dire reality of the situation – if they were to stop paying completely, as they did for many other Human Service organizations, EP!C, could only continue to provide vital services for an estimated FOUR months.
This is not acceptable. EP!C plans to offer a number of small group town hall meetings for our stakeholders (people receiving EP!C services, Families, Guardians, Staff, Friends and Advocates) through the month of June 2017. We will briefly review our contract for services with the State of Illinois and information on the status of funding now and into the future for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. We need all our stakeholders to be well informed on funding for people with disabilities in Illinois and what we can do together to protect the rights of people with disabilities to live, work and participate in the communities of their choice.
Our friends at Eurest Dining had a supply drive for EP!C based on EP!C’s needs list (on website under) in January. Eurest donated some incredible and much needed supplies for our programs and community homes. From blankets to art supplies to sensory activities, we were overwhelmed with their generosity! Some of our EP!Casso individuals had a blast with a new painting project using canvases and acrylic paints from the donations.
Thank you to all the staff at Eurest that participated.
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