WDSRA honors Naperville's contributions to special rec

Naperville has been named to the WDSRA Foundation Hall of Fame in recognition of its continuous support of the Western DuPage Special Recreation Association's participants and families.

The city has helped over the years to advance WDSRA's mission and vision to develop individuals through special recreation with an eye toward opening their potential for a lifetime of possibilities.

For more than a decade, the city has had a direct impact on the sustainability of programs such as the Visiting Artist Program, which serves those with mental illness, and summer camps for children and teens with special needs in Naperville.

Its financial support has helped with large-scale events such as Special Talents, a version of "America's Got Talent"; Boccia Nationals, a national, competitive event for athletes with physical challenges hosted in Naperville in July of 2017; and the Adaptive Sports Festival, designed to introduce and educate those with physical challenges about the opportunities available to them.

Support for the programs has come from the city's Special Events and Cultural Amenities Fund and the Social Services Grant Program. Naperville's total contributions to WDSRA have topped $155,000.