Little City Foundation’s ‘Green’ Campus Dedicates Horticultural Center Providing Additional Therapeutic Day Programming to Hundreds of Individuals with Disabilities as it Celebrates 50 Years

Little City Foundation dedicates and reopens greenhouse on 56-acre campus enabling hundreds of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to develop numerous horticultural skills while providing additional therapeutic programs targeting physical, cognitive, and/or psychosocial outcomes

PALATINE, IL, Sept. 2, 2009 – Fulfilling the dream of a longtime family supporter, Little City Foundation renamed its iconic A-Frame greenhouse the Dorothy Rose Horticultural Center during a ceremony held Friday evening (Aug. 28).

The dedication culminated the rebirth of Little City’s horticulture program that began again in February after more than ten years of inactivity. With a large bequest made by Dorothy Rose, who passed away in 2008, Little City restarted the program along with an expansion of two field planting projects as well as the creation of an Accessible Garden allowing wheelchair access.

“Little City has a unique history of bringing to life innovative and therapeutic programs for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” commented Little City Executive Director Shawn Jeffers. “Programs such as these would not be possible without the invaluable support of humanitarians like Dorothy Rose…we hope her contribution will inspire others to give generously to the most vulnerable of our citizens.”

The new horticulture program enables participants to develop skills in general horticulture areas, such as the propagation of plants by seed, care and maintenance, and vegetable and herb gardening.

Benefactor Dorothy Rose envisioned a restart of the program knowing the positive impacts it provided her son and Little City Resident Jerry Rose—among the first horticulturalists from Little City in the mid-1970s.

Little City Foundation invites the general public to its “State of the City” meeting on Monday, Oct. 19, to learn more about its facilities and business opportunities on campus including the Horticultural Center, Resale Shop, Document Destruction Services, Handmade Gifts, Holiday and Greeting Cards, Arts Programs, and more.

Little City Foundation will celebrate its Golden Anniversary next month with a series of events including a kick-off Fashion Show on Friday, Oct. 2 and its Golden Anniversary Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 7.

To support therapeutic programs like this and to donate to Little City Foundation, visit www.littlecity.org/Service/default2.aspx.

For more information, contact Lisa Reyes at lreyes@littlecity.org or at (847) 221-7825 or visit www.littlecity.org.

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About Little City

For nearly 50 years, Little City Foundation has developed innovative and personalized programs to fully assist and empower children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Little City offers a variety of residential options for children and adults, as well as vocational and employment opportunities. Programs and services include a special needs foster care and adoption program; in-home support to families raising a child with developmental disabilities; a full complement of recreational activities, including Special Olympics competition; a Resale Shop that provides employment for people with disabilities; and an award-winning Center for the Arts program that features visual, performance, media and fabric arts. The organization has a 56-acre campus in Palatine and offices in Chicago. Visit www.littlecity.org.