Partner
One of our goals is to educate and encourage people to take advantage of KYC's mental health and senior services, as well as other community resources. Another goal is to raise funds to support our various programs. Partnership and support from our friends in the community is an integral part of facilitating these goals.
KYC works in partnership with businesses, corporations, houses of worship and community groups to bring awareness and hope to people needing help. This partnership meets the needs of KYC, the business or organization, and the community in which we live and work.
—
back to top
Can you give one of our vocational clients a job? ...or an "on-the-job evaluation" paid by the Division of Rehabilitation Services? Could you use a small group of workers, supervised by a KYC job coach, to do some assembly, packaging, picking, cleaning or inspection, two or three days a week? Do you have any sub-contract work that you would like to outsource?
KYC's Vocational Program is funded by the Illinois Division of Rehabilitation Services. The program began in 1998 and serves about sixty clients per year. We help people who have a diagnosis of mental illness. We help them go to work. We provide assessment, job-search planning, job placement and on-the-job coaching. We offer many vehicles for support of the worker and the employer, as we assist people to get back to the world of work.
Our clients have worked in a wide variety of jobs, are of every educational and skill level and we have a long list of satisfied employers.
The advantages to you are:
- aiding the recovery of a member of your community
- tax credits in the form of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit
- EEOC and ADA compliance
- a valued, contributing employee who has the benefit of coaching and support
—
back to top
There are also many advantages in partnering with us through corporate sponsorship. Our events are well attended by prominent community leaders and key corporate personnel. Events are fun, great networking opportunity and a chance to help out a worthy cause.
Through sponsorship of our events, companies have an opportunity to:
- Reach target audience via face to face marketing
- Capitalize on marketing investment while endorsing goodwill in the community
- Cross promote with partners
- Foster team-building among employees
—
back to top
At Kenneth Young Center, we know that being active, taking on a project and "doing good" all help us come out of ourselves, feel happier and more productive. Group members get to know one another better and build their team. Your business or organization gets some positive exposure at the same time. Here are some ideas for worthwhile projects your group might consider:
Our Seniors Program helps elderly clients remain in their own homes with help from volunteer and support services. Opportunities for volunteering include:
- Adopt a Meals-on-Wheels route. It takes about an hour to deliver (about 6 to 8 elderly people on a route). We deliver Monday through Friday over the noon hour. Your group could take turns to cover one route for every day of the week on an ongoing basis. Hold a recruitment coffee for your group. Have a KYC staff person explain how individuals in your group can be matched with an elderly client for weekly visits and assistance.
- Hold a fundraiser for Senior Services to offset the cost of Meals on Wheels.
- Hold a recruitment coffee for your group. Have a KYC staff person explain how individuals in your group can be matched with an elderly client for weekly visits and assistance.
In our Psychosocial Rehabilitation program for adults with serious mental illness, you could:
- Host an information meeting for your members to help them understand mental illness and the fact that it is the stigma of mental illness, as much as the symptoms, that prevents clients leading a normal life. Members could learn how to become friend/role models in volunteer matches with people facing the challenge of mental illness.
- Your group (or individual members) might come in to demonstrate, perform or teach in the Psychosocial Rehabilitation group. Ideas: Dance, story telling, music, demonstration of a hobby, "everybody's birthday party", etc.
Our Kenneth Young Center Resale Shop at Roselle and Wise Rds in Schaumburg raises money to support our services to elderly people. Opportunities for support abound:
- Hold a donation drive for goods to be sold at the shop (toys, games, household items, furniture, small appliances, knickknacks, jewelry, clothing). You could have a monthly or quarterly drive with a different theme each time (May is jewelry month, August is linens months, etc.)
- Organize a work team to join the shop manager after-hours to clean up, organize merchandise, refresh displays, perk up the signage, etc.
- Recruit one captain to lead other group members who take turns running the shop one evening a week, 4 to 7 pm. We could advertise it as " (your club's name) " Night at the Resale Shop.
Resource Development includes fundraising as well as awareness raising about Kenneth Young Centers. You can help by:
- Organize a fundraising event to benefit KYC. (example: Have a "potluck" lunch where everyone brings a dish to pass and also pays $5 to attend. It's fun, tastes good, helps people get to know each other and raises money for Kenneth Young Center.)
- Put together a team for our May event: "WALK for the Mental Health of It".
- Bring a table or two of guests to KYC's November Fashion Show.
- Get foursomes together for our August Golf Outing.
- Circulate our "Help Needed" volunteer flyers to your members.
These are only a few ideas. We're open to any and all creative ideas and we welcome the chance to brainstorm with you about how you can join us in our mission to provide mental health and senior services to our community of Elk Grove and Schaumburg Townships, Illinois.
To learn more about our partnership opportunities as well as employee volunteer team-building initiatives please contact our Corporate & Foundation Relations Coordinator at 847.524.8800 ext. 103.
