By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
In August of 2021, Inspire Continuing Care (ICC) opened its doors to young adults with unique qualifications.
Jenn Johnson launched the daytime program for young adults that have aged out of special education or graduated from high school, and the last three years has made her aware of immediate and future needs of the participants.
In an effort to offer more, a fundraiser, “Big Buckle Barn Dance,” which is the inaugural fundraiser for Continuing Care, is planned. Johnson and Melanie Rice are co-chairpersons of the event.
The event, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 in the Red Barn at Oxford Cove, Geneseo, includes dinner, drinks and dancing with a live auction from 7:30 to 8 p.m. and a silent auction running throughout the hours of the event. There will be music, line dancing lessons and a mechanical bull.
A limited number of tickets are available at inspirecontinuingcare.org. Live and silent auction items will be available for live online bidding during the event via the ICC website: inspirecontinuingcare.org. Cost of the evening is $75 per person and $500 for a table of eight.
Tax deductible donations are accepted anytime via the ICC website: inspirecontinuingcare.org.
In planning the upcoming fundraiser, Jenn Johnson shared the information that was used to promote the Big Buckle Barn Dance fundraising event:
“Have you met the participants who gather Inspire Continuing Care? What extraordinary people! These young adults and their families receive professional, loving daytime supervision along with opportunities to learn and contribute within their own community. And, ICC provides resources for participant well-being and development without government funding!
The “Big Buckle Barn Dance” fundraiser is being held Oct. 12 to benefit Inspire Continuing Care (ICC) in Geneseo. ICC participants, in front from left, Jacob Martin and Diana Butler; and in back, ICC Director Jenn Johnson, back left, and Melanie Rice, are hoping the community will support the event. Johnson and Rice are co-chairpersons of the fundraiser. Photo by Claudia Loucks
The nonprofit organization provides services through the use of community grants, private donations, and tuition from participants’ families. Right now, we are raising funds so ICC can address immediate and future needs by:
-Establishing annual scholarships to reduce participants’ tuition fees by half – financial assistance ICC intends to offer for all time.
-Creating accessible, affordable housing to meet the unique needs of our friends with disabilities, allowing them to live as independently as possible and thrive as contributing adult members of the Geneseo community.
-Continuing to build on Geneseo High School’s excellent vocational training program, supporting the needs of post-high school adults as they navigate and experience paid employment opportunities in the Geneseo community.”
Sponsors of the “Big Buckle Barn Dance” are: Bill and Jane Wyffels and Robert W. Baird & Co., Silver Buckle Sponsors; Anthology for Books, Chicago Street Decorating, Farmers National Bank, Winkleman Insurance & Financial Services, Wyffels Hybrids and Chris and Sarah Rupiper, Bronze Buckle Sponsors.
Some basic information about ICC:
ICC receives no state or federal funding which allows the program to operate differently than most non-profit community day programs, Johnson said, and explained, “For instance, we’re open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., rather than the usual 5-6 hour limit. So, how do we afford ICC’s staffing, facilities, insurance, and other expenses? Through grants, donations, and participant tuition - which costs $20,000 per participant per year. Scholarships allow us to reduce each family’s fee by 50 percent, bringing their contribution under the monthly Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) most participants receive.”
The participants and staff experience field trips in Geneseo and beyond and Johnson added, “Maybe you’ve seen us in coffee shops, restaurants, and stories around town. We also venture out to festivals, museums, libraries, and more. These excursions into the community enrich our participants’ social and emotional well –being.”
As ICC director Johnson said, “Without us here, they wouldn’t get out there!”
Each week, ICC participants embrace the meaningful responsibility of shopping for, and preparing, and providing a home-cooked meal for their families…”What pride they experience by being a contributing adult family member through the ‘Take & Bake’ meal opportunity!”
“ICC seems to be a magnet for generous and spontaneous acts of kindness,” Johnson added. ‘Fellow diners pick up the participants’ lunch tab. Friends drop off gifts and goodies. People shower us with surprises. The participants enjoy doling out goodness as well – making and delivering treats, buying a round of coffee, choosing and delivering gifts. Our Sharing Sweetness fund affords them an opportunity to be spontaneously kind and generous community members, demonstrating appreciation for those we are blessed to encounter.”
ABOUT INSPIRE
Inspire is a daytime community program for young adults that have aged out of special education or graduated from high school – (ICC) is located in The Victory Center, (The Vic building) at 218 South State St. in Geneseo, and is open year round.
The young adults who attend ICC must be at least 18 years of age and have completed four years of traditional high school.
“Enrollment depends on the needs of each young adult,” Johnson said. More information is available at inspirecontinuingcare.org.
“We have an agreement with Bob Pettit, (owner of the building) to use the facility which is entirely handicap accessible, including restrooms,” Johnson said.