by Melanie Jongsma
LANSING, Ill. (May 2, 2019) – Nearly 300 guests attended LARC’s Annual Appreciation Dinner on Friday, April 26. LARC, a nonprofit organization serving individuals with special needs, hosts the dinner to recognize various employees, clients, and volunteers for their accomplishments during the past year. Ticket sales and auction proceeds help fund programming and operations for LARC.
This year’s event was held at the Serbian Social Center in Lansing. Four clients were honored for significant milestones with LARC:
Penny Grill had also opened the dinner with a prayer:
In addition, Executive Director Ernie Gonzalez expressed personal thanks—as well as thanks on behalf of LARC—to George Vincent, owner of Unlimited Service Auto in Lansing. “Big George” has been donating oil changes for LARC’s 15 vans for many years. When asked why, he explained that the vans used to come in for service on problems that could have been prevented with proper maintenance. So he told LARC to bring them to him. “I like the work that you do,” he said. Big George was honored with the Ted Sailor Humanitarian Award.
He was not able to be present at the dinner, but Executive Director Ernie Gonzalez visited him at his shop the following week and presented the plaque.
About LARC
LARC provides day training, work activities, and senior programs to approximately 100 adults with developmental disabilities from across the Chicagoland Area. Additional services include ongoing educational initiatives, work opportunities in the community through mobile work crews and individual placement, and community integrated living arrangements or (CILA’s) for 43 individuals in private housing around the community.
LARC is located at 19043 Wentworth Avenue in Lansing, Illinois.
