Web viewAttached you will find our grant proposal with all ... It allows primal opportunity to...

Hope HelpsC/O Brittney Kaluzny

50 S Kankakee StCoal City, IL 60416

815-518-5341 Page 1

For the past 4 years, Hope Helps and the families we serve have been dreaming of building a special needs, sensory playground within our servicing community--a safe and fun place for all kids; regardless of ability; to play and families to gather! This dream includes a place to play for physically or neurologically disabled children of all ages within their spectrum of abilities; from wheelchair accessible teeter totters, sensory wall and dome, high backed swings with harnesses, assisted zip line, boogie boards and more, along side of two traditional play structures. Keeping our special needs community inclusive within a neuro typical crowd.

Hope Helps has been working hard to raise funds for this project but we have a long way to go!! We need your financial help to make this dream a reality!! This community project has a price tag of nearly $300,000!! This amount includes all the aforementioned equipment, community build weekend as well as a pulverized rubber ground covering; creating a flat surface suitable for wheelchairs, walkers and other needs to be able to join in on the fun!

We are looking for a sponsorship, not a handout! When we offer you the opportunity to be a sponsor with our organization, we are offering more than a place to hang your corporate logo. We will work with you to fully maximize all the community goodwill such a project can generate. Every press release, every interview, and every event is another opportunity for us to show our sincere gratitude to those who are willing to help us make this dream come true.

We have prepared a complete sponsorship package that includes a list of suggested donation amounts and various ways in which we can provide recognition. However, you are encouraged to tailor donation amounts and recognition levels to your own needs. Be creative! Tell us how we can best fulfill your needs and earn your sponsorship! Please join us and help bring to life this custom playground for our special needs community in Coal City as well as those traveling within our servicing community of Will and Grundy counties.

Community-built projects inspire everyone who participates with a sense of ownership, so much so, that these projects become a focus of community life. People describe them as the experience of a lifetime. Families who helped build the playground will return for picnics and bring out-of-town guests to share what the community accomplished together.

Please consider making this important investment in our future. A playground provides a safe and challenging place for children and our community to learn and grow! Because you’re donating to Hope Helps, your contribution is tax deductible 45-0979408 and tax deduction receipts will be given for your records.

Once again, Thank you for supporting our community. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 815-518-5341 or [email protected]. For more information on our organization and more playground designs, please visit www.hopehelpsautismawareness.org.Attached you will find our grant proposal with all required documentation and information you may require to make a decision.



815-518-5341 Page 2

Who is Hope Helps: Hope Helps is comprised of 3 main officers and 6 board of directors (listed below). We serve Will and Grundy county; offering scholarships, advocacy assistance, and awareness. We hold fundraisers throughout the year to raise funds to offer scholarships to those on the spectrum in need of equipment to assist them in their everyday lives. We also advocate at schools for IEP meetings, speak at local support group meetings and offer daily assistance/advice if needed. We currently have a group of over 150 followers on facebook who are active participants in our fundraisers and 'clients' for IEP cases. Due to the fact that we are non-profit and rely on donations to sustain our organization, our budget varies year to year. What money we raise each year, we return to the autism community through scholarships, advocacy, awareness and now playground.BRITTNEY KALUZNY; FOUNDER & PRESIDENTNANCY WYNN; VICE PRESIDENT & EVENT COORDINATORROBERT KALUZNY; SECRETARY/TREASURER/CO-FOUNDERGEORGE KALUZNY; DIRECTOR OF BUILDINGS & MAINTENANCEKIM WYNN; DIRECTOR OF SCHOLARSHIPSJENNIFER SPERO; DIRECTOR OF CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPLAURA CONNOR; DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY OUTREACHSIGNE THOMAS; DIRECTOR OF MARKETINGTIFFANY KALUZNY; ALTERNATE DIRECTOR

Description of Project: Hope Helps would like to build a 10,000 square foot all-inclusive, special needs sensory playground in Coal City, IL located within Grundy county. The purpose of this playground is so that individuals of all ability levels have a safe and inclusive place to play and receive adequate recreation with a secondary purpose being awareness and acceptance of all ability levels. This facility will contain a main play structure which includes multiple slides, climbers and tunnels as well as sensory components throughout including a bell station, bongos, periscope and zoo station. Along side of the main structure, there will be multiple ADA (American Disability Act) Certified free standing pieces of equipment including Sway Fun, Zip Krooze Assisted, High Backed and Harnessed Swings, Sensory Wall and Pulse Sensory Game. Along with all the equipment, the play facility will be housed on a pulverized rubber surfacing so that wheelchairs, walkers or individuals with poor mobility may access play equipment safely and easily. The facility will be fenced in to enhance safety for all as well as housing a few handicap parking places and extra wide sidewalks leading directly to the playground. Hope Helps will be donating this equipment to the Village of Coal City and the Village will maintain the equipment, carry insurance and provide electricity and water to facility. Hope Helps would like to have the playground in the construction phase in April 2015.



815-518-5341 Page 3

How will this project benefit the our Community?: With over 300 kids age 0-3 found within the Early Intervention program in Grundy County and over 500 kids in Will County, there is a definite need for modified play space. These numbers only include ages 0-3 and our facility is for all ages. Hope Helps is well aware of need for a special needs play facility in our area as the closest to Grundy County is found in Joliet fenced in behind a private facility. There are 2 in Danville, IL and a few in Cook county as well as a few single pieces mixed amongst typical equipment but usually on mulch. Therefore, building a special needs facility that is accessible to all abilities is vital to show that Grundy county is a community that cares and accepts all people. It allows primal opportunity to spread the word that Grundy county is a community for all people to live and play. This facility will also bring visitors to our community, increasing awareness of our county as well as increasing sales for the local community. Community-built projects inspire everyone who participates with a sense of ownership, so much so, that these projects become a focus of community life. People describe them as the experience of a lifetime. Families who helped build the playground will return for picnics and bring out-of-town guests to share what the community accomplished together.November 2013 Prepared by Easter Seals, Inc.

DEMOGRAPHICSTable 1-1: IDEA Part B - Children with Autism in Illinois for 1999-2000 and 2011-2012

(Child Count by Age Group) 1999-2000

2011-2012

Age 3-5 641 1,759Age 6-11 2,545 8,029Age 12-17 947 6,631Age 18-21 197 1,484Age 6-21 3,689 16,144Age 3-21 4,330 17,903

Table 1-2: IDEA Part B - Children with Disabilities in Illinois for 1999-2000 and 2011-2012

How much will this project cost? The proposed budget is nearly $300,000! Below you will find the breakdown of costs for equipment and ground covering. We also need to include costs for proper instillation which includes equipment rental (auger, small cement mixer and hiring site manager each day), food and beverage for volunteer builders, permanent signage for facility.



815-518-5341 Page 4

(Child Count by Age Group) 1999-2000

2011-2012

Age 3-5 28,787 36,943 Age 6-11 133,378 117,718 Age 12-17 123,364 121,937 Age 18-21 11,787 16,358 Age 6-21 268,529 256,013 Age 3-21 297,316 292,956

QTY. NO. DESCRIPTIONUNIT PRICE PRICE

PlayBooster Component System

1 144414ACloudburst Triple Slide 72"Dk DB1 $3,475

1 123331B Double Poly Slide 40"Dk DB 1,5851 123333B Rollerslide 56"Dk DB 7,315

1 124863ESlideWinder2 64"Dk DB 2 Right 1 Left 2,350

1 143199B Conical Climber 40"Dk DB 2,6151 176078A Lollipop Climber 48"Dk DB 1,120

1 122533CSpiral Climber 56"Dk Right Handhold 1,265

1 116246D Step Ladder 64"Dk DB 1,730

1 139778AThunderhead Climber Alum Posts DB1 4,800

2 152443A Grid Walk w/Barriers $2,685 5,370

1 119930BOffset Crawl Tunnel 8"Offset Deck To Deck 2,290

1 119641AWire Crawl Tunnel Above Deck 1,825

3 111240A Balcony Deck 985 2,955

1 164094BBongo Reach Panel Ground Level 695

1 117957A Periscope Panel Above Deck 1,2451 116244A Pipe Barrier Above Deck 480

1 116244BPipe Barrier w/Wheel Above Deck 630

1 159459BRing-A-Bell Panel Ground Level 1,245

1 115254A Storefront Panel 4801 130565A Table Panel DB 8401 114649A Zoo Infill Panel 5901 122197A 90* Triangular Tenderdeck 6652 178710A Hexagon Tenderdeck 2,260 4,5201 121948A Kick Plate 8"Rise 922 111228A Square Tenderdeck 785 1,5701 111231A Triangular Tenderdeck 6104 111404E 116"Alum Post DB 245 9809 111404D 124"Alum Post DB 265 2,3854 111404C 132"Alum Post DB 280 1,1204 111404B 140"Alum Post DB 285 1,1403 111404A 148"Alum Post DB 300 900



815-518-5341 Page 5

3 120710A Pod Climber 8" DB 225 675 SUBTOTAL $59,557ALSO:

1 168099A Cozy Dome DB $3,410

1 173591AOmniSpin Spinner Surface Mount1 6,300

1 186490A We-saw DB Only1 8,175

1 194663AZipKrooz 34' w/Aluminum Posts DB 9,170

1 196213A

ZipKrooz Assisted Additional Bay 34' w/Aluminum Posts DB 7,920

2 186588BKaleidoscope Bench w/Back w/o Handles DB $970 1,940

2 154397ACoolToppers Single Post DB Only1 3,045 6,090

SUBTOTAL $43,005SWINGS:

2 174018ABelt Seat Proguard Chains 8' Beam $102 $204

2 177351AMolded Bucket w/Harness Proguard Chains 8' Beam 675 1,350

1 177332ASingle Post Swing Frame 8' Beam 1,060

1 177333ASingle Post Swing Frame Addtl Bay 8' Beam 795

SUBTOTAL $3,409SENSORY WALL:

1 168107A Bongo Panel $7651 168662A Marble Panel 1,4001 168104A Optigear Panel 2,3351 186568B Pulse Table Tennis DB 16,2953 168100A Sensory Play Center Wall DB $1,030 3,090

2 168101ASensory Play Center Wall End DB 690 1,380

4 168661A Sensory Play Station Plate - SUBTOTAL $25,265 EQUIPMENT TOTAL $131,236 SHIPPING 2,948

INSTALLATION (BY OTHERS) 39,371

TOTAL $173,555SURFACING QTY. NO. DESCRIPTION UNIT PRICE



815-518-5341 Page 6

PRICE Surface America PlayBound Poured-in-Place Combination 1 3/4" (1948sq.ft.) thick, 2" (1560sq.ft.), 2 1/2" (775sq.ft.), 3 1/2" (1300sq.ft.) and 4" (1800sq.ft.) (thicknesses are subject to a nominal variation) system with top surface in 50% Color/ 50% Black speckled mix. Includes freight. 7,383 SQ FT POURED-IN-PLACE $86,411

Other Funding Sought: We have written grants to Nike, Home Depot, Walmart and Lowes and have not received funding approval as of today. We will be seeking sponsorship from several local 'big businesses' in our servicing area throughout the summer months. At present, Hope Helps has about $18,000 from previous fundraisers to start the playground fund. We are planning others to help boost this fund as well. Funds Currently Raised: . At present, Hope Helps has about $18,000 from previous fundraisers to start the playground fund. We are planning others to help boost this fund as well.

How will we raise additional funds: . We will be seeking sponsorship from several local 'big businesses' in our servicing area throughout the summer months. Hope Helps is also planning additional fundraisers with anticipation for a Fall Fun Run/Walk, guest speakers or large raffle items. Hope Helps will also be attending most fall festivals in the area to advocate and sell merchandise (t-shirts, weighted blankets, puzzle piece merchandise) to continue raising funds.

Anticipated Timeline for Project: Hope Helps began seeking bids for this project in April 2014 with hopes to begin construction the first weekend in April 2015. Throughout May, Hope Helps board members met with the Coal City Village Board and Park Board Committee to determine what would be the best location for this new park. Once the land was officially designated for this project, Hope Help board members began announcing the project, writing grants and seeking potential sponsorships. We anticipate that funding the project will be our biggest hurdle and take up the rest of the 9 month timeline. Anticipated finalization of playground plans will happen in March 2015 with instillation beginning April 4, 2015--just in time for Autism Awareness Month and the immediately following World Autism Awareness Day. Following a 2 day equipment build, the week of April 6th, the pulverized rubber



815-518-5341 Page 7

will be laid. Our anticipated ribbon cutting ceremony to launch the opening the playground will be Saturday, April 10th, 2015. A total of one year from beginning to end.

Are there other organizations working on a similar project: Hope Helps is not aware of any other organization working toward the building of a special needs playground in Grundy or Will county. We know that a sensory garden was just added along the riverfront in Morris, IL as well as a few companies who have smaller, private play facilities in Will county. These are the closest projects to our plans; however are very different. Our playground will be open to the public for use with adult supervision as well as having sensory equipment for movement not a garden for calming.

Will sponsoring Hope Helps Special Needs Playground Help you? We are looking for a sponsorship, not a handout! When we offer you the opportunity to be a sponsor with our organization, we are offering more than a place to hang your corporate logo. We will work with you to fully maximize all the community goodwill such a project can generate. Every press release, every interview, and every event is another opportunity for us to show our sincere gratitude to those who are willing to help us make this dream come true. We have prepared a complete sponsorship package that includes a list of suggested donation amounts and various ways in which we can provide recognition. Packages range from Diamond level at $25,000 (Special recognition permanently placed at the site on donor wall, recognition on website homepage with logo displayed and preferred placement on sponsor page, Logo included on all printed materials, Invitation to attend all newsworthy events, Invitation to ground breaking with preferred recognition, Recognized at ribbon cutting ceremony, Business name and logo on build t-shirts, Corporate information included in media/press packet) to Bronze Level at $500 (Bronze level recognition permanently placed at site on donor wall &Recognition on website). However, you are encouraged to tailor donation amounts and recognition levels to your own needs. Be creative! Tell us how we can best fulfill your needs and earn your sponsorship!

Approval for usage: We would love for this sponsorship opportunity to continue to reward you for your help! Please, use photos, articles or link to our sites to show others the great things that you have done for the community. We approve usage of all our playground materials once you sponsor!

Proof of non-profit status as well as recent IRS files: Below you will find our letter from the IRS showing our non-profit status. Our EIN number is 45-0979408. Because our organization has never brought in more than $50,000 in one year, we do not have to file taxes or 990 forms yet. As such, we have never been audited.



815-518-5341 Page 8

Proof of Income and Quarterly Spending: View History ResultsAccount History for Business Value Chkg xxx5272 as of 06/02/2014 05:09:06 PM

Start-Of-Day Balance $16,406.81 Last Year's Interest $0.00

Interest Rate 0% Available Balance $16,406.81

Overdraft Limit $0.00 Last Interest Paid $0.00

Total Holds $0.00 This Year's Interest $0.00

Current Balance $16,406.81 Collected Balance $16,406.81

Transaction History

Please consider making this important investment in our future. A playground provides a safe and challenging place for children and our community to learn and grow! Because you’re donating to Hope Helps, your contribution is tax deductible 45-0979408 and tax deduction receipts will be given for your records. **Any funds raised over the cost of playground estimates will be placed in general fund toward executing our mission.

Once again, Thank you for supporting our community. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 815-518-5341 or [email protected]. For more information on our organization and more playground designs, please visit www.hopehelpsautismawareness.org.



815-518-5341 Page 9



815-518-5341 Page 10



815-518-5341 Page 11

To Whom It May Concern:



815-518-5341 Page 12

I am writing this reference for Hope Helps in regard to the Sensory Playground. I have known Robert and Brittney Kaluzny for approximately two years, we were introduced at a support group meeting, It Takes a Village, for parents of Special Needs children. During my time in getting to know Robert and Brittney, I have benefitted exponentially from the Hope Helps organization by receiving educational materials that help me as a parent of a special needs child, educational materials that benefit my special needs children (craft ideas, workbook pages, dietary information, etc.), I have attended support group meetings in which Hope Helps were the speaker in which they educate, advocate, encourage continued research and hope and I have utilized their services to advocate for my child during the IEP process at school.

The Sensory Playground is yet another way in which Hope Helps is reaching out to families in need and bringing our communities together. Our family will personally benefit from this playground because the particular pieces on this playground will help my children with balance, hand/eye coordination, the flooring of this playground is not made out of mulch or gravel which is difficult for my child to run on so I know he will be safe, the orange path on the flooring will help him walk "safely" across the playground as it shows him which way to go - not in front of the slides or swings, the dome is mostly solid with hand/foot holds which will help keep them climbing instead of falling through like they do on the regular domes (getting trapped inside), and the stairs (instead of ladder) leading up to the slides will mean a lot less "work" in order to have fun.

As I have described above, Hope Helps has been a lifeline of education, advocacy and community for our family. We have enjoyed working with them in the past, the present and look forward to what they can do in the future.

Kristin Madison316 N Fifth StBraceville, IL 60407815-483-4021

"HOPE HELPS! Fabulous name that envelopes our sentiments. This mother of four, two with autism, is the BEST ambassador for our community. Brittney has embraced the cause and has made it her mission to educate the public, help other families as they begin their journey, and advocate for other children as well as her own. Hope Helps awards scholarships to families who need assistance with educational technology, providing fencing for a yard so a non verbal autistic child can safely play, and this year offering animal therapy. Brittney and her husband, Robert have a dream to reach as many special needs children as possible with the addition of a playground in our community. This playground ensures that ALL children will have the opportunity to have fun, get exercise, and socially grow in an environment safe for them. I invite you to reward Hope Helps with this generous donation. Sincerely, Kristin Sayers"

To Whom It May Concern,



815-518-5341 Page 13

I am writing in regards to Hope Helps Special Needs, Sensory Playground. I am very excited about the development of this playground. I am both a parent of a child with special needs and a speech-language pathologist. Growing up, my daughter only played at a regular playground. Because of she was weak and frequently lost her balance, she had a difficult time playing on the equipment. Other children did not include her in games because she could not run on the uneven ground or manipulate the jungle gym. A special need’s playground would have given her more freedom. Because of my daughter’s differences, my daughter was often isolated because she could not join her peers in playing and I often felt isolated because I could not relate to the other parents whose children were normal. A special needs playground would allow children with special needs to interact with their peers and it would allow parents of special needs children to meet and develop friendships.

As a speech-language pathologist, I know how important playgrounds can be in developing children’s language skills. Being able to use a playground would give a child with special needs new experiences necessary for vocabulary development. The playground is also a place to develop social and reasoning skills. The amazing thing about a playground is that no matter how quiet a child is the playground can engage them in interacting and communicating with others. I have had extremely successful therapy sessions at playgrounds because the combination of movement and language often go hand in hand.

I hope you see how important a special needs sensory playground is to our community.

Respectfully,

Patricia Meyer



815-518-5341 Page 14

Date post:	27-Feb-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	lyngoc
View:	216 times
Download:	3 times

Web viewAttached you will find our grant proposal with all ... It allows primal opportunity to...

Documents