Page 5 - Annual Report 23-24
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Letter From the
Executive Director
Dear Friends of Giant Steps,
Thank you for walking beside us, every step
of the way, in 2023 and beyond. From our 5K,
Walking Non-stop for Autism – Every Step
Counts, to our annual gala, your support has
moved mountains. With 375 participants
at Rich Harvest Farms and over 600 donors
rallying together, we raised an incredible To close out the 2023 – 2024 school year in July,
$135,530. Our 2nd Annual Gator Crawl all our students and adults participated in the
raised over $8,000, honoring 50 exceptional Annual Tri-City Chargers a Youth Football Day.
students and young adults. The day was filled with games, hot dogs, chips,
and drinks—in the eyes of our students and
We hosted our first Day of Connections adults, a perfect day!
and Mobile DMV Event to showcase
approximately 30 social and state agencies The Canopy Adult Program hosted a Backyard
that provide services for families and BBQ to share the good news about the Canopy
caregivers. Each agency provided a Capital Campaign to build an Activity Center on
representative for families to talk with and land donated by Mr. Jerry Rich. The new facility
receive answers from a real person. Over 100 will allow us to serve up to 120 young adults at
guests attended our Day of Connections and our day program.
Mobile DMV Event; it was a big hit!
Our 2024 Gala, A Night at the Races, welcomed
We’ve celebrated creativity, community, and 185 guests and raised $220,000, including
confidence in our Day School. Our Secondary $71,800 for critical needs like cybersecurity
students celebrated Homecoming’s Gators upgrades and a new van for Canopy.
& Ghouls Barnyard Booooooogie to the
globe-trotting Gators on the Go Prom. Our Because of you, our students and adults are
students danced and laughed throughout thriving. Thank you for continuing to walk with
the prom day. Not to be outdone, the us; every step truly counts.
Elementary students stood tall as they sang
and celebrated the music based on the past With gratitude,
five decades during the annual elementary
musical. The audience tapped their feet and
sang along to songs from their past! Dr. Sylvia Smith, CEO
Giant Steps Illinois
Annual Report 23-24
