MCCD 1845 E. Rand Rd., Suite L111 ■ Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 ■ 847 398-7011

Just catching our collective breath followingour unbelievablly successful Kurt Hellwig GolfOuting. Of course, we don’t have much time torest, with our calendar filled, with upcomingMCCD activities. You’ll agree, MCCD is reallyon the move.

In this newsletter you’ll find out about theupcoming Equestrian Connection barn partywere involved in, as well as the golf outing inOhio to benefit the MCCD chapter there.These both are wonderful events that some ofyou are sure to want to participate in and welook forward to seeing you there. Elsewhere inthe newsletter, you’ll learn about our efforts tobroaden our fundraising efforts; we’re hopefulthat many of you will be able to provide us withsome guidance with these efforts.

But the story we most want to direct yourattention to is the one about a wonderful youngman named Aaron Loughran, who has receivedsupport from MCCD for quite a few years now,nearly since the start of our organization. Justa few days after the Kurt Hellwig Golf Outingwas held, and after waiting for more than twoyears, Aaron received new lungs – and a newlease on life – during a double-lung transplantat Loyola University Medical Center.

In reading about Aaron, you will bereminded that the heart of MCCD is theconnection between people, a truly importantconnection. MCCD is making a real differencein Aaron’s life. . . just as our organization ismaking an important difference in the lives ofmore than 120 young people.

And speaking of these young people, youcan see for yourself the impact MCCD-sponsored therapy is having on them. As we’vementioned before, consider yourself invited tovisit one of the MCCD-sponsored therapylocations, where you’re sure to see more than afew of these children engaged in ongoingtherapy programs. You’ll have an opportunityto see a variety of intensive therapy activities –horse-based hippotherapy and othertreatments –- that occur on a daily basis.After all, it is only with you and your generoussupport, that MCCD-sponsored treatment isavailable for these children.■

Greetings friends

Our 10th annual Kurt Hellwig Memorial GolfOuting, Banquet and Auction was an event for therecord-books. The day was special from the start.You could feel the energy and enthusiasm, thesense that something extraordinary washappening.

And extraordinary it was: a record 463 golfers filled White Pines GolfCourse in Bensenville until it more than burst at the greens, prompting us, forthe first time, to shuttle some participants to nearby Maple Meadows GolfCourse. A day filled with golf was followed by a jam-packed evening banquet,auction and raffle at Alta Villa Banquets in Addison, attended by more than 900of the finest people anywhere.

Thanks to Board Member Cheryl Durante and the more than 235 silentauction contributors, the silent auction raised over $50,000. We encourageyou to patronize these wonderful and generous contributors; look for a list athttp://www.mccdcares.com/donors.htmlOur world-class sponsors were out in force, too: individual and corporatebackers whose support made the event extra-special and who underwroteexpenses so that 100 percent of the proceeds go toward the children.

Put this all together, and what do you get? A community of hundreds uponhundreds of people, along with kind and generous sponsors, joining together toraise a remarkable amount of money. This income is the lifeblood that sustainsand strengthens the MCCD therapy and service assistance programs –programs lifting up a growing population of children with a widevariety of disabilities.

The result of our event: (drum roll,please) Our wonderful and generousparticipants raised more than $360,000!

"Thanks to all who made this wonderfulday so successful," MCCD President DennisFiedler said. "We are so thankful for ourwonderful community of caring and supportiveindividuals and sponsors. This support willenable MCCD to help even more children withdisabilities than ever before."

Onward to 11th Annual Kurt Hellwig Golf OutingWe’re already making plans for next year’s Golf Outing, and we sure hope

that you can participate in this event! The event will be held on Monday, June23, 2008. Working together, let’s embark on our second decade with a greatevent! And if you want to get in early by participating in one of our sponsorshipcategories, be sure to give us a call. ■T he Board of Directors

10th Annual Golf Event

An Unbelievable Day

...and what a night!

Cleveland MCCD Gears Up for GolfThe Ohio chapter of MCCD will hold its 4th annual MCCD Golf Outing on Monday, September 24, at Columbia Hills Country

Club in Columbia Station, Ohio.The MCCD Ohio event was established to raise funds to support families with challenged children in the Northern Ohio area.

The program there provides therapy to a growing roster of over 30 children with disabilities.The Ohio golf event offers great course and dinner sponsorship opportunities for individuals, businesses and other

organizations, priced at $250, $500, $1,000 and $1,500. In addition, golf and sponsor packages are available for $600 to $5,000,while event underwriting packages are available at prices from $4,000. All of these packages provide tremendous public relationsvisibility for businesses and other organizations seeking to confirm their support of worthwhile charitable activities in theCleveland area.

Individuals and groups interested in golfing or in supporting this event are encouraged to contact Ohio MCCD at 440 891-6222. ■

MilestonesAnthony, 11, who receives therapeutic riding at the Midwest

Center for Children’s Development, has never chattered more.This engaging boy deals with cerebral palsy, which left hismuscles weakened, including the abdominal muscles thatpower his voice. But ongoing riding therapy is strengtheningthese muscles and giving him the ability to speak more and tospeak louder. This development allows Anthony to participateto a greater degree in the world around him. Seldom has the noisy voice of achild sounded so sweet.

Intensive in-home weekly therapy that MCCD provides to 8-year-old Katie is assisting her to break through barriers erected byhigh functioning autism. Through the support of MCCD Ohio, sheis learning skills – social and communication – that others mighttake for granted. As a result, she is finding success interactingwith her peers and is excelling in her academic work. Way to go,Katie!

Brianna and Katelyn, twins born prematurely, whoturned 6 this year, have embarked on the adventures offirst grade at their local elementary school. But these girlsalready have graduated from some of the most difficultchallenges life could throw at them."Brianna has graduated from physical, occupational andspeech therapy, and Katelyn has graduated from cognitivetherapy," their mother Vickey said. She might have addedthat both girls early on had to undergo tracheotomies – tubes surgically insertedinto their tracheas at the base of their throats – to enable adequate breathing untilthey grew stronger. Later they underwent throat reconstruction surgery. Withmedical insurance paying just 5 percent of the therapy costs, MCCD stepped in topay for much of the remainder.Said Vickie: "The girls still have some challenges ahead, but thanks to MCCD,they’re doing just great."

Weekly therapeutic riding sessions sponsored by MCCDhave assisted Nolan 13, in strengthening his legs, therebyopening doors to new athletic opportunities. Nolan deals withspina bifida, which damaged his spinal column and limits his legmobility. Aboard a therapy horse at Rhythm Therapeutic Riding,Nolan practices leg yielding – whereby instead of taking up reins,he uses the insides of his legs to press against the horse anddirect it around the riding arena. This activity and other

equestrian exercises are improving Nolan’s muscle tone and increasing his legmobility. As a result, he has begun training to join the swim team when hereaches high school! ■

MCCD Ohio 23818 Cooper Turn ■ Olmsted Falls, OH 44138 ■ (440) 891-6222MCCD Wisconsin 440 Rangeline Road ■ Kohler, WI 53044 ■ (920) 467-1400

Multiply YourContributionThrough CorporateMatching Donations

Many companies maintain programs tofully or partially match donations made byemployees to non-profit organizations likeMCCD. Some companies further matchdonations made by retirees, spouses ofemployees and members of the board.

Among the fine organizations thatalready have matching funds programs tobenefit MCCD are ITW, Grainger Corp.,and Meredith Publishing.

Why not consider contacting youremployer’s human resources or benefitsdepartment to learn if such a programexists. The steps to complete such amatch usually are few, involving little morethan preparing a matching gift form thatfacilitates the company making a donationto the organization you designate.

And if you happen to work for acompany without such a program, considermaking the suggestion that it initiate one.They’re an increasingly popular way forcompanies to be involved in the communitiesin which they conduct business. ■

Do you know someone who you thinkwould like to learn about MCCD? Anindividual or family that could benefitfrom MCCD support? An individual ororganization that might be motivated tojoin the MCCD family by providingfinancial support. If so, why not givethem a copy of this newsletter. Yourkindness will have an immeasurableimpact on MCCD . . . and on theassistance MCCD can provide to thechildren! ■

Who do you know?

To learn more, visit us at www.mccdcares.com

The Loughrans Get Their Son BackOne weekend day this summer, Aaron and Bud Loughran –

Aaron the son, Bud the father – grabbed their tennis racquets andproceeded to volley a bright green tennis ball back and forth in theLoughran driveway.

"No big deal for most people, but for us it was part of a life-altering experience," Bud explained. "Aaron has cystic fibrosis andwas just six weeks post-op on his double-lung transplant when hepicked up that tennis racquet. He’s doing phenomenally well; he’sdoing things that cystic fibrosis had prevented him from doing for 10years."

Many supporters of MCCD undoubtedly have met Aaron, 21,because while MCCD has provided support to Aaron and theLoughran family, of Darien, Ill., for a number of years, Aaron and hisfamily – including his mother Terry and his sister Lindsey, 24, -- havepitched in on behalf of MCCD community.

In years past, Aaron and his father could be found participating inthe annual Kurt Hellwig Memorial Golf Outing, his mother and sisterassisting with golfer check-in and other activities. This year, however,Aaron was missing from the golf event. He had a good excuse: hewas in the hospital, just four days away from receiving his new lungs!

Aaron was born with cystic fibrosis, a genetic condition thataffects one out of every 3,900 births. It weakens the function oflungs, pancreas, intestines and other organs. With Aaron, it impairedhis breathing and obstructed his body’s ability to transfer oxygen fromhis lungs to his blood.

While Aaron received therapies to ease problems associated withthis disease, his health weakened dramatically over the years. By2004, his health had deteriorated so much that he neededsupplemental oxygen around the clock. By this time, he could noteven complete a meal without taking time out to rest. He couldhardly have a conversation. He could walk less than one blockwithout stopping for a break. In December of that year, doctorsplaced Aaron’s name on a waiting list of individuals needing a double-lung transplant. Meanwhile, MCCD provided the young man with awheelchair from our lending library, an effort to provide him with bettermobility despite his weakened condition.

From that point, Aaron endured a wait of well over two years fordoctors to locate transplant lungs that would make a good match.During this time Aaron struggled to raise his weight to a levelnecessary to sustain him once he underwent the transplant. Thiswas when MCCD stepped in to assist him in gaining the weight.Thanks to the contributions from our many kind and involved backers,MCCD purchased costly nutritional supplements that helped Aaronpack on a few pounds. Ultimately the effort succeeded in pushing

the young man’s weight to just under 100 pounds – light for a 21 yearold, but just enough to make him strong enough for the operation.

The transplant took place at Loyola University Medical Center onJune 15. The surgery proceeded smoothly, with immune suppressiondrugs warding off any rejection of the new lungs by Aaron’s bodyAmazingly, just 19 days after the operation, Aaron was released fromthe hospital. His complete recuperation, however, will take a fullyear.

While Aaron has begun to again live life outside of a wheelchairand without an oxygen tank, he is still in need of MCCD’s support.Most recently, our organization outfitted the Loughran house with aspecialized filtration system that removes potentially harmful bacteriafrom air in the house, bacteria that presents a greater threat to Aaronthan it does to most other people. This is because Aaron mustcontinue to take medicine that suppresses his body’s natural immunesystem which would otherwise control the bacteria.

Meanwhile, Aaron continues to assist MCCD. Our organizationhas Aaron to thank for the redesign of our web site:www.mccdcares.com. With an associate degree in computernetworking, Aaron used his skills to update content, improvenavigation and enhance graphics on the web site. Check out the siteand you’ll agree with us that it is better than ever, thanks to Aaron.

Aaron continues to progress and gain strength, receiving variousmedical therapies but also engaging in activities common to a 21-year-old man – such as hitting a tennis ball around in the driveway.

Said Bud: "This is such awesome news for Aaron, and our entirefamily. We thank MCCD for all of the support we have received sincethe beginning."Aaron is an adult now, but we feel like we have our boy back." ■

MCCD Fundraising Branches Out, and we’re looking to youSince our founding a decade ago, we have relied heavily on the generosity of you, our individual contributors. Through it,

MCCD has grown, with our organization now providing therapy and related services to more than 120 children each year.MCCD’s remarkable record of success has motivated ever more families with children needing special care to seek ourassistance. As a result, we are looking to grow the MCCD fundraising effort by diversifying our fundraising and reaching tonew sources of support.

The MCCD Grants Initiative is the centerpiece of this effort, and its goal is to attract support from charitable foundations,corporate charitable support programs, family foundations, and other related organizations. The models for our programs arethe several wonderful organizations that already have provided grant support to MCCD, with two shining examples beingBeacon Fasteners and Components and the Illinois Township of Wheeling.

Our request of you is this: to suggest organizations or businesses that offer opportunities for support of MCCD. This couldinclude charitable organizations you’re involved in, your place of business, a local community foundation, or even a family fund.Perhaps you have an acquaintance – a neighbor, business associates – who could provide a link to charitable support. All youneed to do is provide us with a suggestion or idea. We’ll handle the rest. ■

100% of every dollar raised is used for the children

MCCD Invites You to Barn Party and ConcertThe Buckinghams, the popular Chicago-based band, along with the great horn band Hip

Pocket, will perform at Equestrian Connection’s upcoming Barn Party and Concert. It will beheld from 6 p.m. to midnight on Saturday, September 15, and all are invited.This second annual event helps Equestrian Connection and MCCD raise needed funds for itsyear-round therapeutic riding-based treatment program, which improves the lives of manydisabled children throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. Equestrian Connection, locatedat 600 Bradley Rd., Lake Forest, is one of MCCD’s Chicago area therapy affiliates, and MCCDencourages all who would enjoy an evening of horsy hospitality to attend, as all funds raisedare for a cause close to our hearts. The event will also feature a Mexican Buffet Dinner, beverages, and popular silent and liveauctions. Tickets are $50 person. For more information, contact Rick Gunderson at 847 682-9742, or check out theorganization’s web site: www.equestrianconnection.org.(Special note to readers of just-the-right-age that you might remember the Buckingham’s music from when it was first played:Do you recall "Kind of a Drag," "Susan," and, "Hey, Baby, They’re Playing Our Song"? Of course you do.) ■

MCCD1845 E. Rand Road Suite L111Arlington Heights, IL 60004

MCCD: Who we are and what we do...The Midwest Council for Children with Disabilities was founded in 1997 by a group of businessmen and is supported

by hundreds and hundreds of caring individuals. Our organization provides financial assistance to children challengedphysically, developmentally or cognitively. We specifically respond with the means to pursue treatments and therapiesthat are not covered by insurance. We provide financial assistance for speech, physical, occupational and hippotherapyon a weekly basis. We intervene with medical providers for lower rates. MCCD’s goal for the future is to create assistedcare housing to care for our children as they grow older.

Our popular Golf Outing raffle produced a recordamount of money, not to mention some very happywinners who took home cash awards, a new plasmatelevision and a fabulous trip to Mexico:

• Fontela Electric, of Addison -- $100 cash prize • Sue O’Donnell, of Niles -- $250 cash prize• Jane Moreno, of Schaumburg -- $500 cash prize• Cindy Burns, of Chicago -- $1,000 cash prize• Noel De La Cruz, of Crystal Lake – Plasma TV• Butch Villager, of Oak Park – 7-day trip for two

to San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico! ■

And the Prize Winners

are...

""AA HHUUNNDDRREEDD YYEEAARRSS FFRROOMM NNOOWW.... iitt wwii ll ll nnoott mmaatttteerr wwhhaatt mmyy bbaannkk aaccccoouunntt wwaass,,

tthhee ssoorrtt ooff hhoouussee II ll iivveedd iinn ,, oorr tthhee kkiinndd ooff ccaarr II ddrroovvee……

……bbuutt tthhee wwoorrlldd mmaayy bbee ddiiffffeerreennttbbeeccaauussee II wwaass iimmppoorrttaanntt iinn tthhee ll iiffee ooff aa cchhii lldd..""

KKaatthhyy DDaavviiss