It was a chilly fall evening on Oct 11th, but passionate volunteers, lay leaders, friends, and family brought the warmth and love as they celebrated Libenu and its critical work for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in our community. Friends of Libenu gathered on the rooftop deck of the Greystone Associates building for great food, camaraderie, fun, and a chance to learn more about Libenu.
The Harvest BBQ was a chance for Libenu to express our gratitude and Hakarat Hatov for our remarkable growth and success this past year. Highlights include:
- Libenu purchased and renovated a beautiful new home in Skokie for our women.
- Lev Chicago Respite completed its first year of providing desperately-needed after-school care for younger children with special needs. LCR is offered in partnership with Jewish Child and Family Services
- Libenu received a Breakthrough Grant form Jewish Federation to expand Lev Chicago Respite and provide services for teens with disabilities.
- Libenu was also named one of the most innovative Jewish nonprofits in the 2018 Chicago Slingshot Guide, and is now entering its final year in the UpStart Venture Accelerator.
Libenu is looking forward to continued growth and innovation in the coming year as we continue to make our vision a reality. In addition to empowering people with disabilities to live their best lives as fully included members of the community, Libenu is excited to increase its impact through new educational initiatives that will be offered nationwide.
A gigantic thank you to Baruch Schur for hosting the evening, sharing his Libenu story, and for his impressive BBQ skills. A resounding “shout out” to Metuka Hechtman-Feifel for her amazing leadership of this event, and to Steve Erenberg, without whom none of this would be possible. Libenu would also like to thank all of the attendees who signed up to volunteer their time and expertise at this critical moment for Libenu.
Libenu, from the Hebrew word meaning “Our Hearts,” reflects our heartfelt commitment to making the world a better place for people with disabilities, their families, and the community. To find out more about how you can help, email [email protected] or visit our website: www.libenu.org .
