Six-year-old Caiden Kropf cuts the ribbon at Elgin’s expanded Easter Seals center with the help of his mother Kaycee Thornton.  Photo by News Bulletin staff.

Easter Seals expands center and services in Elgin

The new Easter Seals facility in Elgin is bigger and offers more services, all designed better serve its young clientele.

More than 125 people attended last week’s ribbon cutting and open house of the Elgin location of Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region last week.
Six-year-old Caiden Kropf, who attends Easter Seals, performed the ribbon-cutting honors at The Jayne Shover Center, 799 S. McLean Blvd., Elgin.
“We are thrilled to welcome you to our new space,” said Theresa Forthofer, president and CEO, Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region, told the ribbon cutting audience. “The space now matches the exceptional services provided by our therapists, and we are more fully able to serve the children in our community.”
The new Elgin location features a new bilingual social work program, the first at Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region.
It also has increased space – 7,200 square feet; a more open design with spacious halls; warm, natural light; and larger therapy rooms.
All improvements help create a warm and welcoming ambiance.
Guests included members of the Elgin Chamber of Commerce including President Carol Gieske, Elgin village officials, Easter Seals staff members, Easter Seals families and the public.

From left to right: Carol Gieske, President, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce, Theresa  Forthofer, President and CEO, Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region,  Jack Shales, Chairman, Shales McNutt Construction, Steve Owens, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region; Front: Kaycee Thornton and Caiden Kropf, of South Elgin.  Photo by News Bulletin staff.

The open house included guided tours, hors d’oeuvres, beverages, and an activity center called the Kid Zone for family-friendly activities. 

In addition, many adults took advantage of the free hearing screenings.
Easter Seals DuPage and the Fox Valley Region has three locations: Elgin, Villa Park and Naperville.
It serves nearly 3,200 infants, children, and adults with therapy and audiology services each year.
Founded in 1952, Easter Seals is one of the largest and most highly regarded pediatric outpatient rehabilitation centers in the nation.
Its mission is to enable infants, children, and adults with disabilities to achieve maximum independence and to provide support for the families who love and care for them.
“The 130 staff members believe whole-heartedly in our family-centered approach,” Forthofer said. “Our 65 therapists have knowledge, medical expertise and many years of skilled experience in child development.”
For more information about Easter Seals, call Jill Garrett at (630) 261-6190, email jgarrett@eastersealsdfvr.org or go to: http://www.eastersealsdfvr.org.