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Meet real people in Champaign County who have been helped by our partnering agencies. Read success stories of how their lives were changed by receiving help in our community.
Marisa Anstey was a full-time student at the U of I working towards her MBA, had recently ended her marriage, and was caring for two children ages three and seven while working on a business plan to open her own coffee house and bakery. It was a difficult time filled with hard work, stress, and an overwhelming state of mind.
“I decided to move to Mahomet to be closer with my family who could help me out,” says Marisa. Yet, with a busy schedule for herself and young children, her family could only help so much.
“I learned about the Mahomet Area Youth Club and took my son there. The Club was fantastic. A godsend. They were there and I didn’t have to worry about my kids.”
Marisa’s daughter, Haley, went to the club for over three years. According to Marisa, the Club has strengthened Haley’s relationship building skills. “The Club serves the entire Mahomet community so Haley has been exposed to all kinds of personalities and backgrounds. The has made more friends and closer friends than an school.”
Tabitha Groce, Unit Director, is responsible for serving as the voice of reason and works with the kids to guide them during the their time at the Club. “Tabitha is very gifted with the kids. It takes a special person who is loving but able to set boundaries with these children,” says Marisa.
The Club has evolved over the years too. It’s now fenced in thanks to the Mahomet Rotary. The programs offered have also progressed and expanded, offering the children a variety of educational and fun extracurricular activities, like music lessons. Funding from United Way of Champaign County has allowed the Club to serve more children and provide more supplies and tools needed to grow the various programs. It’s partnerships like these that allow the Club to exist and adjust to the growing needs of Mahomet citizens.
Jason always knew he wanted to be a mentor. He reflects fondly on his years as a kid with lots of friends and strong role models. As an adult, he knows the importance of feeling accepted and having friends. So when Jason finally settled in his career as the Executive Director of the Humane Society and he knew he had time, and he sought out Big Brothers Big Sisters in hopes of being a mentor.
During the interview screening Jason mentioned his dad had passed away a year earlier. It just happened that 10 year old Blake Davis had recently lost his father too. Big Brothers Big Sisters paired Jason with Blake in January of 2004 and now Blake is 12 years old.
Over the last 2-1/2 years Jason and Blake have been to movies, played basketball, played Play Station, been bowling, participated in BBBS activities, and gone on trips together. No matter what they did, they formed a friendship to last a lifetime.
Now that Blake is 12 and getting into his own routine playing football, staying with friends, and forming his own path, Jason sees less of Blake. Yet, even though they still see each other monthly, Blake knows that Jason is just a call away.
As a mom, Melissa will do whatever it takes to help her child. Born with down syndrome and a congenital heart defect, baby Colleen was also going to have to work hard.
Melissa was referred to Developmental Services Center by her physician. “Our family would have been lost without DSC” says Melissa. DSC helped Melissa and her family understand the process and complete the right paperwork to receive local and state funding to help Colleen receive the resources that will help her – like the “Early Intervention Program” funded by the State of Illinois. This program covered the costs of speech and developmental therapy Colleen would need in her early years.
Colleen started therapy at just 5 weeks old and at 15 months was in a play group until she turned 3-1/2. DSC made allowances to help Colleen stay with her peers past the 3 year mark while Melissa and her family got ready to put Colleen into pre-school. “DSC got us through everything. They had a time table of services that allowed us to make decisions that would benefit Colleen and our family.”
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