Hospice Dreams Issue 4

Dreams are Ageless 1

Events -- In Memorium

Quarterly Issue 4: October 2012DreamsD r e a m s A r e A g e l e s s

www.HospiceDreams.org

The Newsletter of Hospice Dreams

Hospice Dreams Goes to the

CLASSY Awards!After winning the award for the Midwest Small Charity of the Year, Hospice Dreams headed to the national awards in San Diego!

Small Charity of the Year

Dreams are Ageless2

Mission Statement: Hospice Dreams is a non profit wish-granting organization dedicated to fulfilling unmet wishes, decreasing stress and improving quality of life for adult hospice patients.

Dreams & News In This IssueLetter from the Director Helen’s 100th Birthday - Helen KurckiewiczWheat Family Reunion - Kay WheatWWE Dream - Albert TaylorGreek Lunch - Angeline LenziniIllini Dream - Mary PankeySpa Dream - Dorothy “Dot” Stansbury58th Anniversary Dinner - Marvin LohnesHomemade Italian Dinner - Mary WeeksHome Spa Day - Beverly Remus Izzy’s Animals - Isadore Tobiansky Ray’s NASCAR Dream - “Crazy” Ray RhoadesMark McGwire Autograph - Billy Wheat

Cubs Dream - Alfred Jackson Hospice Dreams Open House Hospice Dreams held an after hours ribbon cutting ceremony and open house at its offices in Bradley, IL!Wine and Beer Festival Hidden Cove helped Hospice Dreams host it’s first wine and beer festival in Kankakee, IL.CLASSY Awards Hospice Dreams was nominated as a finalist and made it to San Diego for the 2012 CLASSY Awards.Dreams Are Ageless Golf OutingHospice Dreams held its 1st annual golf outing at the beautiful Kankakee Country Club.Dreams in the News & Upcoming Events! Mark your calendars and don’t miss these exciting upcoming events!Letters and PostsDonationsGiving OpportunitiesDreams Notes & Staff Page

Index

Mailing Address:511 E. North StreetBradley, IL 60915Toll-Free Phone:(888) 741-9132

Letters may be submitted to Hospice DreamsAttn: Dreams Newsletter511 E. North StreetBradley, IL 60915

Contents are copyright Hospice Dreams. If you would like to use any article or photo please contact [email protected] for permission.

Hospice Dreams is a registered 501(c)3 charity and your donations are tax-deductible.

C orporate sponsorship opportunities are available. Please contact our office directly for more information at (888) 741-9132 or email [email protected].

Facebook: /HospiceDreamsTwitter: @HospiceDreamsYoutube: /HospiceDreams

On the cover: Hospice Dreams was a finalist in the 2012 Classy awards. Pictured from L-R: Kristen Kolwelter, Seth Gillman, Kansas Swain, and Kaitlyn Henderson.


Letter from the Director

Fall is here, and s c a r e c r o w s , straw bales

and Jack O’lanterns are up! To celebrate, Hospice Dreams has just finished up our fall

fundraiser Barktoberfest! More than 30 dogs participated in this fun event for the whole family and the money raised from these type of fundraising events goes to granting Dreams for hospice patients across the Midwest!September was a busy month as well, and the team here at Hospice Dreams was so honored to be named a regional winner as Midwest Small Charity of the Year! We went to the Classy Awards that were held in San Diego, California and although we didn’t win the national championship, (great job, Team Rubicon!) we are so honored to be representing the Midwest on such a large platform.I hope you enjoy this quarter’s edition of Dreams. We had some amazing wishes come true and I am proud to announce we are getting closer to our goal of 100 Dreams! I am always so humbled by people’s generosity and I am asking if you will help us to spread the word! We are in need of corporate sponsors and would like to increase our individual giving as well. Maybe you know a

business owner or someone who is touched by the work we do for hospice patients, and would like to donate? Every hospice patient deserves to have their Dream come true!So whether the dream was to have Italian or Greek food one more time, meet Kurt Busch, celebrate a 58th wedding anniversary or pet a pooch…I hope these stories bring you joy, I know the Dream Team loves them!Our Holiday Fundraiser is December 1st and is right around the corner! Don’t forget to get your tickets! Call 888-741-9132 for more information!Proceeds from this fundraiser will help us make dreams come true for more hospice patients. If you are unable to attend any of our fundraisers, please take a moment and visit our website at www.hospicedreams.org. There you’ll see our online Virtual Quilt that is filled with the memories that families and friends have shared about their loved ones. With a small donation you can create your own quilt square in memory of your loved one, too. I always want to leave a final thought with you. Please take a moment and ask yourself: “What would be your Dream?”Happy Holidays,

Kansas SwainDirector of Foundation DevelopmentHospice Dreams

Dreams are Ageless

Family ReunionKay attended her family reunion

with loved ones from as far as

Texas, Minnesota, and Ohio!

The family gathered in a local

park to reminisce and enjoy time

with each other.

100y e a R s

Ce l e b r at i ng

Photo: Helen poses with her special cake. Inset: Helen’s special 100th birthday certificate.

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Helen celebrated her 100th

birthday in style with family

and friends at her nursing

home. She even received a

certificate signed by her State

Representative congratulating

her on her 100th birthday!


A lfred had special

seats to WWE Raw

with his brother,

nephew and grandson! Alfred

and his family enjoy watching

wrestling and spending time

together, but it was the first

live match they’d been to in

many years. The family sat in

the first section and even got

to try on a real wrestling belt!Alfred poses for a photo with his family at WWE Raw!

Greek LunchFor her Dream, Angeline just wanted to have a good Greek lunch. Hospice Dreams took her to a local restaurant, Demetri’s, for some traditional Greek food. Angeline really enjoyed the famous dish of flaming saganaki—better known as flaming cheese.

Want to see more photos from these and other recent Dreams? Visit the gallery page at hospicedreams.org!

Dreams are Ageless

Mary Pankey, 84, has had two great loves in her life: her late husband, Everett, and Illini sports. The couple served the University for more than 35 years as ushers at Assembly Hall and Memorial Stadium. Everett Pankey was among the original ushers at Assembly Hall’s introduction in 1963, and Mary joined soon after.

Birthdays and anniversaries in the Pankey family are marked by a football or basketball game, and the dress code is always orange.

“The Illini are a second family for them,” said daughter Maryanna Smith.

When her caregivers from Passages Hospice asked

Pankey what was on her bucket list, she told them she wanted to visit the Illini again. Mary received a behind-the-scenes tour of Illini basketball.

Basketball coach John Groce delayed a recruiting trip to greet Pankey at Ubben Basketball Complex, where he presented her with

a signed basketball and Illini t-shirt.

“You made my day by coming,” Groce told Pankey. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for the University.”

As the guest of honor, Pankey was privy to a tour that few members of the public have seen. After visiting the locker room, meeting room and practice court, Groce and basketball players Nnanna Egwu, Tyler Griffey and Brandon Paul posed for pictures at half-court with Pankey and her family.

“I don’t think you could have a better day than this for my mother,” said son Nelson Pankey. “She just dearly loved Illinois.”

Coach Groce and basketball players Nnanna Egwu, Tyler Griffey and Brandon Paul posed for pictures at half-court with Pankey, her family, and staff.

L L I N ID R E A M


Dot’sSpa Dream

D orothy “Dot” S t a n s b u r y and her two

older sisters have always shared a special bond. Lunch outings, and rare but special trips to the

salon, were more fun as a threesome. Even now, when age and disease have taken their toll, the three regularly gather at Dot’s nursing home for some quality time. Now a hospice patient, trips to the salon are even more rare for 89-year-old Dot.

She misses the chatter and fun of the salon, and the company of her sisters.

We sent Dot and her sisters Mary Easterling and Barb Oyler for a special “girls” day. The three relaxed with manicures and hairstyling at Bliss Salon in Mt. Zion before enjoying their favorite seafood lunch at Red Lobster in Forsyth.

TOP: Dot gets her nails doneABOVE: Dot’s sisters are all smiles while getting their nails done.BELOW: Dot enjoys a slice of cake on her special day.

Dot poses for a photo with her sisters at the salon.

Dreams are Ageless

58th Wedding Anniversary

Marvin and Glenna Lohnes celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary at Bob Evans! The Lohneses lived on a farm just south of Pekin, and had a Bob Evans Sunday dinner tradition for many years. But with Marvin’s declining health, it’d been nearly six months since they visited the restaurant. Marvin gave Glenna flowers for their special date, and we decorated the table to help them celebrate.

Italian Dinner

Eloise posed in many photos with her family and

friends at the dinner she hosted.

Eloise was always the hostess, but her declining health made it hard to have parties like she used to. We helped Eloise host a dinner for her closest family, friends and neighbors. The group enjoyed a delicious meal and wonderful conversation!

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Italian Dinner Home Spa DayBeverly enjoyed a makeover at her home, courtesy of a local salon. After her hair and makeup were done, Beverly and her family enjoyed dinner from their favorite restaurant, Red Lobster.

Izzy’s AnimalsIzzy Tobiansky raised German Shepards and other animals on his farm, but he misses animals now that he lives in town. The Passages Pooches volunteer group from Passages Hospice brought a Pomeranian, LaCee, a Black Lab, Midnite, and a bunny, Thumper, to visit him at his nursing home. Izzy couldn’t get the smile off of his face when he held the animals.

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Crazy Ray’s NASCAR DayE J Equipment of Manteno helped Hospice Dreams give Ray Rhoades,

64, a NASCAR Dream day at the Chicagoland Speedway.

Rhoades was a race car driver himself for many years and was known as “Crazy Ray” for his willingness to take risks to win a race.

“He lives, breathes, eats and sleeps racing,” said his niece, Bonnie Fisher, who remembers her uncle rolling his car several times as he attempted to overtake an opponent. Rhoades asked Hospice Dreams for one more day at the races with his family.

“We were moved by his story,” said Julie Belan of EJ Equipment. “We just decided to do whatever it takes

to make his dream happen.”

The company donated Infield and Pit passes to the September 16th race, including access to the garage area, a Luke Bryan Concert, and other activities sponsored by EJ Equipment. The afternoon’s highlight was an exclusive meet-and-greet session with his favorite driver, Kurt Busch, who gave him autographed memorabilia to take home.

“I couldn’t dream of anything that would’ve made me happier than I am today,” Rhoades said.

Ray poses for a photo with Racecar driver Kurt Busch

Billy at Hallmark House in

Pekin couldn’t get out to a

Cardinals game this year, so we

helped him celebrate the team

from his nursing home. We threw

a Cardinals party and presented

Billy with an autographed picture

of Mark McGwire. Billy didn’t want

to let go of the picture!

11Dreams are Ageless

A lfred Jackson, life-long Cubs Fan, can’t

remember the last time he actually

got to go to a Cubs game-but it has been

long enough. He now watches his beloved

Cubbies on TV whenever he can. Alfred’s

favorite player is Starlin Castro, so we

brought him an autographed picture of

the baseball star. “Thank you, thank you,

I’m so happy,” he repeated over an over

again after receiving the framed picture.

Want to see more photos from these and other recent Dreams? Visit the gallery page at hospicedreams.org!


Hospice Dreams Hosts

Business After Hours EventHospice Dreams hosted a Business After Hours event at its Bradley office through the Kankakee County Chamber of Commerce.

Hospice Dreams showcased the recent Dreams they had fulfilled

as part of their mission to grant unmet wishes for adult hospice patients, giving them a higher quality of life and helping families make important memories together. The organization was founded in 2008, but chose Bradley for its first office location in October 2011. In addition to an official ribbon cutting ceremony, the open house featured refreshments, a raffle for prizes and a memorial balloon release honoring loved ones who have passed.

Participants in the balloon release watch as their ballons in memory of those who passed float away.

(Above) Hospice Dreams staff join a Chamber of Commerce representative for a ribbon cutting ceremony. (Below) Jerry, a board member, volunteered as bartender for the after hours event.

Kankakee wine enthusiasts raised more than $1,800 for Hospice Dreams during a wine, beer and food festival held at Hidden Cove Sportsplex on September 15th.

About 330 people attended the festival, which featured various wines and beers as well as food from local restaurants. Attendees enjoyed music, socializing and raffle prizes as they sipped their beverages.

“We had an amazing turnout,” said Christine Cousin of Hidden Cove Sportsplex. “It was really a great showcase of local businesses and it supported an important cause.”

Cousin says the festival will become an annual event and expand to include wine and food pairing classes and other informational sessions.

“The Kankakee area is always so supportive of our events,” said Kansas Swain, Director of Foundation Development for Hospice Dreams. “We are very lucky to be a part of this community.”


Participants in the balloon release watch as their ballons in memory of those who passed float away.

We are very lucky to be a part of

this community.


Hospice Dreams has been named the Midwest Small Charity of the Year in the 4th Annual CLASSY Awards. The CLASSY Awards is the largest philanthropic awards ceremony in the country, recognizing the top charitable achievements around the world.

“Being called the Small Charity of the Year in the Midwest is amazing,” said Kansas Swain, Hospice Dreams Director of Foundation Development. “We are so passionate about granting dreams, and it feels incredible to be recognized on a national level.”

Hospice Dreams fulfills

unmet wishes for adult hospice patients, improves their quality of life and helps families make memories together. Hospice Dreams has fulfilled more than 200 Dreams since it began in 2008. The program serves patients enrolled in any hospice program, and has granted Dreams across the Midwest.

The CLASSY Awards

Above: Program director, Kansas Swain, arrives on the red carpet with her husband. Below: The founders of the Classy awards begin the awards.


Hospice Dreams started as a charitable wing of Passages Hospice, but quickly grew to serve hospice patients across the region. “Families, communities and businesses large and small have shown so much interest in Dreams,” said Michael Gillman, Passages Hospice Administrator. “It started as a local effort to bring joy to a few hospice patients but we’ve been able to reach so many deserving people.”

Hospice Dreams was selected by a panel of judges and a popular vote from 80 Midwest finalists in multiple categories. More than 2,400 nominations were submitted for nonprofit organizations around the country.

The national Small Charity of the Year award winner was announced on September 22nd at the Classy Awards ceremony in San Diego, California. Hospice Dreams was judged with three other small charities from other regions of the United States, and ultimately, Team Rubicon was the winner of the national award.

About the CLASSY Awards The CLASSY Awards, presented by eBay and PayPal, is the largest philanthropic awards ceremony in the country, celebrating the greatest charitable achievements by nonprofit organizations, socially conscious businesses, and individuals worldwide. In 2012, more than 2,400 nominations were cast in sixteen categories, and the nominees’ collective efforts impacted the lives of more than 346,000,000 people in 134 countries worldwide. The CLASSY Awards were created and hosted each year by StayClassy, a leader in online fundraising solutions for nonprofit organizations.

Above: Red carpet arrivals mingle before the awards. Right and below: Hospice Dreams staff enjoy a few moments on the red carpet.


We would like to thank the following sponsors for making our Golf Outing a success:

Career Builder

Assurance

ExxonMobil

Bade Appliance

Brown & Brown Chevrolet

Bradley’s Wash “N” Dry

City Tavern

Elite Community Credit Union

Giavanni’s the Salon and Spa

H&H Custom Woodworking Inc.

Holiday Inn (Bloomington)

Homestar Bank

WVLI WFAV WIVR

MMS

OAK Orthopedics

Taake Insurance Agency, LTD.

Tile by Lonnie

Hospice Dreams held its first annual charity golf outing on Monday, September 24th, at the beautiful Kankakee Country Club. It was an incredible day for golfing, and included dinner with a silent auction.


Dreams in the News

Upcoming Events

Join us for our annual holiday party and fundraiser for Hospice Dreams! Event information will be announced soon, so watch our events page!

Join Hospice Dreams as we host bingo at the Community Appreciation Festival in Bourbonnais, IL. The Community Appreciation Festival is Sunday, October 28th, 2012 from 12:00 - 7:00 pm at Hidden Cove Sportsplex. See our website for more information on this free event!

To stay up-to-date on all our events, including local dine-to-donate

opportunities, visit the events button on our website, or follow us on Facebook!


Read more about Ray Rhodes’ NASCAR dream in the Manteno newspaper!

Read about Michael LaRussa’s boating Dream (previous issue) in

the Allegen County News.

Dreams are Ageless

18Dreams are Ageless

18

Here are a few nice cards and posts we saw this

month. If you would like to contribute, send us your

letters, post on our Facebook wall, or comment to us

on Twitter and you might be featured!

Send us your snail mail to: Hospice DreamsAttn: Dream Letters Department511 E. North StreetBradley, IL 60915

Letters


Follow us on twitter! @hospicedreams. Use the hashtag #hospicedreams

Send us your comments on Facebook!

General Donations:Barbara HansenCarryall Transportation Inc.Dr. Devas GunawardhaneExxonMobil Foundation Volunteer Involvement ProgramJason and Josie HurdisPatrick HermesRichard and Rebecca YoungSheila Smith

In Honor of:Marvin LohnesRichard and Karla Lohnes

Mary PankeyBradford Smith

Barb StygarJudith Hubrich

In Memory of:Lorena AndersonJohn and Georgianna DixonP.S. NorthrupEstuardo and Linda Teran

Frank BaumgartRobert and Susan BaumgartMichael BrownMary FitzgeraldMetal Spinners Sunshine Fund

Robert and Darlene BorsberryBarbara Borsberry Judith Cook C. Clorice FidderSherry LindquistHarry PapkaLarry and Connie Rogers

Leona BurnsJeff and Deb BristleEdward and Karen RhodesJoanne AllenDonald and Deborah Burns

Bryan DavidsonWanda KeeleIvan and Frances StaleyJanice WilliamsElaine HenleyRita ScottDorothy RogersMargaret HampstenPatty SquibbRobert or Beverly WackerPaul and Cheri PolanskiD.H. and K.H. LandJames Carlson

Margaret FergusonMareen Smith

Diane GrandaDonna Granda

Paul HibbettsYolanda MaruccoF. Norman and Delores Bafunno

Millie KabatAnthony and Patricia Valosek

Elizabeth KriegJames Schwarten

Mary Jane KuipersRonald and Karen ArmstrongRuthie Lee RileyMerikay BlandDarrin and Patti LaGesse

Helen KurkiewiczIrene Buckalew

Michael LarussaRosella Limback

Dorothy F. LetzGeorge Letz

Pam LoganKerri Harris

Armando LuevanoPatti LuevanoStephen and Staci Otradovec

Gerald MeyerVernon Meyer

Jerome MitchellW.S. and Dorothy Mitchell

E. Robert MulliganCynthia HowellHelen MulliganRobert and Sandra Barnes

Peter OlsonRoberta OlsonPatricia Schurtz

Eleanor PollardBerniece HayengaR.J. and D.J. SteenkenRichard and Nettie PellJudith PrimroseEugene BattyLarry and Joyce DavisDouglas and Carol LoveHomer and Rebecca BaileyMargaret Tyne

Donald SaathoffShirley Saathoff

Charles SchahrerThomas Schahrer

Doris SchmidtBettye Jo HackmanJohn SchmidtArthur and Barbara Alderson

Lloyd ScottM. Lynn PayneSteven and Mimi PayneLloyd Scott, Trust

Jennie R. SpataforePeoria Area Telephone Retirees

Alta SprerlYvonne Harper

Lorraine TuckerStephen and Sandra SartainCharles and Jeanette LindsayJ. Gregory LanganCarol ClaveyFirst Baptist ChurchRichard PerschnickGregory and Marilyn TuckerLoren StederJohn FoxleyNorris Tucker

Marilyn WilsonDavid and Lynda Trembley

Thank you for your donations.Send us your snail mail to: Hospice DreamsAttn: Dream Letters Department511 E. North StreetBradley, IL 60915


$15.00 for a mealSmall gifts can help cover smaller expenses that occur when granting a Dream. It can pay for a lunch for one of our Dream recipients!

$25 for a small memorial quilt patch Remember your friends and familiy members on our virtual quilt! For a $25 donation you receive a small quilt patch that will be perpetually posted on our website’s virtual quilt! In addition, your donation helps us grant a Dream.

$75 for a large memorial quilt patch For a larger donation, you receve a large quilt patch to remember your friends and familiy members on our virtual quilt! In addition, your donation helps toward a Dream.

$300 to Grant a DreamGrant a Dream! A $300 donation provides most Dream recipients with their special day.

$100 for food and cakeDonation dollars go a long way in providing dinner and cake for family celebrations like an anniversary or a 100th birthday!

$5.00 for a photo albumFor just $5 you can help provide a Dream recipient with mementos of their Dream. Many recipients and their families like to proudly display photos of their Dream event to remember that happy day.

There are many ways to support Hospice Dreams and make a Dream possible for a hospice patient. Here are a few:

DonAtE toDAy!It’S EASY! - donate online via our website, call us, or mail your donation directly to our office!

HospiceDreams.org

toll Free: 888-741-9132

Hospice Dreams511 E. North StreetBradley, IL 60915

For Free:

Register for and use GoodSearch.com. Every time you search online, Hospice Dreams gets a donation!


Dream NotesYou can use this space to write out your memories from the Dream that was granted.

Dreams are Ageless22 22

Dreams are Ageless

Dreams are Ageless

Hospice Dreams Team

Board of Directors

Dreams is a quarterly newsletter that documents the stories behind the Dreams that are granted through Hospice Dreams. Hospice Dreams is a registered 501(c)3 charity that provides adult hospice patients with an opportunity to live their dream. We rely solely on the donations of individuals and sponsors to provide these Dreams.

If you know of someone who has a dream, please click the “I have a Dream” button found on the top of our website for information and the application form. If you have further questions don’t hesitate to email us at: [email protected].

Editors: Kansas SwainKaitlyn Henderson

Art Direction:Kristine Tague

Article Authors:Kristine TagueKaitlyn Henderson

Photography:Staff photographers supplied all photos in this newsletter unless otherwise specified.

All photographs of Dreams are the property of Hospice Dreams and may not be reproduced without permission. Contact [email protected] for permission or questions.

This issue of Dreams was made available to the public on October 24th via Issuu.com


Use GoodSearch when you search the internet – they will donate a penny to us every time you do. We are listed as “Hospice Dreams.”

See Dreams happen on our YouTube channel.

Kansas Swain, Director

Kristen Kolwelter, Dream Development Manager

Kaitlyn Henderson, Communications Manager

Stacy Barclay, PR and Development Coordinator

C. Cooper, PR and Development Coordinator

Kamie Freeland, PR and Development Coordinator

Ricki Kravat, Office Manager

Kristine Tague, PR Coordinator

Rhonda Bouchard - Office Manager at STARCON INTL. - Citgo Refinery

Jerry Henke - Exxon Mobile Retiree

Darci Lemner - HSA Administrator at Peoples Bank

Steve Lemner- Surgical Tech at Riverside; Owner and instructor of Lemner’s Soo Bahk Do

Marilyn Roy - Realtor; ABR, GRI at Speckman Realty INC/ Real Living

Ali Stone - Office Manager at Tube City IMS, LLC

Copyright 2012 Hospice Dreams.

Hospice Dreams511 E. North StreetBradley, IL 60915

Toll Free: (888) 741-9132


Hospice Dreams Issue 4

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