Month: January 2020

This holiday season was filled with extra joy due to the success of the 2019 Angel Tree! The third annual Angel Tree was a way for the community to fulfill our client’s wish list by picking a tag off of the tree and donating a gift. This year German American Bank hosted the Angel Tree again, and each of their branches displayed our clients’ wishes. Our clients got together at a small office party with hot cocoa and sugar cookies and our staff helped them to make their list out. We encouraged our clients to think about things that would help them get out into the community, such as: gift cards, movie tickets, or bowling passes. The clients also asked for things they wanted or clothing they needed.  Members of the bank and other community members enthusiastically picked tags and fulfilled wish lists.  We are so grateful to note that every client received everything on their wish list this year!

This Angel Tree is really unique, because it provides gifts for a group of people who typically don’t have any other opportunity to be included. Our clients are mostly adults with developmental disabilities, and all other Angel Trees generally target kids. Many of our clients enjoy Christmas as much as you may remember being excited to wake up Christmas morning and check under the tree to see what surprises were there. For most of our clients, family, friends, and staff are able to help them have a wonderful holiday. For those that are on our Angel Tree list however, typically family isn’t involved their lives. That’s why this Angel Tree is so special to them, and the community coming together to help them have a warm and joyous holiday is so very meaningful to each and every person who participates.

The trees have now been displayed at German American Bank for 2 years in a row. German American generously provided support and helped to make sure each wish list was fulfilled. This year, however more people from the community came into the bank to choose wish lists to fulfill. We were humbled by the outpouring of support of people who weren’t clients or employees of the bank who came in just for the Angel Trees. We also want to thank our friends at Down Syndrome Family Connection who came together to help fulfill many of the wishes.

Dear friends, family and supporters of LIFEDesigns,  

With the holiday season currently underway we wanted to recognize the amazing things that have occurred in 2019. Most of you should be aware, in May of 2019 we were able to increase all employee wages by $3.00 per hour. This is a significant investment for us, and one our board feels is very important to improving our services for our clients.  Since making this commitment, we’ve already started seeing some positive changes, such as: 

• We’ve stopped using temporary staffing since September (which is a significant cost savings!)
• We’re seeing more experienced applicants for Direct Support Professional roles.
• We’re starting to be able to provide  more services to our clients.

We’re very excited to see these changes and look forward to seeing more positive results in 2020.

While Kristen was talking with Jake, she asked him a very simple question: “Why is LIFEDesigns important to you?” Jake’s response touched all of us here, and we wanted to share that with you:

“I’m grateful to all my friends at LIFEDesigns. You are all family to me. All I ever wanted was a family to love me.”

Jake began using LIFEDesigns for services over 20 years ago, as a young child. He receives employment services, supported living services, and hopes to be paired with a LIFEMentor volunteer soon. Because of these services, Jake has had many opportunities that HE has made the most of! Jake works 2 jobs, volunteers at WonderLab, is a member of Kiwanis Aktion Club, plans a talent show, and started the All Abilities Choir. Jake has many friends and enjoys the independent life he created for himself. We’re proud to have been there with him to provide the supports he needed. As someone who’s supported LIFEDesigns, you should feel equally responsible for providing this opportunity along with many others to our over 420 clients.  THANK YOU!