Summer is here and even though it is disappointing we are still without a state budget, EP!C is thankful for everyone that donated, volunteered and encouraged EP!C staff for staying true to our mission to ”enrich the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities”. This spring, we are excited to connect with family, guardians and advocates during one of six town hall meetings. Terry Waters, Board Chair, and Lorenz Evans, Vice Chair, will lead an update on EP!C’s current status and discuss the many ways stakeholders can partner with us to make a difference this next year and into the future. The dates are listed below.
We look forward to connecting with you in June!
Please help us congratulate Cindy Dickerson as EP!C’s Employee of the Month of May!
Cindy is responsible for ensuring that our individuals arrive safely to EP!C and back home again. Even bad weather does not deter Cindy. She always has a smile on her face and truly goes above and beyond for the individuals we serve.
Thank you Cindy!!
HOW KIRK BROWN INSPIRED THE BEGINNING OF EP!C
Diann (Brown) Johnson just adores her younger brother Kirk now 74 years old and has since the day he was born. She will also tell you it has not always been an easy road for her family. Diann’s parents felt life was going along as expected until Kirk contracted measles at the age of 2. After his illness, life was not the same. Her parents set to work immediately to see what resources were in the area to help ensure Kirk was able to receive the best care. Diann admitted that, “while it was hard sometimes because she became the babysitter, we were family, and that is just what family does. The Browns like other families with children who had challenges found there were few resources to help them and their child. This was the catalyst that started PARC now EP!C. Kirk’s parents, thanks to Barbara Smiley met other families and together started making a future for their children with disabilities. Kirk has been with EP!C since it was founded and was one of the first residents to move into the Smiley Living Center (a 56 bed state of the art facility the families of PARC built in the 1970s). Currently Kirk resides in an eight bed home called Marlene. He has made some wonderful lifelong friends in his tenure with EP!C, enjoyed participating in a fashion show, bowling in the special Olympics and currently loves showing off his artistic ability in the EPICasso program. Diann affectionately remembers while growing up her mother saying that Kirk was an angel, their angel. Her fondest memories were when there was a thunderstorms; she would climb into bed with Kirk because she knew she would be safe with “the family’s angel”. Diann knows that her parents are resting easy because EP!C is still caring for their angel today.
We are so grateful for our EP!C families, guardians and advocates. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to make nearly the same impact. We’ve been supported throughout the years in various ways, some include:
And these are just a few examples of all the ways our families, advocates, and guardians have touched the lives of everyone here at EP!C. Please consider partnering with EPIC! by sharing your time and talent.
Enter to win in the EP!C Cafeteria. Winners will be drawn at Noon on Friday. You don’t need to be present to win! Come out and enjoy delicious baked goods, gluten free goodies and amazing prizes.
For more information, please contact Mike Cheesman at 309-689-3663 or mcheesman@epicpeoria.org.
EP!C Board Members and the Executive staff are hosting 6 town hall meetings for family members, guardians and advocates the last two weeks of June. We will review EP!C’s Strategic Initiatives along with funding and staffing challenges.
For more information contact Kim Cornwell at kcornwell@epicpeoria.org or 309-689-3624.
We look forward to connecting with you in June!
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