Graduation Elf
Christmastime at Cunningham is one of the busiest times of year and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Luckily, the Advancement team had its own "elf" to help with the hustle and bustle of the season.
Christmastime at Cunningham is one of the busiest times of year and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Luckily, the Advancement team had its own "elf" to help with the hustle and bustle of the season.
How do you like your coffee? Or are you more of a hot tea drinker? Maybe good old orange juice is more your style. Soon, staff at Cunningham Children’s Home will have these options and more because thanks to a grant from the Arby’s Foundation,* a "beverage bar" is coming to campus.
December was truly the most wonderful time of the year for 20-year-old Mark because it marked the one-year anniversary he has lived on his own in his very own apartment.
"This is the first time something is in my name," Mark said proudly with a huge smile on his face. "It’s very exciting!"
"Trust the process; it works." – 20-year-old Anthony
Anthony, a young adult in our Independent Living program, is proof that hard work pays off.
Sixteen-year-old Aaron*, a student at Cunningham’s CIRCLE Academy and participant in our Vocational Options Program (VOP), stands a little taller these days.
Do you remember your first job out of high school? And how proud you were to have grownup responsibilities, not to mention your own paycheck? Shane, a 19-year-old young man on the autism spectrum, feels that way and more after successfully completing his first three months of work at a local fast food restaurant. A year ago, after completing high school, neither Shane nor his family had any idea what the future held for him. It was through a referral to Cunningham's Vocational Options program that he not only found employment, but support and hope as well.
Through Cunningham's Vocational Education program Naomi works at the Champaign County Humane Society, cleaning up after and caring for the cats one afternoon each week. She loves the days she's able to complete the necessary tasks ahead of schedule and gets to enjoy some time cuddling and playing with her furry friends.