Members learn about Helping Hand Center

Mary Beth Hepp, Linda Esler and Julie Hautamaki

Mary Beth Hepp, executive director; Linda Esler, development director; and Julie Hautamaki, chief clinical officer of Helping Hand Center in Countryside spoke at our February Chapter meeting to familiarize Assistance League of Chicagoland West members with their organization.  
 
Helping Hand Center is a not-for-profit community-based agency that serves approximately 400 children and adults with mild to severe disabilities.  Helping Hand has been committed to assisting people with disabilities to become more independent for over 50 years.

Children's Services include an outpatient clinic with physical, speech, occupational and developmental therapy, early intervention services for 0-3 year olds, and a new Autism School and Autism Clinic. 

Adult Services include day services, housing options in the community, social skills training, physical therapy, counseling, behavioral therapies, employment counseling, job placement and independent living skills. More recently, Helping Hand Center has expanded services for its adult clients to include horticulture, cooking, computer training, art, music and recreation therapy.

ALCW in the News Chicago Tribune Trib Local

From the community

Assistance League of Chicagoland West Receives Grant

By Marianne Cortopassi Wednesday at 5:25 p.m.

Assistance League of Chicagoland West members, Laurie Cleary of Burr Ridge, vice president of donor development, and Diane Mrozek of Hinsdale, vice president of philanthropy, accept a $2,500 grant for Operation Early Reading from the Betty M. Bock Fund of The DuPage Community Foundation of Wheaton. Presenter is Janet Hodge, foundation trustee and grant committee member. Operation Early Reading provides English and bilingual loaner and gift books for Head Start and kindergarten students in DuPage and western Cook counties.

Assistance League of Chicagoland West was one of 31 not-for-profit organizations in DuPage County to receive a grant from The DuPage Community Foundation based in Wheaton. The grant, awarded at an open house in December, will help underwrite ALCW’s Operation Early Reading program.
Operation Early Reading, one of four ALCW programs for underserved youth and adults in DuPage and western Cook counties, provides English and bilingual loaner and gift books for Head Start and kindergarten students. Assistance League volunteers also read to students in the classroom.
Hinsdale based Assistance League of Chicagoland West is one of 122 chapters of National Assistance League and the only one operating in Illinois. For more information, go to alcw.org or call (630) 321-2529.