Groups get $2,000 each thanks to Mt. Prospect Jaycees' carnival

The Mount Prospect Jaycees, a leading provider of developmental opportunities that empower young people to create positive change and proponent of creating a leading global network of young active citizens, is giving back to the community with four separate donations of $2,000 to the Clearbrook Foundation, Les Turner ALS Foundation, Dr. Weinstein Glycogen Storage Disease Dream Fund, and Northwest Compass. The donation is money the Mount Prospect Jaycees raised during the 2015 Memorial Weekend Carnival was held May 21-25, at Mount Prospect Plaza, with the generous assistance of Fantasy Amusement and Ramco Gershenson Properties. The donations will have a direct impact on lives in the community of Mount Prospect.

According to Gloria S. Drake, vice president communications and event planning for the Clearbrook Foundation, "This donation will make a very large difference in abilities to provide care for people over a range of ages and disabilities from children diagnosed with developmental delays at birth to the unique needs of seniors with disabilities and all ages in between."

The Clearbrook Foundation supports over 7,000 individuals as well as their families as the largest nonprofit provider of home-based services in Illinois.

Les Turner ALS Foundation representative Alyssa Feulner, special events associate relayed, "Your donation of $2,000 will be used toward bettering the lives of those directly affected with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease."

The Mount Prospect Jaycees donation was made in honor of Robert Tomasello for all the services provided in the assistance in his end of life care.

"Northwest Compass provides care under all areas of life. Be it helping prepare the unemployed/underemployed/displaced worker to become job ready in today's current working environment, helping keep the utilities on, putting food on the table, getting adequate health care, provides financial assistance to those experiencing an unexpected crisis, emergency housing or learning daily life skills we are there. Your financial donation, as well as your food donation (200 pounds) will help many people. We love all that the Mount Prospect Jaycees are doing for their local community," stated Jessica Elbe, managing director of partnership and development.

Glycogen Storage Disease is a rare condition that affects approximately one in 100,000 live births. Without proper care, patients suffer from hypoglycemia, seizures, stunted growth and a failure to thrive. Until recently, this disease was considered fatal. It was found that hypoglycemia could be avoided through the continual consumption of raw cornstarch, allowing many children to maintain metabolic control. The consumption has to occur every few hours.

Jessica Knepler accepted the donation to The GSD Dream Fund. "Your donation means more than words can express. It will help us to find a cure for this terrible disease."

The Mount Prospect Jaycees would like to thank all the attendees of the carnival for coming out to make this another successful year. They would also like to thank Fantasy Amusement for all of their hard work and wonderful attention to details. And last of all, a thank you to Ramco Gershenson Properties for the use of Mount Prospect Plaza. The Mount Prospect Jaycees look forward to seeing everyone at future events and next years Carnival.

The Mount Prospect Jaycees welcomes prospective members to find out more at www.mountprospectjaycees.org or visit at 7:30 p.m., on the second Tuesday of each month, at Mr. Beef and Pizza, 1796 S. Elmhurst Road, in Mount Prospect.