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Wheaton Lions Club makes 'wish come true' for Marklund residents

Thanks to a recent $1,500 donation from the Wheaton Lions Club, residents of the Marklund Philip Center, in Bloomingdale, have a new portable sensory wall - an engaging device that stimulates residents' sense of sight and touch.

The sensory wall features a brilliant fiber-optic display, with a mirrored backing that magnifies the effect. In addition to being visually stimulating, the sensory wall provides therapeutic benefits, as well, allowing residents to work on active movement by reaching for the fiber optics on the panel.

"Residents of the Philip Center have medical complexities that can sometimes prohibit them from moving around to other areas of the Center," said Vicki Krystof, director of corporate and foundation relations for Marklund. "With this panel, they can enjoy sensory input in their bedroom, on the nursing pod, or in the multi-purpose room."

"We have wanted the sensory wall for some time, so getting this donation has made our wish come true," said Natalie Rubino, qualified intellectual disabilities professional and social service designee for the Marklund Philip Center. "The sensory wall allows residents to do sensory exploration outside of our traditional sensory room, and adds another layer of stimulation and exploration to our sensory time in group activities."

Members of the benevolence committee of the Wheaton Lions Club chose to support Marklund and a variety of other organizations that help fulfill the Lions Club's vision: "To be the global leader in community and humanitarian service."

"Working to aid individuals who have vision or hearing impairments is the primary purpose for which we are organized," said Jim Huck, president of the Wheaton Lions Club, and a former board member of Marklund. "We identified 15-20 organizations in the community that serve individuals with vision and hearing impairments. When Marklund was mentioned, we all agreed it was an organization we wanted to support."

"It has been gratifying for our members to raise the funds - we were happy to do it," Huck added.

"The Lions Club has demonstrated a commitment to the lives of the most fragile children and adults in the community, as well as a dedication to ensuring they lead dignified lives, filled with hope and opportunity," Krystof said.

Marklund is a nonprofit organization that serves infants, children, teens and adults with serious and profound developmental disabilities and special healthcare needs. With three residential locations--Marklund at Mill Creek in Geneva, the Marklund Philip Center in Bloomingdale, and the Marklund Wasmond Center in Elgin--it is currently home to nearly 174 clients.

For information on making a donation to Marklund, contact Krystof at vkrystof@marklund.org, or call 630-593-5482.

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