Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe is now on Facebook!

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

"For the Love of Gateway" Yard Sale Fundraiser this September

Join us September 13th and 14th for a community yard sale & fundraiser to benefit Gateway to Learning's mission: to help people with special needs reach their full potential.

Stop by Gateway to Learning during our yard sale weekend and browse a variety of great items that have been purchased by or donated to our program over the years. Help us prepare for the next chapter in Gateway's history--all proceeds will fund our life-changing services for adults with disabilities.

Gateway to Learning is located at 4925 N. Lincoln Ave in Lincoln Square.

Yard Sale Hours:
Friday, September 13th from 9:00am to 5:00pm
Saturday, September 14th from 9:00am to 3:00pm

Donations are gratefully accepted; please contact Kathleen at kwilson@gtlchicago.com or send us a message on Facebook to coordinate a donation for the sale.

Want to sell your own stuff at GTL's yard sale this September? Please get in touch with us to discuss your options for participating in this exciting fundraiser.




Friday, July 26, 2013

GTL Earns $520 Grant...With a Little Help From Our Friends!


Gateway to Learning is proud to announce that we have earned $520 in funding, a grant provided based on the volunteer work of nearly 30 of our friends and supporters earlier this month at the Square Roots Festival.

Thank you SO MUCH to all of those who volunteered on Gateway's team at the festival. 
We could not have done it without you! 

 We look forward to putting this grant to great use and creating more opportunities to interact with the Lincoln Square community!

Thank you as well to everyone who stopped by GTL's table at Square Roots to say hi to our members and learn about our program, and to those who generously donated to help Keep the Gate Open through the fall!



Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Have You Purchased Your Wrigley Rooftop Tickets Yet?






Less than 2 weeks to go until the big day...our 7th Annual Wrigley Rooftop Fundraiser! Support Gateway to Learning AND your Chicago Cubs on August 4th as we enjoy great company and all-you-can-eat food & drink at 3639 Wrigley Rooftop. You MUST purchase tickets in advance @ http://gtlcubs.brownpapertickets.com 

GO CUBS!

We want to say...THANKS!


Monday, July 22, 2013

We're Updating Our Logo

Gateway to Learning is constantly working to improve and expand its programs to best fit the needs of our members and the surrounding community. This summer, our logo will be evolving as well.  

We feel the updated design, created by the wonderful Amy Rumbarger (you may remember her as the designer for our beautiful Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe logo as well), preserves the core values from our founding while representing the Gateway of 2013. Check out some of the ways GTL has evolved over the years, and how our new logo reflects our programs today:


Sunday, July 7, 2013

Order your CAN-DO Cookie Dough Today!

This July, Gateway to Learning is looking to the community to help us raise $80,000 to help our members thrive for years to come. Here's a sweet way to get involved!

Print out the order form below, and choose from three great flavors of CAN-DO cookie dough, each prepared by the members of our developmental training program. Send in your form with payment to Gateway to Learning, and you'll be enjoying tasty CAN-DO cookies in your own kitchen in no time! Plus, you'll be supporting our life-changing programs for adults with special needs. Win-win!



Questions? Give us a call at 773-784-3200 ext. 227 (or ask for Kathleen), and we'll be happy to help. Thanks for your support!

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Join GTL and Wrist Wishes for a Bracelet Making Party!



Join GTL and Wrist Wishes on May 15th from 10:00am to noon at Gateway to Learning!





You've seen our beautiful Wrist Wishes bracelets on Etsy, designed specifically for Gateway to Learning to help us raise funds for our cause--now learn how to assemble your own from the Wrist Wishes founder herself!

On Wednesday, May 15th, Nicole LaCross will join us at Gateway to Learning for a special, one-day bracelet making class and party. Interested GTL members will have the opportunity to participate as part of their training day on the 15th, and we're opening the party up to parents, siblings, and other family members who would like to take part in this exciting activity!

GTL's members often participate in the work program here, where they complete small projects for local businesses and develop important skill sets in the process. Our individuals learn to follow instructions and complete step-by-step tasks, and accomplishing the work helps build their self-confidence. Our bracelet party will serve a similar purpose--and will also be a ton of fun! Plus, Wrist Wishes donates 40% of the profits from each of the bracelets to GTL, so you'll be helping us raise funds for our program at the same time!

Whether you want to learn how to assemble GTL's Wrist Wishes bracelets, or just want to stop by to purchase a few for yourself, Nicole and the GTL team look forward to seeing you on May 15th.

Questions? Please email Kathleen at kwilson@gtlchicago.com or check out our event page on Facebook: 
https://www.facebook.com/events/442787699146937/ 

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

A HUGE Thank You to One of GTL's Newest and Most Generous Local Supporters!

Gateway to Learning has a challenging and worthwhile mission behind it. It's one that we hope to share with the world--but first, with the folks right here in Lincoln Square. After more than 20 years operating out of our facility on Lincoln Ave, the surrounding community is finally getting to know our organization...largely thanks to the generosity and support of one of our closest business neighbors, MB Financial.

Mary Kay Phillips, a banking center manager at the Lincoln Square MB, met Gateway to Learning's newest staff member (Kathleen Wilson, marketing) at a networking event for the Lincoln Square Ravenswood Chamber of Commerce earlier this year. Mary Kay is on chamber's Board of Directors and an active member of the community, volunteering her time, energy and creativity to help local businesses thrive. She quickly and effectively took Kathleen and GTL under her wing, introducing us to many new friends in the area and sharing our message (and Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe cookies) with her customers at the bank.

Over the past couple of months, Mary Kay and her team at MB Financial have helped us raise awareness as well as funds for our cause. In addition to supporting GTL as customers of Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe, the local MB branch has collected nearly $100 in donations from guests at the bank. Mary Kay also recently recommended Gateway to Learning to MB's charitable foundation, which has just provided us with a very generous contribution of $500 to fund our community initiatives this year.

MB Financial has helped GTL introduce our organization and new cafe to the public, and with the funds they collected and contributed to our cause, we'll be able to create new ways for our clients to grow and interact with the Lincoln Square community. On behalf of all of us here at Gateway to Learning, we'd like to thank Mary Kay, the local MB Financial branch team, and the MB Financial Charitable Foundation for their efforts in supporting our mission for individuals with special needs. We look forward to continuing a great relationship with our new friends, and to building new partnerships with others in our community this year!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

"Realize the Importance of Community"

Yesterday (April 2nd) was Autism Awareness Day. We came across this great piece, which includes the awesome story of the author's son, Jeremy.

“Realize the importance of community. Truly we need more people to connect with besides paid service providers and family members. It is hard to initiate contact for many of us ... We all need more friends. We may look like we are not interested due to our lack of eye contact. It is hard for us to initiate friendships as well. Kindly this is due to motor differences or anxiety for many. Kindly we really want love.” -Jeremy

Thursday, March 28, 2013

A Huge Thank You to Our EPIC Team!

This year is off to a great start, with so much more to come! Gateway to Learning would like to give a huge "thank you" to our Chicago EPIC team for their amazing work over the last 8 weeks.  The Gateway to Learning group, lead by Terra Hambly, joined efforts behind the scenes to make our upcoming projects even more amazing by creating beautiful new ways for us to share our story. Thanks to their talents and generosity, GTL's future is looking brighter than ever!


Along with the many other great pieces our EPIC group produced, 
Amy Rumbarger designed our beautiful new Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe logo. 
Stop by to see our new cafe, open to the public starting April 15th!



"Like" EPIC's Facebook page, and check out the other great non-profits they're working with all over the country. Be sure to give them lots of love for supporting Gateway to Learning while you're there!

About the GTL EPIC Rally:

"Gateway gives adults with developmental disabilities skills to contribute to their community while living fulfilling, meaningful lives. While they achieve this mission in many ways, their latest endeavor is to open a café that will enable their users to learn valuable job skills. Cool, right? The GTL EPIC team will be energizing the brand identity with a new style on par with their passion. Possible deliverables include a media kit and a refreshed mission statement and logo.

Under Terra’s leadership, the Gateway to Learning team includes Ryan Kenealy, Andy Kenney, Sarah Revitte, Amy Rumbarger, Kate Soczka and Kathy Vanderjack."





Monday, March 25, 2013

ProjectBoost T-Shirt Campaign Launches Today!


"If you can dream it, you CAN DO it!" Check out our new T-shirt campaign through PROJECTBOOST

Get your "Can Do" Tee today, and proceeds from your purchase will benefit Gateway to Learning's many programs for adults with special needs. Wear your new ProjectBoost shirt to Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe's grand opening celebration in May (date TBA), and get a special gift from our bakery. 



Look good, AND do good with our new Can-Do Cafe T-shirts!

Sunday, March 24, 2013

New Friends Support GTL


Lincoln Square Lanes Offers a Fun New Option for “Choices” Time


If you’ve “friended” Gateway to Learning on Facebook, you probably already know about our exciting new relationship with Lincoln Square Lanes, the oldest operating bowling center in Chicago. If you haven’t connected with us on Facebook yet, what are you waiting for!? Send us a “friend” request and check our page often for updates on everything GTL.


The owners of the recently remodeled bowling alley have welcomed our members with open arms, setting aside time and lane space once a week for Gateway to Learning’s individuals. Now an option on our “Choices” board every Wednesday, bowling is a new favorite activity for us! Stop by the bowling alley to see their beautifully renovated space, and be sure to thank the Lincoln Square Lanes team for their support of GTL!



Luther Memorial Helps Share GTL’s Mission

Our friends over at Luther Memorial Church have been long-time supporters of Gateway to Learning, often sharing GTL’s message by publishing our events and announcements in their newsletters. This month, the church is getting involved in an exciting new way: our individuals will share cookies, stories, and the GTL mission with guests at two of Luther Memorial’s gatherings. This will give us the opportunity to show community members what Gateway to Learning is all about, and help us spread the news about Dorothy’s Can-Do Café, opening this spring. Thanks, LMC!

Lincoln Square Patch Announces Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe Launch

The launch of Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe has officially been announced to the Lincoln Square community. Check out our recent article in the Lincoln Square Patch: http://lincolnsquare.patch.com/articles/adults-with-disabilities-to-open-caf-in-lincoln-square

Get Involved!


Gateway to Learning has some big plans for the years to come, and we need your help to make them a reality. We know it’s not always easy to reach into your own pockets to contribute, so we’ve come up with some ideas for supporting GTL without breaking the bank. Check out our suggestions below, and send your own fundraising ideas to kwilson@gtlchicago.com to receive a free gift from Dorothy’s Can Do Café!* 

-Gold Rush promotions offer supporters a unique and creative way to contribute to GTL’s cause, while getting a little something back in return. Bring your unwanted gold and silver items to Gateway to Learning for our next Gold Rush pickup (date TBD), or contact Nella at nellaspencer@comcast.net to find out how hosting your own Gold Rush party can benefit GTL!

-Purchase your “Can Do” T-shirt from ProjectBoost.org, and encourage your friends to order theirs, too. Guests who wear their shirt to the grand opening in May will receive a special gift from Dorothy’s Can Do Café.

-Volunteer to help out at Gateway to Learning’s table at the Farmer’s Market, starting in June. Contact kwilson@gtlchicago.com for details on how you can get involved!

-Plan a bar crawl with friends, and ask the pubs on your route to donate profits to GTL.

-Have Dorothy’s Can Do Café cater your next party, and ask your employer to consider us for their future catering needs.

-Commit to donating all or some of your tax return $ to Gateway to Learning.

*Send us an email with your idea by April 1st, and we’ll email you a voucher for a free treat from Dorothy’s Can Do Café.

Family Night & Yearbook Photos April 12

Gateway to Learning is kicking off the Spring Term by hosting a Family Night on Friday, April 12 from 6-9pm. Chat with other families, enjoy a fun movie, and learn about all of the exciting projects going on at GTL this year. We'll also be taking yearbook photos, so GTL members, dress to impress! 

GTL is asking that all clients and their parent(s)/guardian(s) attend if possible, and siblings are welcome to join too! The more, the merrier. Keep an eye out for a letter sent to your home with some more info this week, and please feel free to email kwilson@gtlchicago.com with any questions.

CharityChoice Giftcards

A few months ago, I was at a party where someone received a CharityChoice giftcard. The recipient is a big philanthropist, and thought it was the coolest gift ever. I agree!

Check out the CharityChoice site too see what they're all about, and part of your purchase will benefit featured charity Gateway to Learning when you use our special link!



Charity Gift Cards from CharityChoice – give just like a commercial gift card. Turn your gift-giving into philanthropy. 100% tax deductible gifts, plastic and eCards.

Featured Charity – Gateway to Learning Special Education and Training Center: CharityChoice Gift Cards will benefit Gateway to Learning Special Education and Training Center
and the charities your gift-recipient designates as well.

Perfect for birthday, business, holiday, sympathy, wedding - a unique gift idea!

Tuesday, March 19, 2013

Tim's Place: The World's Friendliest Restaurant

As you may have already heard, Gateway to Learning will be launching our new cafe this spring in Lincoln Square. Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe will be an exciting way for our members to learn and grow, and for the community to see what we're all about. We believe that individuals with intellectual disabilities deserve the opportunity to find a meaningful place in society, like Tim of Tim's Place has done.

Tim Harris is America's first restaurant owner who happens to have Down syndrome. Check out Tim's inspiring story here, and start practicing those dance moves--we expect to see all of you break it down like this on the way to Dorothy's in May!

Congrats on following your dream and creating the World's Friendliest Restaurant, Tim! Hopefully Dorothy's Can-Do Cafe will join you soon as the "World's Friendliest Bakery" :)

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Hello, Kathy!


Meet Kathy, Gateway to Learning's fabulous new secretary/receptionist. You've seen her around the center, and she's probably buzzed you in at our front door a few dozen times by now...read on to find out what else there is to know about Kathy!

Age: 26
Title: Receptionist/Secretary

On Life Before Gateway:
I had all customer service oriented positions including working for Chase and a Honda Dealership. The most gratifying work I did before Gateway was in college during the three years I was lucky enough to work as a nanny for a family with two daughters, one of which has Down's Syndrome. I was able to see her grow in her toddler years from the age of 2 1/2 to almost 6. Treating her and her little sister as my own, I was able to partake in the loving disposition and sweet nature that individuals with special needs truly possess.

On Her Hobbies/ Interests:
I've always loved cooking and enjoy trying at least one new recipe a week if time allows. I also have a Australian Cattle Dog puppy at home who is full of energy and takes up a lot of my cuddling and play time. I enjoy reading, road trips and exploring the city of Chicago as well.

On Her Road to Gateway:
In college I met a girl named Anna who I became fast friends with. She was caring and sweet and had a heart of gold. She was great company no matter what we were doing. Unfortunately, her heart led her to New Jersey and her receptionist position at Gateway became vacant. She was sad to leave, but encouraged me to apply and said I would fit right in. Anna did me the biggest favor a friend ever could. She allowed me to have a place of employment where I feel like I come to spend time with my second family!

On Gateway So Far:
Immediately after starting my receptionist position at Gateway, I felt a weight lifted off of my shoulders. No more stressful long hours, angry customers or corporate giants breathing down my back. I LOVE IT HERE! The previous stressors have been replaced by laughter, goofiness and an endless supply of good vibes and fun being had throughout the building.

If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!



Dorothy’s Can Do Café Opens This Spring

Gateway to Learning is proud to announce the official launch of its new 24-month work training program and retail bakery/café this spring. On Monday, April 15th, Dorothy’s Can Do Café will open its doors to the public and begin serving delicious baked goods and chocolates, prepared by our own consumers. 



The individuals in our new program will greet customers, fill bakery orders, and manage the cash register at the new café, developing the skills necessary to be successful in a work environment. GTL consumers who participate in our other programs will benefit as well—the launch of Dorothy’s Can Do Café will be an opportunity to introduce Gateway to Learning to the surrounding community, and gain support for our mission and programs.



We thank you all for your continued support, and look forward to sharing our new program with you. Please keep an eye out for details about our Grand Opening celebration, which will take place in early May!

Executive Letter to GTL Family & Friends




Dear Friends and Family of Gateway to Learning:

Harriet Tubman once said, “every great dream begins with a dreamer.” Here at Gateway to Learning, we know you’ve all been dreaming right along with us from the start. And now, thanks to your love and support, one of our most exciting dreams is coming true.

Gateway to Learning is proud to announce the opening of Dorothy’s Can Do Café, along with the launch of a new 24-month work training program, this May. In just a couple of months, our new retail bakery will be serving up delicious treats prepared by GTL’s own consumers.

The individuals in our new work training program will learn to fill orders, operate a cash register, and interact with café customers, all while making a wonderful contribution to our community. The experience they will gain will prepare them for potential future careers with local businesses, and the café will offer our friends and neighbors the opportunity to see first-hand all that we “Can Do.”

Together, we dreamt of creating a place for our consumers to learn, grow, and feel accepted by the surrounding community. We dreamt of providing them with an outlet to build confidence and develop life skills, and of proudly showing the world that our individuals are caring, driven, and valuable members of society. We dreamt all of this with you, and this spring, together, we’ll watch our dream become a reality.

Thank you for sharing our dreams for so long, and for giving us the strength and resources to pursue them. Thank you for having faith in our ability to reach our goals, and for your patience as we worked toward achieving them. Thank you for supporting GTL with your time, your money, and your kind words, and for encouraging our consumers in their exciting new endeavors. This year, the consumers in our program will take one step closer to reaching their full potential, and we couldn’t have done it without you.

On behalf of everyone here at Gateway to Learning, thank you for being a part of this journey with us. We look forward to celebrating so much success with you in 2013, and for years to come. We’ve earned it!
Sincerely,



       Kathleen Wilson                                                       Cheryl Hennelly
       Marketing & Development Specialist                        Executive Director

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

GTL Supports Lincoln Square Friendship Center's Fundraiser

Gateway to Learning is proud to support our friends at "Jam for Bread," an exciting concert and fundraising event to benefit the Lincoln Square Friendship Center (LSFC)! 


The event will be held on Saturday, March 23rd, presented by Lincoln Square Presbyterian Church.  Lincoln Square Friendship Center is a new local food pantry project, scheduled to launch this summer. Gateway to Learning and Dorothy’s Can Do Café are proud to support LSFC by catering their event, and we look forward to a great relationship between our organizations. Join us for “Jam for Bread” at Borelli’s (2124 W. Lawrence Ave) on March 23rd to support a great cause. Doors open at 6pm. 

Get your tickets online now--we just ordered ours!




“Rhythms” Recap

Gateway to Learning’s 2013 Winter Concert: “Rhythms of the Night” was a great success, bringing in more than $3,000 to support our programs and mission. Thank you to everyone who attended on February 16th, and to the many who contributed to our event in other ways. We couldn't have done it without you! Here’s a look at some of the highlights of the evening.





GTL’s own Kevin Miller helped us dance the night away, performing with his two bands Suena and ¡Esso!






Guests went home with some great raffle prizes, including beautiful baskets donated by local businesses, and plenty of Cubs goodies!








Our fantastic Gold Rush representative Nella offered guests a new and exciting way to contribute to the GTL cause. Guests brought in more than $250-worth of old and unwanted jewelry, and were offered cash on the spot in exchange for their gold and silver items. Thanks to some generous donors and a 15% contribution from Gold Rush, we also earned more than $200 for Gateway to Learning! 

If you're looking for a second chance to participate in our Gold Rush fundraiser, you're in luck! Nella will be at Gateway to Learning on Friday, March 22nd from 1-3pm for our next Gold Rush exchange. Stop in to see her...Nella will weigh your items and offer you cash on the spot for your unwanted gold and silver. Earn some cash for yourself, and Gold Rush will donate 15% of the total value of all items purchased to Gateway to Learning!



Happy Awareness Month!


March is National Intellectual Disabilities Awareness month, declared such by President Ronald Reagan in 1987. How can you help spread GTL’s message of friendship, understanding, and acceptance to the community?

Dedicate your Facebook status to promoting special needs awareness for 1 full day. Tell a story about your own experience or that of a loved one, share an interesting fact or statistic about intellectual disabilities, or just wish everyone a happy awareness month. And don’t forget to link to www.gtlchicago.com!

Visit a new shop or restaurant in town with your consumer. Introduce yourselves to the owner(s) and/or staff, and welcome them to the neighborhood. It’s always fun to make new friends, and if we’re warm and welcoming to our fellow community members, they’ll be warm and welcoming right back! You could end up with a new favorite spot in town, and if you really hit it off, you might even ask your new friends to help share Gateway to Learning’s mission.


Have your own ideas for spreading the word this March? Tell us how you plan to celebrate Awareness Month and you could win a tasty prize courtesy of Dorothy’s Can Do Café (opening this spring)! Send your idea to kwilson@gtlchicago.com –we’ll contact the winner in April, and share their story in the next issue of the Gateway Gazette. 

Welcome to Gateway to Learning's New Blog!

Hello friends of Gateway to Learning! Welcome to our new blog. We're just getting started, so be sure to check back here soon for updates and announcements from your favorite special education and training center :)

If you haven't already signed up to receive our Friends & Family newsletter, don't miss out on the first issue of the Gateway Gazette! Head over to www.gtlchicago.com and register your email address so we can send you your copy and keep you up-to-date on all things GTL. Including a pretty big announcement to come this spring...