Hello friends and family!
I am am once again asking for you to opening your hearts and your wallets to support such a great cause!
With you help, we can continue to provide programming such as...
Anixter Village, an accessible apartment building designed for adults with Spina Bifida. It's owned and operated by Anixter Center and governed by HUD regulations. It's built with the needs of an individual with Spina Bifida in mind.
Camp Independence is hosted by the YMCA and is an overnight camp designed especially for children and young adults with Spina Bifida. Campers are encouraged to learn self-care while at the camp, develop new friendships and social relationships, and try new adaptive sports! Camp sessions are divided by age-group.
The Family Outreach Program was developed in 1987 by parents of children with Spina Bifida. It grew out of a strong belief that new parents can find help and support by sharing experiences with other parents who have "been there".
The program is an invaluable resource for families who have to come to terms with this complicated birth defect. A referral network of trained volunteers is available to provide parents with information, understanding and reassurance needed to adjust to new circumstances posed by Spina Bifida.
Play Date is an afternoon party for young children with Spina Bifida, their siblings and their parents.
It is an opportunity for the children to play in a safe and accessible environment while allowing parents to network with other parents, share information, learn about resources, and hear speakers on relevant topics.
Scholarship Fund
Financial award for post-secondary education for young adults with Spina Bifida. Applicants must reside in Illinois. Winners may have a brief biography published in the quarterly newsletter, Crossroads.
SBAIL also offers the Valiant Scholarship, a $2,500 scholarship awarded to the applicant who demonstrates the best ability and most experience to help others with Spina Bifida.
The Holiday Party is a winter favorite for the families of SBAIL. Held each year in December, children with Spina Bifida and their siblings, ages 14 and under, receive a gift and have the opportunity to visit Santa. Parents and children alike will have the opportunity to network with old friends and meet new ones.
In my spare time, I volunteer with SBAIL on a variety of projects from being The Resident Garden Manager of Anixter Village's Enabled Garden project to working on the Holiday Party. .
In the past, I have been asked to speak to med students at Johns Hopkins University and Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago about Spina Bifida, I've also spoken at the national Spina Bifida confeence about independence. I'm also a member of my local Spina Bifida Association.
I'm doing the Bowl-A-Thon because I believe in the services of the Spina Bifida Association of Illinois. One of the best summers I had growing up was the year I went to Camp Ability. It was through the association's camp that I met other children with Spina Bifida.
Donating through this website is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to support my fundraising efforts.
Many thanks for your continued support -- and don't forget to forward this to anyone who you think might want to donate too!