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A Letter from Leon
 Mr.
Banks,
I'm writing you because I wanted to express how I feel
about you and your staff. I don't know how all of you
survived the years of Leon. You probably shudder at
the sound of my name, because I was a bad kid! When
I look back on my childhood I realize that I wasn't
the easiest child to parent. Cunningham brought structure
to my life - I had come from a home with no structure,
security, or parental guidance. Lots of people at Cunningham
have helped me make me the person I am today - the recreation
staff, the cottage staff, teachers, the group home staff
and many others. Thank you for being there for me!
When I arrived at Cunningham, my first thoughts were,
"Where in the heck am I! These people have moved
me from the big city to a small town." I was in
a strange place and I was scared and alone. It was like
something out of the movies - like being on a deserted
island. It was very different. At night, there wasn't
the sound of gunfire, fire trucks and roaring traffic.
The air was clean and I even saw wildlife n squirrels
and birds! Eventually I became accustomed to being in
Champaign and Cunningham showed me a new way of life.
Thank you for being there for me.
You taught me respect, patience and kindness. When I
came to Cunningham, I had to unlearn everything I thought
was right. I thought it was okay to talk to people any
way I wanted, treat them any way I wanted, and do things
when I wanted. As hard as I tried to fight the system,
the system was winning because no matter what I did
I always ran into a wall - a wall of kindness. It was
at Cunningham that I learned that in order to get through
life, you have to work with the system and not against
it. You taught me that you must crawl before you can
walk, and to treat everyone else like you want to be
treated. Thank you for being there for me.
 As
I became accustomed to being at Cunningham you made
me part of your family. Once I let go of all of the
things that have haunted me from my past, I was able
to embrace you and experience what it really meant to
be part of a family. You gave me the love and nurturing
I needed. I learned to appreciate it and not scorn it.
Thank you for being there for me.
Who would have ever thought that Leon would go into
the Army, become a college student, and grow to be a
six-foot-tall, 210-pound man? Not me - I would have
told you that you were lying. I still can't believe
it! Thank you for being there for me.
I was a bad kid - with a strong emphasis on was. I think
moving from the big city to a small town was the best
move I ever made. You taught me respect, patience and
kindness and it has made me a better person. You made
me a part of your family. With out you I wouldn't have
anyone. Who would have ever thought that I would make
it? You did!
Thank you for being there for me!
- Leon
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