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Join us in celebrating the wonderful women in our lives at our Mother’s Day Luncheon & Bake Sale!
Enjoy a beautiful afternoon filled with delicious food, sweet treats, and a special raffle just for the amazing mothers and loved ones we cherish most.
Reservations required by Thursday May 7th.
| | | 220 North First Street Wheeling, IL 60090 | | 05/09/26 11:00am - 05/09/26 2:00pm US/Eastern | | Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Centre’s Mother’s Day Luncheon & Bake Sale!
| | | GARCC ANNUAL GOLF OUTING 2026 | |
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Greek American Health Services Foundation Annual Golf Outing
Monday, June 1, 2026 | Ivanhoe Club, Mundelein, IL
We are excited to invite you to the Greek American Health Services Foundation Annual Golf Outing at the beautiful Ivanhoe Club, Monday, June 1.
This meaningful event brings together our community for a day of golf, networking, and philanthropy. Enjoy a full day on the course, including lunch and registration at 12:00 PM, a shotgun start at 1:00 PM, followed by cocktails at 4:30 PM and dinner with a silent auction at 5:00 PM.
All proceeds directly benefit the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre (GARCC), where approximately 75% of our residents are on public aid. Your participation and support help ensure that our dedicated staff can continue providing the highest quality care and services to our residents.
Event Chairs: GARCC Administrator Dino Varnavas, Golf Chair Chris Atsaves, and GARCC Medical Director Dr. Nickolas Papanos, GARCC Board Member James Romas, GARCC Board Member George Prassas.
The registration site is now live!
For more information, to register, or to become a sponsor: please visit the link below or email info@garcc.org.
We look forward to seeing you on the course as we tee off for a great cause!
| | | | Event has been Postponed! | | |
Dear Friends,
We are reaching out to provide an important update regarding our Open House and Ribbon Cutting event, originally scheduled for June 10, 2026. After careful consideration, we have made the decision to postpone the event.
We understand that this change may be disappointing, and we sincerely appreciate your patience. This additional time allows us to incorporate new fixtures and high-end enhancements into our resident suites, as well as finalize new sponsorship opportunities that will enhance the experience for all our guests. These improvements will ensure we showcase the facility at its absolute best.
We will announce the new date shortly. Please note that your registration will automatically transfer to the rescheduled event, and we will keep you updated as plans are finalized.
In the meantime, you can follow us on Eventbrite and our social media for the latest notifications: click link below.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding. We look forward to celebrating this milestone with you soon.
With gratitude,
Frances Stamatoukos & the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre
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Happy Nurses Week!
Cheers to our nurses—the real heroes behind every smile, every recovery, and every moment of comfort.
| | | | A MESSAGE FROM OUR ACTIVITIES DEPARTMENT | | |
April 2026 Newsletter – A Month of Celebration, Tradition & Community
April was a truly unforgettable month for our residents, filled with celebration, tradition, and the kindness of so many wonderful volunteers and community groups. As spring blossomed, so did the joy within our home.
Greek Orthodox Easter Festivities
This month, we proudly celebrated Greek Orthodox Easter, one of the most meaningful holidays for our community. Our residents took part in decorating our Lord’s Grave, joined lovingly by the ladies of our Auxiliary. Their dedication and care made this tradition especially beautiful.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to:
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All the Philoptohos ladies who visited and brought delicious handmade traditional sweets
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St. Dimitrios of Elmhurst and St. Nicholas of Oak Lawn for the thoughtful Easter gifts for our residents
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The Ladies of Asia for their kindness and generosity
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St. Haralambos for inviting our residents to their bake sale, where everyone enjoyed a wonderful meal
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St. John’s Ladies for their delicious treats that brightened our holiday
Your love and support made Easter truly special.
Community Visits & Special Moments
We were honored to welcome so many groups who brought joy and connection to our residents:
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Crete Association, who visited with children and brought beautiful flowers
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Enosis Federation, who coordinated a visit from the Evzones, our Greek National Guard—giving residents the rare opportunity to meet them in person
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A delightful outing to the Pickwick Theatre, where residents watched the historical film Kapodistrias and even met the lead actor, Antonis Miriagos
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Orfeas Dancing School, whose dancers performed traditional Greek dances—many residents even joined the circle and danced along
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The wonderful children of Perifania, who helped residents make flower wreaths in honor of Greek Labor Day
These moments filled our home with music, culture, and heartfelt connection.
Daily Volunteers – Our Everyday Heroes
A very special thank‑you goes to all our daily volunteers who help run the coffee shop and spend time with our beloved residents. Your presence, patience, and kindness make a tremendous difference.
We also deeply appreciate all donations received this month—your generosity helps us continue offering meaningful activities and care.
Welcoming Spring Together
As the weather warms, we are thrilled to begin our spring activities:
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Planting our garden beds
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Enjoying BBQs on the patio
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Visiting the Botanic Garden
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Dining at local restaurants
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Shopping trips to the mall
Our residents are excited to be outdoors again, enjoying fresh air, sunshine, and new adventures.
Thank You
To every volunteer, organization, church, family member, and friend who supported us this April—thank you. Your love and generosity create unforgettable memories for our residents and enrich their lives in countless ways.
Here’s to a beautiful spring season ahead!
Best Regeards
AnnaMarie Papadopoulos
Life Enrichment Director
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Please follow us on Facebook for so many more pictures, videos, and updates!
| | A POEM WRITTEN BY ONE OF OUR OWN | | |
THOUGHTS OF AN OLD MAN
THE YEARS GO BY AS QUICKLY AS A SIGH.
WHEN PLANNING OR LOOKING AHEAD,
A YEAR MAY SEEM LIKE SUCH A LONG TIME.
BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK, I WONDER WHERE THAT YEAR WENT.
AND, ALTHOUGH THE YEARS GO BY, OUR MEMORIES LINGER ON.
HAVING SUCH A FINE FAMILY, AND VERY GOOD FRIENDS…
AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO ARE SO CONSIDERATE AND KIND…
I SPEND MUCH OF MY TIME
ON THE MANY GREAT MEMORIES THAT LINGER ON.
THIS NOT TO SAY THAT THERE ARE NOT MEMORIES THAT ARE BAD,
AND ALSO MEMORIES THAT ARE VERY SAD,
BUT THE ONES THAT ARE BAD,
ARE BY VERY, VERY FAR OUTNUMBERED BY THE GOOD.
AND, THE MEMORIES THAT ARE VERY SAD,
ARE COUPLED WITH THE BEST MEMORIES I’VE EVER HAD.
ALTHOUGH THERE CONTINUES TO BE SO MUCH TO LEARN
AND SO MUCH TO DO,
THE YEARS GO BY AND THE TIME WILL COME…TO SAY GOODBYE.
TO THE ONES THAT MEAN SO VERY MUCH, I HOPE AND PRAY,
THAT WE WILL BE TOGETHER AGAIN.
AN OLD MAN…
PETER J. BEST
NOVEMBER 14, 2020
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Antonis Miriagos "Kapodistria"
We were honored to welcome Antonis Miriagos, lead actor of Kapodistrias, to our home. From sharing stories with our residents to an unforgettable screening at the Pickwick Theater, it was a day filled with culture, connection and pride.
| | | Mrs. Ariadne Kopsias recently celebrated her birthday and generously requested that, in lieu of gifts, all donations be directed to GARCC. The response to her request was incredibly moving. | |  | We want to extend our heartfelt thank you to the Skiouris family who made the koulouria for our residents. | | | |
We are delighted to share that representatives from the National Philoptochos visited our home today and formally presented a generous grant that was submitted earlier this year and graciously approved.
It was a beautiful and heartfelt moment as we gathered to receive this wonderful support. We are so grateful for their visit and for the meaningful impact this grant will have.
Thank you to our visiting representatives:
• His Grace Bishop Athenagoras
• National Philoptochos President Debbie George
• Anita Kartalopoulos
President of Metropolis Chicago Philoptochos Kathy Katrakis and members of Chicago Philoptochos
A big thank you to all the wonderful ladies and gentlemen who joined us for this special occasion!
(Photo: members of Ladies Auxiliary, members of our GARCC board, Chairwoman Eleni Bousis, President Peter Karahalios, GARCC Administrator Dino Varnavas and the members of National Philoptochos proudly presenting and receiving the grant check)
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A sweet visit from St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church!
Thank you to the wonderfully beautiful ladies of St. John the Baptist Philoptochos for brightening our day with their delicious homemade Greek sweets and so much love! From creamy rice pudding and golden custards to classic cakes and refreshing treats — our residents were absolutely delighted!
We are so grateful for the continued kindness and visits from the Philoptochos Society. Our residents truly look forward to these special moments filled with warmth, friendship, and wonderful desserts!
Xristos Anesti!
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"Oli Mazi" for Alzheimer's
The Pancretan Associaton of America Philanthropic Committee hosted a live fundraiser on April 2nd at Elia Cafe in support of the Alzheimer's Day Care Center in Chania, Crete. Our Chairwoman Eleni Bousis was invited to speak, sharing her meaningful experiences and offering insight into the impact of Alzheimer's care.
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What a proud day at this year's Greek Independence Parade.
We are deeply grateful to Enosis Illinois and our esteemed board members- Eleni Bousis, George Reveliotis, Peter Karahalios- along with executives Dino Varnavas and Mordechai Finkel for walking with us and showing such strong support.
A special heartfelt thank you to Antonis Miriagos for marching alongside us.
ZHTW!
| | | Our residents rode with great joy and Greek spirit in their hearts. A huge thank you to the talented students of the Hellenic American Academy for keeping our residents entertained and smiling with their beautiful performances. | | | A truly proud and unforgettable moment at the Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Centre! We had the immense honor of welcoming the Evzones- alongside GARCC board member George Reveliotis who coordinated the visit. Standing tall in their iconic uniforms, the Evzones brought with them the spirit of honor, sacrifice, discipline and centuries of Greek heritage right into our home. May moments like this strengthen our commitment to preserving our faith, culture and history for generations to come. | | | We were honored to welcome the Orpheas Youth Groups for a beautiful afternoon of dance, music, and connection. Three youth groups performed a wonderful suite of traditional dances and songs, bringing joy and energy to our residents. Following the performances, the dancers spent meaningful time with the residents and shared flowers, creating many heartfelt smiles and special moments.
| | Archon James G. Lakerdas, Esq. Appointed Regional Commander For The Metropolis Of Chicago, Joining Archon Siatis; Archons Pablecas And Manos Assume Emeritus Status | | |
Thank you to His Excellency Antonis Alexandridis, Ambassador of Greece to the United States, for visiting GARCC – Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Centre.
His Excellency had the opportunity to tour our facility with Eleni Bousis, Chairwoman, Dino Varnavas, Administrator, and Peter Karahalios, President, and learn more about the specialized care we proudly provide.
We hope our model of care can serve as an example and inspire similar initiatives for our people in Greece. We are also hopeful that His Excellency will remember our work when considering support for Greek nationals whom we are honored to care for.
| | Another beautiful day with our amazing Women of Vision, our Auxiliary!
Without their hard work, dedication, and love, our home wouldn't be a home! . | The wonderful ladies from St. Nectarios visit our residents each month, bringing so much joy and warmth with them! | |
With deep sorrow and gratitude, we honor Officer Bartholomew of the Chicago Police Department, who gave his life in the line of duty.
Our hearts are with his family, loved ones, friends, and fellow officers during this difficult time.
May his courage, service, and sacrifice never be forgotten.
| | HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR RESIDENTS! | | | | |
May 2026 Birthdays
Gladys B. May 2nd
Tasia F. May 4th
Marion W. May 7th
Ollga V. May 8th
Nick K. May 10th
Toula T. May 12th
Barbara H. May 18th
James P. May 18th
Despina S. May 18th
Kleopatra A. May 20th
Maryjane C. May 25th
Karen B. May 29th
| | | A small monthly gift. A lifetime of care. Become a GARCC Guardian. | | Support Bold Resilient Women and Our Shared Causes! | | |
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We’re excited to share the full list of retailers where Chairwoman Eleni Palivos Bousis' inspiring debut book, Bold Resilient Women: Women in a Global Arena, is now available. As Chairwoman of the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre (GARCC) for over 25 years, Eleni has dedicated her life to uplifting our communities—please shop from these stores and support the causes that matter most: our people, our elders, vulnerable children, and groundbreaking cancer research.
This book celebrates the strength, courage, and unbreakable spirit of women who turn adversity into triumph. Her mission is simple yet profound: to raise vital funds for deeply personal charitable causes close to her heart.
Best of all—100% of the proceeds from book sales go directly to the charity of your choice (or to support organizations making a real difference, including those Eleni champions).
Here’s where you can find it:
Exciting news: Eleni's second book is already in the works—stay tuned for more inspiration and impact!
Thank you for your support—every purchase helps empower causes that uplift our communities.
Let's spread resilience and generosity together!
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We're thrilled to announce that the Greek American Rehabilitation & Care Centre is a proud 2025 grant recipient from the Hellenic Foundation!
This generous funding enable us to acquire the innovative OmniCycle® Connect Advanced Active-Assist therapeutic cycle, enhancing rehabilitation for our seniors and patients with mobility challenges by improving strength, coordination, and overall quality of care.
| | | | Proud to be recognized year after year as one of Newsweek's America's Best Nursing Homes in Illinois! This repeated honor reflects our unwavering commitment to exceptional, dignified care for our residents. Thank you to our dedicated staff, families and community for making it possible. | | |
As part of our efforts to enhance communication and provide up-to-date information, we encourage all community members to send us their email addresses.
By transitioning to digital communication, we aim to reduce printing costs and ensure that you receive timely updates and important announcements directly to your in-box. This change will help us stay connected and keep you informed about the latest news and events at GARCC.
Click the button below to submit your email.
Thank you for your support!
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STOCK OR REAL ESTATE DONATIONS
Please support us by donating appreciated stock or real estate to the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre, Inc. and be able to take a tax advantaged income tax deduction.
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FREE ESTATE PLANNING
Free basic Estate Planning for supporters of the Greek American Rehabilitation and Care Centre is now available. Click the button below to learn more.
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