Page 7 - 2018-2019 Annual Report

“WE ARE GIANT STEPS”

GIANT STEPS ANNUAL GALA

Debra Nauman, the founder of Giant Steps, began
her journey to establish Giant Steps as the first
school in Illinois for students with autism in 1995.
In 1996 “Giant Steps Illinois” became the first school
approved by the Illinois State Board of Education
for students with autism.
Debra’s journey began because her son, Riley, who is on
the autism spectrum, n eeded specialized programming
to meet his academic and social/emotional needs.
The public school he was attending did not provide
the services nor environment in which Riley could
effectively learn and grow. Without alternatives for
programming in the public schools, Debra turned to
her local legislator, former US Representative Judy
Biggert, for assistance. Subsequently, former State
Representative Patti Bellock continued to support
Giant Steps. With their help, the initial funding to start
Giant Steps was secured through the Illinois General
Assembly, making Riley the first student at Giant Steps
Day School!

THANK YOU ASPEN LANE

Giant Steps Parent Club partnered with Aspen Lane Wine Company to develop the Giant Steps Wine Label and began
marketing Giant Steps Wine to the community for the 2018 holidays. Wine sales raised over $1000 for Giant Steps!

As an accomplished home winemaker, Bob Evanosky had the idea of combining his love of making wine with creating
a business that would provide a sustainable source of income to a select group of nonprofit organizations. Driven by
the transformational experiences of his own family, Bob
wanted to support nonprofits who were serving children
and adults with a variety of disabilities.

By bringing the opportunity directly to the individuals
and families already supporting the “partner nonprofits”,
and allowing the wine to act as a catalyst to attract new
donors to the nonprofit, Bob has built an engine that will
continue to provide support for years to come. Unlike a
typical fundraiser or donation, purchasing wine from the
Aspen Lane Wine Company will provide a continuous
source of funds to each partner nonprofit as a portion of
sales from each wine bottle will go to the wine buyer’s
designated partner charity. •6