Garden Center Services - GCS

We are proud to announce that this year marks 70 YEARS of Garden Center Services! For 70 years, Garden Center Services has been dedicated to empowering individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live meaningful, self-directed, and fulfilling lives.

To commemorate this milestone anniversary, we will be hosting a fundraiser event to honor our history while boldly investing in the future.

Ticket sales are live on our website: https://www.gardencenterservices.org/70th-anniversary-celebration
More event details can be found on our website as well.
Thank you all for your continued love and support!

This week was our second annual SUNNY DAYS - a week-long festival where we celebrate and show appreciation for the AMAZING people we support. The week was jam packed with fun: a BBQ, game shows, carnival games, pie-throwing, special performances by Elvis and Michael Jackson, and more!!! ☀🎉

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped make this week special!

Yesterday was the 3rd annual Practitioner's Conference. This conference is geared towards DSPs and frontline supervisors - GCS sent EIGHT people!

It was so cool seeing people eager to learn more and invest in their personal and professional development. We are so proud of those who attended and our very own Shannon Voves who presented at the conference!

Check out the May/June issue of our newsletter, The Leaflet!!

This issue covers GCS' 70th anniversary, the Garden Apartments, Gerry's 23rd anniversary as Executive Director, Mary's new volunteer role, and much more!

GCS Newsletter THE LEAFLET Issue MAY/JUN 2026 Garden Center Newsletter THE LEAFLET

Congratulations to our three International Women's Day Award Winners: Erin - Woman of Inspiration, Elle - Rising Star, and Beth - Courageous Advocate! Thank you all for making a difference every day and for all you do here at GCS. We are so proud, and we are very lucky to have you!

Thank you to Lewis University's Rock and Jazz Ensemble for inviting us to a performance and Scott McConnell, Director of Pop Music Ensemble, for helping make this possible! It was a beautiful show and we can't wait to be back!
Lewis University Music Department

THANK YOU to the Richard E. Byrd School in Burbank! Yesterday, they hosted a Color Run to celebrate neurodiversity and inclusivity. It is so wonderful to see this representation and these conversations being had with the young Byrd Explorers! This is such an important step in making a more accessible world for all.
We are so grateful that you chose as us the local organization to donate the run proceeds to!!! THANK YOU Ms. Martinez for your continued support and collaboration with Garden Center. THANK YOU Byrd School!
Burbank School District 111

Life side by side has been a priority and part of GCS' mission for 70 years now - and will continue to be! Not only is it important to uplift the people we serve, but also those who support them. Whether you are a DSP, a family member, or a person we serve - let us all work together to live in community, and to make the world a more inclusive and accessible place for ALL.

Let's check out reason #4 of why being a monthly donor in the Gardening Club is so awesome: it makes donating easier for you and more reliable for us! Monthly donors are so crucial to our success year-round.

We still have a bit to go on our goal for this month. THANK YOU to those who have signed up to join the Gardening Club! You will be making a huge impact.

Get started by using the banner on our website OR going to our donation page and clicking "donate monthly".

Today is the 20th anniversary of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day!
This day was created by families in 2006 to raise awareness about the need for more Cerebral Palsy research, and improved healthcare across the lifespan of people with Cerebral Palsy.
We hope you will join us in wearing green to show your support and help raise awareness!