Celebrating 70 Years of Transformation with Helping Hand
WGN featured our Adult Day Program on their Around Town segment as we celebrated our 70th Anniversary. This special segment with Ana Belaval features various businesses, organizations, restaurants and more around the Chicagoland area.
Our Adult Day Program clients paused their daily classes – art, science, wellness, and more to kick off the celebration with a sock hop! In honor of our 70th anniversary, we had 50’s themed décor and outfits! From poodle skirts to leather jackets, we had it all!
Clients were featured in the segment by sharing different facts from the 1950’s like:
- Mickey Mouse Club first airing on TV
- Elvis performing for the first time on TV
- The 1st McDonalds opened in Des Plaines
- James Dean was in Rebel Without a Cause
Clients also shared with Ana what they want people to know.
HH client, Steve, replied, “I want them to know that we’re just like everybody else. When you get a chance to meet us, you’ll understand that we’re just like everybody else.”
Helping Hand started off as a school for children with Autism by a group of parents. Throughout the next 7 decades, our organization has expanded and now serves over 700 individuals, regardless of age, with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
This number will continue to grow as we transform the lives of all connected to Helping Hand.
Watch the WGN Around Town segment on Helping Hand here.