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President and CEO Tim Muri (left) thanks representatives from Easterseals sponsors, including Lodge 7 Past President Dean Angelo, Sr. (second from right).
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the years,” President Graham has stated. “Going back to when John Dineen was president all the way through our Immediate Past President Dean Angelo, their support has been a tremen- dous influence on our board to make sure that we support Eas- terseals now and into the future.”
The opportunities the Healthier Tomorrow facility will pro- vide will play a primary role in enhancing the quality of life and productivity by providing independence, recreation and friend- ship. The development of the facility provides students with an avenue to channel excessive energy, helping to increase coping skills and reduce inappropriate behaviors.
Fitness has become of even more important as kids with au- tism spectrum disorder deal with being overweight that has come from the excessive eating many families use a mechanism to control behavior in the home environment. The center will include a gymnasium, running track, fitness loft, locker rooms, auditorium, stage, office and conference suites, kitchen with pantry, event staging area, storage and parking. It’s designed specifically to serve the needs of children with autism by miti- gating outside factors such as noise, buzzing of lights and so on.
The new fitness, wellness and recreation center will also provide a structured environment with access to a variety of physical education activities including sports, exercise groups, weight training and social opportunities for students, staff and the community at-large. Additionally, the new facility will be utilized for community needs for organizations like the UIC Cancer Support Group, the Veterans Administration, Special Olympics and more.
“We have seen the differences a facility like this has made at our other locations,” Muri adds. “Adaptive physical education not only helps from a health standpoint, but also with con- trolling behaviors.”
Muri acknowledges that there is an illustrious attraction for Lodge 7 members at the Healthier Tomorrow facility. The bas- ketball court will feature the FOP logo at center court, and thus will prompt another positive image of how police officers serve the thousands of residents who will use the facility each year. He also wants to make the facility available for the many po- lice-sponsored activities that mean so much to the community.
“We want it to be an opportunity to showcase what the police already do,” Muri explains. “Not only helping a special needs community that really needs this facility, but the entire com- munity.”
What Lodge 7 members have made possible with their con-
38 CHICAGO LODGE 7 ■ APRIL 2018