(As published in the Northwest Herald, Letter to the Editor Section, on Sunday, August 7)
To the Editor:
For Pioneer Center, the last year has been especially challenging. We have had to reinvent the very core of our agency in order to survive. Today, we embrace our role as an agency that provides developmental disability services, community-based services and homeless services through McHenry County PADS.
Through it all, I have been amazed by the outpouring of support from our community – the individuals, businesses and organizations who have stood by our side and made it their mission to help us succeed. They have come together and held fundraisers on our behalf, helped raise awareness of our struggles and have been integral in sharing the word that we are still here.
To each and every one of these individuals, I want to give a heartfelt thank you. It is because of your willingness to fight alongside us that we can continue to provide important services to our community.
No one knows for sure what the future holds for social-service agencies in Illinois. But I for one am grateful for the people of McHenry County and their passion in caring for their neighbors, friends, family and community resources. Thank you for supporting us.
Sam Tenuto
Interim President and CEO, Pioneer Center for Human Services