Little City Dedicates New Fitness Center

For years the workout facilities at Little City left much to be desired.

"We relied heavily on donated equipment that no longer was in use and was out-of-date," said Shawn Jeffers, executive director of Little City, 1760 W. Algonquin Road, which serves people with intellectual and development disabilities.

The equipment also was not adaptable to the range of physical needs of Little City residents.

"It just was not set-up for or designed for our residents," said Tim LaHart, recreation therapist at Little City.

All that began to change a year ago when Joel Sharenow and his wife, Ethel, toured the facility. The tour included a stop by the workout room. That night at dinner the Sharenows, along with two other families–the Steinfelds and Hockfields–decided to fund a total makeover of Little City's workout facilities.

"It gives them [residents] something to look forward to," Joel Sharenow said. "And it's good for their health."

LaHart said the transformation was amazing and has given many more residents an opportunity to exercise and improve their health.

Although the workout room was on Little City's wishlist, it was one of dozens of areas of need. Little City officials say that they must raise an average of $10,000 per individual they serve annually to maintain the quality of life they have established.

The Sharenows support allowed the foundation to make improvements that might have been put off for years. The cost of the renovation was $71,000.

"You can't really talk about health without giving people access to this type of facility," Jeffers said.

Sharenow lauded the work of Little City, adding that such organizations need private donations to exist. He said the range of services provided by Little City is impressive–from one-on-one care to group activities for more independent residents.

About 80 percent of children in Little City's ChildBridge Residential Program have pervasive developmental disabilities such as Autism, Asperger Syndrome and other diagnoses on the Autism spectrum.

Little City supports more than 350 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities throughout the Chicago area. It provides 24 hour care to more than 175 adults and 50 children.

The organization also offers foster care and adoption placement services, as well as operating 16 community-based group homes.