Little City Announces Strategic Plan and Receives $75,000 Gift from Omron for its First-Ever Dental Clinic at 50th Annual Meeting

With special guests: State Representative Suzie Bassi, Sheriff Tom Dart, Little City board members, parents, residents and staff, the non-profit agency announced its strategic plans refocusing it for the next 50 years and presented its “City Partnership” Award to Omron and its “Spirit of Inukshuk” Award to Tom Dart

PALATINE, IL, Oct. 20, 2009 – Little City Foundation last night welcomed the community to its annual “State of the City” townhall meeting. Details of its strategic plan to expand its most desired, most promising and most successful services and programs were shared with the audience. In addition, Little City partners Omron Electronic Components and Northwest Community Hospital joined to share in Little City’s vision for creating the first dental clinic in the area designed to meet the physical and behavioral needs of individulals with autism, mental retardation, and other developmental disabilities.

“A Golden Anniversary can certainly serve as a testament to the true value an organization brings to both its clients and to the community,” commented Executive Director Shawn Jeffers. “We have been creating hope, changing lives, and challenging the limits of hundreds of individuals with disabilities, and we could not do so without visionaries and integral community partners such as Omron, Northwest Community Hospital, Sheriff Tom Dart, and State Representative Suzie Bassi.”

Travel to Rockford, where the only available dental clinic specializing in oral medical care for individuals with disabilities is located, requires more than an hour of transport and months of advance notice. Recognizing the need to attend to the sensitivities and dental needs of individuals with disabilities, Omron partnered with Little City to provide a more compassionate solution. During the program, Nigel Blakeway, Omron’s chief operating officer and managing director, presented Little City with a check for $75,000 to help begin construction of the much-needed dental clinic.

Little City honored Omron with its “City Partnership” award for its exemplary collaboration as well as Sherriff Tom Dart with its “Spirit of Inukshuk” award for the friendship, cooperation, and promotion of safety the Sherriff’s Department has provided to Little City in recent years.

Little City also presented historical memorabilia from its 25-year-old time capsule unearthed on its 50th birthday, Oct. 1, 2009. Staff and residents shared displays illustrating their various horticultural activities, pieces of notable artwork, handcrafted gift items such as woven handbags and unique jewelry designs, Special Olympics achievements, advocacy efforts, and numerous business services such as document destruction and corporate greeting cards.

To donate to Little City, visit: www.littlecity.org/support.

For more information on how to join in on the Little City Golden Anniversary celebration and/or to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, visit www.littlecity.org or contact Lisa Reyes at lreyes@littlecity.org or 847-221-7825.

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About Little City Foundation

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.