YOU Can Change A Life with Just a Click!
Will you help transform a life today?
Everyone deserves a place to belong, a chance to make new friends, try new things, and explore with their peers. Parents & caregivers need the chance to recharge. By donating today, you can make this possible. Your gift will transform lives – for participants and their families – as soon as the very next program season.
Match Opportunity through 12/15/25!
For every donation of $250 or more made Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, 2025 The Scott and Trish Karll Charitable Fund will donate $250 — up to $12,500!
Imagine the difference your gift makes:
● A $250 donation turns into $500—covering the cost of sensory items
● A $500 donation grows to $750—supporting inclusive experiences for young campers
● A $750 donation becomes $1,000—helping teens & adults engaged so friendships can blossom
Give today—and invite your friends and family to join you!
Funds raised through the Annual Appeal are a vital part of our FY25-26 budget.
2025 Annual Appeal Goes thru 12/31/25!
A message from Dan Leahy, WDSRA Executive Director
There we were, holding our newborn son, in a quiet conference room at the University of Chicago. Around us were 15 doctors, social workers, and therapists, their eyes fixed on us. The doctor spoke gently, but the words carried a seemingly impossible weight: “Your son, has Down syndrome.”
In that moment, time stood still. Fear. Questions. Uncertainty.
All the hopes and dreams we imagined vanished in an instant, replaced by a wave of grief for the future we thought we knew. With two boys just 13 months apart, life was already full but now it was filled with countless unknowns. We found ourselves explaining Tyler’s diagnosis to loved ones while learning to navigate a world we had never anticipated. That first year felt like living on autopilot—no time to nest or simply enjoy those early days—only a constant stream of decisions about therapies, medications, schooling, and safety.
Those early years showed us just how challenging life could be for a child with a disability.
Living with a disability means navigating a world that isn’t always designed for you, and for Tyler, that meant missed opportunities, unanswered invitations, and doors that seemed to close before he even had a chance to step through. When Tyler was a baby, very few places welcomed a child with Down syndrome. As two parents working full time, this meant that while we could easily sign our older son, Camden, up for programs, we often had to fight—reluctantly, but persistently—for Tyler to be included. Every step forward was hard-won.
When we found WDSRA it wasn’t just a resource. It was a lifeline.
It wasn’t just about summer camps or programs, it was about belonging. It was about seeing Tyler not just accepted, but truly celebrated. Free to be his full, brilliant self.
Your gift makes a difference. The dreams we thought we lost that day have been replaced with something far greater than we ever imagined.
If you had told me then—in that very room—that one day Tyler would step onto a stage as a state-level athlete, I would have never believed it. Yet here we are, 26 years later. Tyler is a proud Special Olympics multi-sport athlete, holds a part-time job, and attends WDSRA’s Rec & Roll adult day program two days a week. He’s out on the dance floor at social events, spending time with friends, and surrounded by a community that makes him feel seen, valued, and included. The fears that once filled that conference room have been replaced with pride, joy, and gratitude for the life he is living today.
Your support matters. I’m writing to you as a dad—Tyler’s dad—asking for your help. Stand with kids like mine, families searching for hope, and the belief that every child deserves joy, growth, and belonging.
Will YOU make a gift today?
Corporate Giving Programs
Does your company have one? Employee matching gift programs are part of corporate giving programs in which the company matches donations made by employees to eligible nonprofit organizations.
These are just some of the companies we know offer a matching program: Comcast, Exelon, Constellation, Bank of America, J.P. Morgan, Thrivent Financial, Catalent Pharma Solutions, CVS Caremark, Pfizer, CIT Bank NA, PIMCO, Crowe, Abbvee, Costco.
For questions regarding your company’s programs, please contact your employer’s HR or community giving department. If we can assist in anyway, please contact Ann at annk@wdsra.com or 630-681-0962.
(WDSRA EIN #36-3932924). WDSRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all contributions are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
FY23-24 Gratitude Report
See the impact your donations had in FY23-24!
The momentum of FY23-24 was driven by the collective energy and dedication of our stakeholders, all committed to enriching the lives of participants and
their families. This shared purpose sparked the creation of opportunities that ensured everyone felt valued and supported. It also fostered collaboration with
both new and longstanding partners, harnessing our community’s passion for greater impact. Our commitment was to provide unparalleled services. We could not have done it without YOU! Read how your support is making an impact.
The FY24-25 Gratitude Report is coming soon!
Contact Us
For more information on the WDSRA Foundation, contact WDSRA Superintendent of Communications & Development, Lea Jackman at 630-681-0962 ext. 580 or leaj@wdsra.com.