HR0816 94TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0816 LRB094 18620 HSS 53967 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Misericordia Heart of Mercy, one of the State of Illinois' most benevolent and widely respected not-for-profit organizations, was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1921 on the South Side of Chicago; and

WHEREAS, Originally a home that cared for unwed mothers, the Sisters of Mercy saw a greater need in society and in 1954 changed Misericordia's mission to support individuals with developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, Sister Rosemary Connelly joined Misericordia as its Executive Director in 1969 and with the help of many generous benefactors has turned Misericordia into a national model, providing exceptional programs for persons living with developmental disabilities; and

WHEREAS, In order to provide services for a growing number of individuals, Misericordia moved in 1976 to the former Angel Guardian Orphanage in Rogers Park on Chicago's Far North Side; and

WHEREAS, Misericordia currently supports 550 children and adults with mild to profound developmental disabilities from all racial, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds; and

WHEREAS, Misericordia has been a true Godsend to many families that otherwise would have been left alone to cope with a vast array of demanding challenges; and

WHEREAS, Misericordia offers a wide range of programs and treats the individual needs of each disabled person, offering residential placement and day-to-day support, physical, occupational, and music therapy as well as vocational and job opportunities and health and fitness guidance; and

WHEREAS, In the fall of 2005, Misericordia opened a state-of-the-art skilled nursing residence, which provides innovative care for individuals with developmental disabilities and complex medical issues; and

WHEREAS, Misericordia has a waiting list of 600 disabled persons, and it remains committed to the vision of further growth while retaining the highest quality of care; and

WHEREAS, The hard work, sacrifice and dedication of Misericordia Heart of Mercy serve as an example to all; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize Misericordia Heart of Mercy for its many important contributions to the quality of life of the developmentally disabled in Illinois, and we hereby express our most sincere best wishes as it continues to fulfill the highest and most noble aspirations of its mission; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Sister Rosemary Connelly, R.S.M., Executive Director of Misericordia Heart of Mercy.