C.I.T.Y. News

It’s very appropriate that the upcoming month is devoted to giving thanks, as C.I.T.Y. of Support has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of generosity and enthusiasm this past month. We are feeling so grateful for our community, our sponsors and donors, and the opportunity we now have. Keep reading to see what we have been up to and what we have planned for the upcoming month!

In October, we hosted our first Roundtable Education Series, specifically focused on issues surrounding the Medical Diagnostic Clinic. This event purposefully included the perspectives of parents, therapists, and a developmental pediatrician. For those who attended, we greatly appreciated your contribution to the discussion, as it fostered great insight and learning for everyone. This Roundtable talk is now available for viewing on our YouTube channel, so for those who weren’t able to participate in-person, there is still an opportunity to participate and learn online.

We hope to offer a Series of 4 Roundtable Education Events in the coming 2019 year, open to parents and professionals (with Early Intervention continuing education credits). If you have ideas for a topic or would like to participate as a speaker, please reach out to us at hello@cityofsupport.org. Thanks so much to our amazing Education Committee for all their hard work!

I have been BUSY in October with my clinic roadtrips, getting in contact with over 80 clinics in the area via email/phone and visiting 16 in person…whew! The interest and level of support for our new organization has been very exciting and humbling. Not only have these clinics demonstrated their enthusiasm in terms of sponsorships and financial donations, but they have also shown great interest in hosting events, sharing their resources, and increasing our visibility by displaying C.I.T.Y. of Support information and snapshot flyers in their waiting rooms.

If you visit a clinic that has our information displayed, THANK THEM! Let them know that you are a part of this organization, that you believe in its mission, and that you appreciate their involvement. And if you visit a clinic that is not familiar with our organization or does not have materials available for parents, please feel free to give them our information, as we would love to connect with them! We now have a separate email list specifically for physical spaces, clinics, offices, and businesses, and we encourage them to sign up to learn about our partnership opportunities,

And as always, all of our events can be found on our Google Calendar link!

Friday, 11/2 is our first community-building fundraiser: Rockin’ Shoppin’ in the C.I.T.Y-A Holiday Gift Event. graciously sponsored by Autism Home Support Services. Mary Alice Gilgunn at We Rock the Spectrum in Palatine has generously donated the use of her amazing sensory gym for an evening of adult-only fun (21 years+). ALL are welcome: parents, therapists, family, and friends. Registration is encouraged through our Eventbrite link. The event is free, although a $10 donation is suggested.

We have over 20 vendors participating who will be displaying their unique merchandise, perfect for crossing some holiday gift-shopping off our lists, and they are each donating 10-20% of their sales to C.I.T.Y. of Support. In addition, they have all donated an amazing raffle prize, with 100% of these sales directly returning to our organization. Raffle tickets start at $5, and they are available in-person at the event, but also ONLINE for those unable to attend. Take a look at the amazing prizes you could win! The raffle drawing will be held a little before 9:30 via Facebook Live, and winners do not need to be present to claim their prize. Prizes will be distributed between the regional contacts and available for pick-up at their respective monthly coffee group.

Between the shopping, the raffle, the wine-tasting, the appetizers/desserts, and the live ukulele band (yep!), this festive event is going to get us all a little more prepared for the holidays. Hope you can join us!

Although called the "Monthly Parent Coffee Group," all therapists and family members are also welcome to this hour of adult conversation. In the spirit of collaboration, we appreciate all those who wish to participate in this supportive discussion. All dates/times are available on our Google Calendar as well as updated as needed through our website. Hope to see you there!

Being the time of year for some reflection, I think about the origin of this amazing community. From starting a small, local Facebook Group to running board meetings and planning events, I am so thankful that we now have a thriving network of parents and professionals who can collaborate online and in-person…and our reach is extending to many different regions within the Chicagoland area. It is my personal goal that whenever a child is identified as an eligible candidate for a therapy evaluation, that that family also is immediately referred to our C.I.T.Y. of Support.

Although I have volunteered so much of my energy and time to make this a reality, I am learning that all of these efforts also have a cost. Printing materials, traveling around the region, hosting a website, and creating newsletters all requires financial support. Additionally, these funds are creating opportunities to plan some very special, grand events in the coming 2019 year. (Looking ahead to February and June, specifically!)

We will be announcing a “Thanks and Giving” Campaign as the holiday draws nearer. If you have been touched by this community; if you think this is an organization that is beneficial to others; and if you are committed to its continued success, we would be honored if you would consider a donation at that time. No amount is too small, and all contributions will go directly back to our 501(c)3, tax-exempt organization. In fact, many businesses/corporations will apply matching programs, so feel free to explore these options with your employer as well.

By signing up to receive these occasional emails with all our latest news, events, and volunteer opportunities, you are guaranteed to know all our updates (without needing to rely only on Facebook to show them in your newsfeed). If you know anyone who hasn't yet signed up, please let them know how easy it is!

Finally, a HUGE thank you for the volunteers who continue to step forward in working together to create this C.I.T.Y. of Support. Our regional contacts, event committee, education committee, and board members have been so very helpful in moving our mission forward. There are always ways to become more involved, and we welcome your participation in any of these committees, through our social media/press initiatives, with your attendance at our events, and through your word-of-mouth referrals.

Wishing all of you and your families a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday.

Our mission is to create a dynamic community, both online and in person, that supports all families navigating the needs of their child in therapy.

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org
Website: https://cityofsupport.org/
Location: 800 E. Northwest Highway, Suite #109 Mount Prospect, IL 60056
Phone: (224) 409-7150
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/cityofsupport/
Twitter: @cityofsupport