Aspire’s May Highlights!

Summer is just around the corner, and we’re soaking up the sunshine and good vibes! 

The days are getting longer, the skies are brighter, and there’s a buzz of excitement in the air. We’re feeling energized by the warmth, the possibilities, and the joy that comes with a new season of growth and connection.

At Aspire, summer is a time to celebrate milestones, dive into fresh adventures, and cheer on the incredible accomplishments of the people we support. There’s so much happening and we can’t wait to share it all with you!

Here’s a sunny snapshot of what’s been heating up at Aspire lately:

Academy North Highlights:

Aspire proudly participated in the Region B Special Olympics Track and Field competition held at Prospect High School. Eight talented athletes from our Lake County community homes represented Aspire, joining over 800 participants in this exciting event!

Our athletes competed with great enthusiasm, and we’re thrilled to share that two of them took home first place in the tennis ball throw – congratulations to all our athletes for their hard work and determination! We’re excited to keep growing our involvement and participation in future events; stay tuned!

On May 15, Academy North hosted Aspire’s Got Talent!

The event was filled with fun, laughter, and amazing performances! People showcased their talents through singing, dancing, and telling jokes—bringing lots of energy and smiles to the stage. Great job to all the performers!

We visited Susanna Farms in Lake Bluff and had a great time feeding the goats, sheep and chickens, and we brushed a donkey. We can’t wait for future visits to learn more about how to care for the animals and the farm. 

Congrats Elizabeth on having Feed My Starving Children in Schaumberg, name the labeling room in honor of her; “Elizabeth Labeling Lounge.”

Elizabeth started volunteering in January of 2024 and when she moved to Beach Park in September 2024, Feed My Starving Children announced that they were naming the labeling room for her!

Academy South Highlights:

May started out with our first competition for the Aspire Dance Team!

On May 4th our dancers took to the stage and competed. This year everyone had more time to practice routines, and it sure paid off! All of the dancers showed big improvements and confidence in their dancing! 

Everyone was excited to continue our visits to The Ranch this month because we were able visit the animals outside again! These visits continue to help everyone learn good coping skills and have fun while doing it.

Our Aspire artists at Academy South found some inspiration at the Elmhurst Art Museum! Everyone was able to enjoy art by local artists and bring the inspiration back to their own pieces.