Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting

GENEVA, Illinois – October 5, 2006 - DayOneNetwork held a grand opening ceremony at the agency’s new headquarters at the corner of Kirk Road and Fabyan Parkway in Geneva. The 12,000 square-foot facility was built utilizing all Union tradesmen by the contractor, Avram Builders of Naperville. The new office building is a consumer-friendly environment with diagnostic space, more parking, greater room for current and anticipated staff and a large training room.

“The most important thing that we wanted to accomplish at our Grand Opening was thanking the major donors who helped make this building possible,” said Joyce Helander, Executive Director of DayOne. “I’m happy to say that I think we did just that.” DayOne had a donor recognition ceremony where the room naming was announced, and engraved thank you awards were given to the various people, businesses and foundations that stepped up to help DayOne secure their new home. Honored were the Pedersen Family Foundation, The Aurora Foundation, Hansen-Furnas Foundation, Seigle Family Foundation, The Alfred Bersted Foundation, the Kane County Board, Life’s Plan, Inc., R. C. Wegman Construction, Zeiter-Dickson Insurance, the North Central Illinois Labor Council, Out of the Woods and local supporters Jack & Nancy Magnuson, Barb Mabbs, Marilynn & Cliff Klotz, Gregg Gardiner, Toni Niles and Sheila Luecht.

Thomas Van Cleave, District 10 Batavia, was on hand to accept the award for the Kane County Board. DayOne benefited from two of the Kane County Board’s programs, the Community Development Block Grant program, and the Riverboat Grant program.

On hand to preside over the Ribbon-Cutting was Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, along with Judy Carroll, Membership Director of the Geneva Chamber of Commerce. “The Mayor, the Chamber of Commerce, and the local businesses have made us feel so welcome in Geneva,” said Joyce Helander. “We have had a very warm reception.”

Local restaurants welcomed DayOne to Geneva with donated trays of food for the guests at the Grand Opening. Contributing restaurants were Wildwood Restaurant, Chef James Place, The Herrington Inn & Spa, Rain, Tuscana and Country House Restaurant. Comfort Inn & Suites Geneva gave a Whirlpool Suite package as a door prize. We Grow Dreams, a not-for-profit that fulfills dreams by providing job training and employment opportunities for people with disabilities, provided mounds and mounds of beautiful mums. Town & Country Gardens and Batavia Floral sent striking bouquets.

Entertainment was provided by musicians from local middle schools. Amanda Harshbarger, flutist, attends Wredling Middle School in St. Charles and studies with the Lynn Green Flute Studio. Mira Sen, cellist, attends Rotollo Middle School in Batavia and is a member of the Chamber and Symphony Orchestras of Aurora Youth Symphony Orchestra (AYSO). Roshan Sen, violinist, attends Alice Gustafson School in Batavia and is a member of the Sinfonietta Orchestra of Aurora Youth Symphony Orchestra (AYSO).

DayOneNetwork was incorporated in 1989 through the effort of community leaders in Kane and Kendall Counties and Hanover Township of Cook County. DayOne was founded in order to facilitate and better coordinate a wide variety of services to individuals who have special needs. As a private, nonprofit, community based organization, DayOne provides service coordination and advocacy services to children and adults with developmental delays and/or disabilities. The agency is accredited by the Commission on the Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) to ensure that DayOne demonstrates the highest level of quality in its service delivery.

Contact:

Terry Kammes

630-879-2277 x 114

tkammes@dayonenetwork.org