Thankful for You: September Recap Inside!

Out & About Newsletter

September 2025 edition

September Recap

Discovery, Thankfulness & Treasured Memories

This month at Opportunity House, we’re celebrating moments of discovery, the gratitude we feel for our community, and the treasured memories we’re building together. From new job matches to joyful recreation activities, and Special Olympics milestones, your support keeps our mission moving every day, in every program.

Want to see what we've been up to across our programs? Keep scrolling to catch up on all the highlights!

Community Day Services

Community Day Services Director, Crystal Holdcroft, Skylar Montavon, OHI Supervisor, & Brooke Montavon, CDS Manager

On the Air: CDS Leaders Spotlight OH’s Impact & DSP Careers

The Community Day Services (CDS) leadership team joined The Coyote 102.3 FM and Super Hits 93.5 FM to share how Opportunity House empowers adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) to live, work, and enjoy community life, right here in DeKalb County.

What we covered

Impact that lasts: For 60+ years, OH has provided day services, developmental training, supported employment, recreation, Special Olympic sports, and residential services across 11 group homes. Through person-centered support, job coaching, and inclusive recreation, we help people build skills, earn a paycheck, and enjoy a meaningful life connected to neighbors and local businesses.
DSP career path: Direct Support Professionals are the backbone of our mission. We highlighted paid training, credential opportunities, leadership tracks, flexible scheduling, and the everyday rewards of helping someone gain independence, build skills, and thrive in the community.

How you can help

Hire inclusively: Let’s design roles that work for your business and our job seekers.
Join the team: Explore a purposeful DSP career with growth and impact.
Get Involved: Volunteer, Donate or Sponsor to further amplify impact.

Visit www.ohinc.org or email info@ohinc.org to learn more!

Thank you to The Coyote 102.3 and Super Hits 93.5 for amplifying inclusion in our community!

Community & Vocational Supports

Institute Day Fun at Jonamac Orchard!

CSP & Vocational Services Updates

On September 19th, our CSP crew enjoyed a perfect fall morning at Jonamac Orchard for Institute Day! Eight clients came together to meet up with friends from two of our residential homes for some quality time filled with laughter and good conversation. Everyone enjoyed fresh apple cider and delicious donuts. It was the perfect fall treat!

It was a wonderful opportunity to connect and celebrate friendship. Days like these remind us how special it is to spend time together making new memories!

Residential Services

We are hiring Direct Support Professionals for our new Genoa Group Home!

Want to be part of a team where compassion is valued, fun is part of the culture, and your work truly matters?

Join us at Opportunity House and help us continue empowering lives!

Learn more & apply today: Click Here!!!

Recreation

It's Tailgating Season!

We kicked off the day with NIU tailgating fun filled with laughter, great food, and a few games of bags. Everyone loved seeing the NIU marching band up close as they made their way to the field. One of our amazing volunteers, an NIU alumnus, joined us for the excitement!

We even got to visit with Mission the Huskie and enjoy the high school bands from the surrounding area perform for Band Day!

O.H. Athletics

O.H. Volleyball Athletes Are Going To State!

Congratulations to our Thunder Modified and Thunder Unified Black Volleyball teams on earning silver medals and advancing to State Fall Games! These teams not only showcased amazing skill but also represented us with outstanding sportsmanship and teamwork.

We are beyond proud of not only this achievement, but also the skill improvement throughout the season. Now, bring home the state title!

Thunder Modified

Thunder Unified Black

Basketball Season Is Coming Up!

Opportunity House Athletics Basketball season is almost here! Practices begin on Tuesday, November 4th.

Heat: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 4:30p-5:30p
Thunder: Mondays & Wednesdays, 4:30p-5:30p
Lightning: Tuesdays, 2:45p-4:30p

Don't miss out, sign up today!

Direct Support Professional Recognition Week 2025

Celebrating Care, Commitment, and Impact!

Direct Support Professional Recognition Week 2025 at Opportunity House was unforgettable! From our Kick-off breakfast to Walking Taco Tuesday and Wellness Wednesday, featuring live music from @CoyoteRadioLive and refreshing energy drinks from @DeKalbEnergySpot, plus over 15 raffle prizes, we went all out to celebrate our amazing Direct Support Professionals.

To our DSPs: your compassion, dedication, and commitment make it possible for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live, work, and thrive in the communities they choose.

While DSP Recognition Week has passed, our gratitude for you continues every single day. We are honored to celebrate you not just during one week, but throughout the entire year.

Fundraising Event Recap!

Thank you for joining us at the Hogwild Fundraiser on

Saturday, September 27, 2025!

We are so grateful to Maple Park Supports Special Olympics Athletes for supporting our Opportunity House Athletics. Another thank you to Jim and Colleen MacRunnels for all of your incredible generosity through the Hogwild fundraiser. The MacRunnels family not only hosted, but also ran the annual fundraiser with the help of amazing volunteers, all dedicated to supporting our amazing Special Olympics Athletes. The athletes who served had an amazing time, and your continued commitment played a vital role in helping them thrive and succeed in the various sports they love.

As we look back on this wonderful event, we are reminded of the impact of community support. Every single donation, big or small, helps create more opportunities, more joy, and even more victories for our athletes.

Thank YOU for being part of this unforgettable day!

Your support truly makes a difference!

4-H Project Fair 2025

Where Hard Work Meets Celebration: 4-H Project Fair 2025

A heartfelt thank you to the DeKalb County Farm Bureau for partnering with us to host this year's Annual 4-H Project Fair! Our 4-H members had the chance to showcase the incredible projects they dedicated their time and effort to throughout the year, and their hard work truly shined!

We are grateful to everyone who stopped by to support and celebrate their achievements. Many of our participants earned well-deserved blue ribbons and were recognized for their outstanding projects.

Congratulations to our 4-H Club on another successful year. We are so proud of your accomplishments!

DeKalb County NonProfit Day

Grow, Innovate, Serve Our Community!

We had an amazing time at DeKalb County's Annual Nonprofit Day on September 24th! We learned valuable information and are grateful for the opportunity to connect with other organizations and leaders from across the county.

Throughout the day, we had the opportunity to listen to keynote speakers covering various topics, including "Leading with Purpose: Reclaim Your Why," which touched on the topic of Core Values and how to stay true to personal/professional beliefs, and "Perspectives & Possibilities: Panel Insights from the Nonprofit AI Jam.", which touched base on how to use innovative technology to reach a target audience with impactful and informational material.

We are excited to bring these insights back to Opportunity House as we continue to grow, innovate, and serve our community.

Employee Spotlight

Celebrating Melina, OH's Mission in Action Winner!

We are honored to celebrate Melina Ramirez, a shining example of dedication and compassion here at Opportunity House. During DSP Recognition Week 2025, staff members participated in the Missions in Action Nomination Survey. Melina received the most nominations from her coworkers, a true testament to the impact she has on both clients and her fellow staff members.

"Melina is a genuine coworker. From my start at OH until now, she continues to demonstrate leadership and initiative unlike anyone else I have worked with. She is the reason I work as good as I do. The effort she takes to ensure clients' needs are met and do not face neglect is astounding. All of the clients look forward to the days that she works and respect her opinion. I think that goes to show how much they trust and appreciate her."

From,

A Co-Worker

Melina's favorite part of coming to work is hearing about her clients' days and celebrating their stories. On tougher days, she keeps the spirits high by making the little things exciting, sharing music, and joking with the clients.

Her advice to new DSPs is simple but powerful: "Treat the clients as if they are your own family members; with the best care and love you can give".

Thank you to Melina and all of our DSPs for the amazing work you do for our clients and for each other. We are truly blessed to have you in our organization!

We Are Now Hiring for our New Genoa Group Homes!

Want to be part of a team where compassion is valued, fun is part of the culture, and your work truly matters?

Join us at Opportunity House and help us continue empowering lives!

Learn more & apply today: Click Here!!!

Looking Ahead

As we welcome fall, new opportunities are blooming! Whether it's community events, innovative programs, or meaningful ways to support and inspire the individuals we serve.

Exciting things are coming - stay tuned!