Friends of Growth Activities

Join Friends of Growth members Monday, August 9 at 5:15 pm in the Commemorative Consumer Courtyard. Found out more about fall volunteer opportunities and enjoy a warm-up walk around the track to help kick off Walk 4 Work.

July 27th Summer Picnic - great fun. Thanks to a dozen volunteers and donated Pepsi products, IGE workers, staff and volunteers had a wonderful time. Hula Hoops were spinning and everyone enjoyed grill burgers, Ann's delicious potato salad and 40th anniversary cake.

IGE volunteers for the July 12th Rockford ProAm rate high marks from Judi Sheely. Nearly 60 community-minded individuals helped everything run smoothly at this year's event. IGE is a beneficiary and will receive a grant to support a much needed training program.

Nearly 50 people enjoyed the Friends of Growth celebration of IGE's 40th Anniversary on Monday, May 10. All the volunteers were honored for their commitment and dedication. Thanks to Coyle Varland Insurance Agency for their sponsorship.  

Thank you to everyone for supporting the March 13, 2010 Great Finds Garage Sale Garage Sale. Many volunteers, new and seasoned, worked hard to raise over $7.000.00 to fund yearend bonuses and Work to Win, an attendance incentive program for IGE workers.

The Friends of Growth member meetings are quarterly, on the second Monday at 5:15 pm at IGE. Future meetings for 2010 are August 9 and November 8. For more information contact Maggie at 815-378-2854. Members are asked to give $10 annually to help support the organization.

Friends of Growth is an all volunteer group dedicated to planning and running activities that benefit the adults with disabilities working at and participating in IGE programs. We organize an annual summer picnic, a Christmas lunch, a coffee break treat for Halloween and for Valentine's Day. Our group operates several fundraising events each year to provide a small yearend bonus for each worker and for larger projects that benefit IGE workers.

Thanks to all the Friends of Growth volunteers for decorating, baking cupcakes  and cookies, helping serve Happy Joe's pizza, helping package cookie treats and raising funds to make a small year-end bonus possible again this year for every consumer. For more information about volunteer opportunities contact Val Johnson at (815) 962-8333 x 140.

Walk 4 Work, a non-competitive walk on Saturday, October 3 was a great success. This first time event drew 92 participants and raised over $13,000 to help purchase much needed equipment for IGE's production division that employs nearly 200 adults with disabilties. Thank you to our major sponsors Canon, Speedway Auto Mall, CWB Foundation, Coyle-Varland Insurance Agency and Rockford Park District. Proceeds helped purchase industrial stools, hand tools and other equipment our consumers need to do their jobs.