New Lenox Mom's Nonprofit To Treat 2 Special Needs Moms For Valentine's Day

NEW LENOX, IL — A New Lenox-based nonprofit focused on supporting families of special needs children has created a Valentine's Day giveaway for the moms that make all the moving pieces somehow magically fit.

Jeanine Kozlowski, founder of Advocates For Acceptance, dreamt up the giveaway, which features contributions from nine local, women-owned businesses, as a way to treat special needs moms like herself.

"We’re so busy, dealing with therapies, and paperwork, equipment, insurance companies, IEPs," Kozlowksi said.

"It’s never-ending. We don’t get time to sit back and actually relax, or do much stuff for ourselves. "

Kozlowski is familiar with the day-to-day. Her 7-year-old son Austin has schizencapahaly, a rare congenital brain malformation that causes abnormal clefts to form in the cerebral hemispheres of the brain. Austin is non-verbal, and wheelchair-bound.

She knows that all moms are busy, but believes that parenting a special needs child comes with additional demands. She was thinking about Valentine's Day, when she realized she and her husband don't often have a chance to celebrate.

"If I had a chance, what would I want to do?," she wondered.

Known for speedily completing any task she undertakes, she quickly whipped up the contest that incorporates several businesses she has patronized and come to know personally. All are within New Lenox, Mokena, and Orland Park, and all are women-owned.

"These are all places I’ve been to, I’ve shopped, I’ve loved—all my favorites," Kozlowski said. All are local, women-owned businesses.

Two women chosen will receive baskets packed with donations from the local businesses. Featured in the giveaway are Sugar Shack Cookie Co., Graze All Day, Barre 3 New Lenox, Heartwood Crafts, LGM Balloon Decor, Hustle & Heart Boutique, Moody Blues Jean Boutique, Compassion Packed Gift Co., EKG IV Nutrition and Aesthetics, and The Mane Vibe Salon & Extensions. The prize package is designed for the winners to indulge in products and services for relaxation and wellness.

"Everybody I asked, did not even hesitate," Kozlowski said, of the business owners' willingness to participate.

The contest is open to special needs moms in Frankfort, New Lenox, Manhattan, Mokena, Tinley Park, Orland Park, Orland Hills, Homer Glen, and Joliet. Kozlowski said she is eager to spoil two moms randomly selected from the entries.

The concept aligns with their overall hope and mission of Advocates for Acceptance.

"We want to be different than everybody else," she said. "I don’t want to make it harder for families to apply for help from us. Or have five pages of paperwork to get assistance.

"I wanted our nonprofit to be simple, be outside of the norm of what nonprofits can do for special needs families."

To enter, participants need to find the contest post on the Advocates for Acceptance Facebook page.

1. "Like" Advocates for Acceptance on Facebook, and "Follow" them on Instagram

2. "Like" all contributing businesses on Facebook and "Follow" them on Instagram (where applicable)

• Barre 3 New Lenox: Facebook | Instagram
• LGM Balloon Decor, LLC: Facebook | Instagram
• The Mane Vibe Salon & Extension Inc: Facebook | Instagram
• EKG IV Nutrition & Aesthetics: Facebook
• Heartwood Crafts: Facebook | Instagram
• Graze All Day, LLC: Facebook | Instagram
• Moody Blues Jean Boutique: Facebook | Instagram
• Hustle & Heart: Facebook| Instagram
• Compassion Packed Gift Co.: Facebook |Instagram
• Sugar Shack Cookie Co.: Facebook | Instagram

3. "Share" the contest post and tag another special needs mom who deserves to be spoiled.

The winner will be chosen at random on Valentine's Day, Kozlowski said, in a Facebook Live video on the Advocates for Acceptance page.

Each business has tailored their contributions to be something special for the winning moms.

Barre 3 New Lenox has contributed two gift certificates for 10 classes each. Graze All Day will include a gift card for a medium "graze board," or charcuterie board. Moody Blues Jean Boutique offers up a $50 gift certificate for each winner. From EKG IV Nutrition & Aesthetics, a $200 gift certificate. Mane Vibe offers a gift certificate for a luxury treatment and blowout, and surprise hair goodies. Compassion Packed Co. will curate an inclusion gift box & self-care products for each winner. LGM Balloon Decor will donate a Valentine’s Day balloon gift for each winner. Hustle & Heart will contribute a free entry to their custom hat bar, one free necklace and $100 gift card for each winner. Heartwood Crafts will contribute a 20-inch wood door hanger sign. Sugar Shack Cookie Co. will give a variety pastry box. Advocates for Acceptance will also throw in a t-shirt.

Each business has, in some way, been a part of Kozlowski's life as a special needs mom.

Owned by Kim Burla, Barre 3 New Lenox has become "my happy place," Kozlowski said.

"... just so I can get strong enough for my son, to be able to carry him," she said. "It’s the one place for me, where I can tune out the world for me. I’m strong because of it."

EKG IV Nutrition and Aesthetics has been essential, and is ideal for special needs families because it owner Emma Moyle offers mobile services, she said.

"This place stood out to me for special needs families, because she offers to bring everything to your home," she said. "That to me was huge for special needs moms, because we can’t always have time to get to a place."

The charcuterie boards created by Lisa Hemenover at Graze All Day impressed her and her family, she said.

"It looks like art," she said. "It’s beautiful. We devoured ‘em."

Kelly Hickey, of Compassion Packed, and Stephanie Marquardt, of LGM Balloon Decor, also hold special places in Kozlowski's heart. Hickey is a special needs mom to two with Down Syndrome, and sits on the board for Advocates For Acceptance.

"We're not only helping one of my board members with her business, but knowing that as they grow, she plans to employ special needs people," she said.

Marquardt, too, is connected to the special needs community. Marquardt at her facility works with students from the Lincoln-Way District 210 LIFE Transition program, which serves students with special needs. Students in the program benefit from the functional, hands-on instruction and meaningful life skills experiences in a natural setting, the district said on its website.

"She is so supportive of special needs, it’s amazing," Kozlowski said. "They will need to be able to find jobs and be on their own someday. ... Businesses that give them that opportunity to learn mean the world to me, and every special needs mom out there."

Kozlowski is excited to offer two special needs moms a chance to be pampered, and to celebrate women-owned businesses.

"You gotta love it," she said. "All of us out there, changing the world, changing business."