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Home2021 Annual Appeal

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Board Members

Inagrace Dieterich

President

Rita McCarthy

Vice President

Gary Worcester

Vice President

Barbara Norrish

Secretary

Joanne Michalski

Treasurer

Susan Alitto

Founding President

Ann Audrain

Jane Comiskey

Margaret Huyck

Dottie Jeffries

Monica Long

Charles Newsome

Ismail Turay

Advisory Committee

Josie Disterhoft

Kathy Huff

Roger Huff

Kitty Mann

George Rumsey

Staff

Lucas Livingston

Executive Director

Dorothy Pytel

Special Projects Manager

Laura Voss-Allen
Administrative Coordinator

December 2021

Dear Friends:

Chicago Hyde Park Village is continuing to maintain our mission of serving older adults during COVID-19 with the help of our wonderful staff and volunteers. We have adapted to the pandemic with many programs on Zoom.

We are thrilled to have a new full-time Executive Director, Lucas Livingston, joining us this month! You will learn more about him soon.

Our popular twice monthly Drop-in programs, featuring entertainment, online tours, and educational speakers, and the Men’s Group have moved to a mix of virtual and safe in-person events. The Dining Out Group is now meeting in person, while the Decluttering Group, Book Club, Women’s Group, and Meditation are continuing to draw a steady attendance online.

Full member services include transportation to medical appointments, to CHPV events, and shopping. Volunteer drivers have given over 100 rides this year. Several members are also benefitting from the new, free of charge federally funded Catch-on Program that pairs a trained volunteer with a member to teach each member computer skills. Each learner receives a laptop computer and free internet service for a year to help them connect with Village activities and services online.

Our Village Visitor Program, underwritten by SHARE (Supporting Healthy Resources & Education) at UChicago Medicine, that pairs volunteers with older adults in need of companionship, has been expanded by engaging several new volunteers who are currently being trained to support even more individuals, some with dementia.

The Dementia Friendly Hyde Park program, established in 2020 that partners with SHARE and the Memory Center at UChicago Medicine, is moving forward. A new pilot program, the CHPV Stronger Memory Group, was formed as part of the national Village to Village network and currently has 24 members signed up.

Please read the enclosed stories which illustrate the significant difference CHPV has made in members’ lives.

We are happy to announce that a Challenge Grant from the Betty Lou Smith Fund is being awarded to CHPV. Please help us meet this challenge and continue providing our important services and activities by making a generous donation to meet our goal of $25,000.

We appreciate your support for our Village during our Annual Appeal Campaign. Please help us to meet our goal of $25,000. Your contribution really counts!

For donations over $1,200, please mail a check to: CHPV, 5500 S. Woodlawn, Chicago, IL 60637.

Click here to make an online donation

If you have questions call: 773‑363‑1933.

We thank you for your continuing support.

Sincerely,

Margaret Huyck and Kathy Huff

Co-chairs, CHPV Fundraising Committee

What a Difference the Village Makes!

Robin Kaufman is grateful to Chicago Hyde Park Village for providing her with very personalized transportation made by caring volunteers to her medical appointments when she is dealing with very stressful health issues. She finds that the rides given by volunteers help her relax because of the comforting conversations she has with each driver. Robin really likes how dependable and predictable that Village drivers are and feels relieved that she can depend on them, because they are flexible enough for her to call them to pick her up from appointments that can last well beyond their scheduled times.

Mary Ulinski is really thankful for CHPV and Hyde Park Produce for providing Thanksgiving dinners to members for a Village in-person celebration and are also delivered to their homes when they cannot attend. She also appreciates the social programs and exercise classes on Zoom. Mary loves being part of the Catch-on Connect program, administered by Rush University Medical Center, that is helping her span the digital divide with a free one-year internet connection, a free electronic tablet, 5 online lessons, and several individual coaching sessions. As a result, Mary can now surf websites, connect with her doctors, and view all of her health records online by using MyChart.

Filomena Albee is an active full member who participates in the Women’s Group that meets at in-person at a coffee shop, in the monthly in-person Dining Out Group, the Drop-ins on Zoom, and in Village field trips, including a recent one to see the Frida Kahlo art exhibit. Filomena participated in the Village Visitors Program in which a young volunteer came to her home each week for conversation and helped walk her dog, since she has restricted mobility. She is pleased with the transportation that volunteers provide to take her to medical appointments and to in-person Village social events.

Allen Lang, in his 90s, has been living alone at the Windemere, and is especially appreciative of the Village Men’s Group. As he said, “This group is my league and nation. The meetings are the highlight of my life. One of the group members has even offered to drive me anywhere I need to go.” Allen also appreciates all the help and perspectives offered by the staff and friends. He is using the varied resources of the Village to work out ways to supplement his VA benefits.

Della Starr, age 94, a former contract furniture entrepreneur, is living with dementia and resides with her daughter and son-in-law. They are deeply grateful for two volunteers from the Village Visitors program who come to visit Della. Della senses she has caring companionship around her to enjoy music, art projects, and play card games. Her daughter joins the activities or may take a bike ride and states: "We look forward to our volunteers who are wonderfully empathetic, creative and thoughtful.” Della is enjoying her new companion, "Red", a Joy for All Companion Pet (robot), provided by the Village Visitors program.

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