Determined to secure the future for people with physical or mental challenges, the Association for Individual Development has launched what might be the most important capital campaign in its history.

Titled “For All Their Tomorrows,” the campaign is spearheaded by some of Kane County’s most well-known community leaders: co-chairs Steve and Betty Rauschenberger of Elgin, Bob and Toni Vaughan of Aurora and Chuck and Sheri Miles of Geneva.

Campaign funds will provide much needed housing, employment, health services, community support and crisis prevention for deserving people largely relegated to the margins or shadows of mainstream society.

“Few organizations in northern Illinois have done more for people with physical or mental challenges than the Association for Individual Development,” said AID Board Chairman Patrick Flaherty.  “AID currently serves over 5,500 people through 20 programs in 47 communities. Despite more than 50 years of tireless service, the importance and challenge of its work has never been greater, because human need is increasing and financial resources are decreasing.”

For example, more than 1,500 people in the Fox Valley area are currently on a waiting list for help, and this list only continues to grow as demand exceeds resources.  Over the next 15 years, half of the 16,000 students in special education will graduate at age 21 and need help. Even more adults will require help when aging parents can no longer be caretakers. At the same time, State funding is decreasing with Illinois now ranked 46th out of 50 states in providing home and community based services.

AID must raise $2.5 million to retire mortgages and upgrade facilities. Savings of more than $300,000 annually will be redirected to preserve programs involving developmental disabilities and behavioral health. This “new” revenue stream will reduce the wait list, enhance housing and mental health treatment, increase job training and job placement, maintain qualified staff and preserve important services for autism, audiology, respite care, victim care, crisis intervention and health and wellness.

Thanks to a generous gift from the Dunham Fund, each contribution to the AID capital campaign will be matched dollar for dollar, up to $750,000, through a challenge grant over the next three to five years.

Rauschenberger, Vaughan and Miles issued a joint statement.

“AID provides a lifeline for people and families touched by disabilities or by mental illness, and it does so because we have a community obligation to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves,” they said. “Lifting up the most vulnerable among us lifts up all of us, and makes our communities stronger and better places to live.  If we don’t help them, and help them now, who will?”

For more information, or to pledge your support to the AID Capital Campaign, visit www.The-Association.org, e-mail info@the-association.org or call AID President Lynn O’Shea at 630.966.4001.

SOURCE: AID news release