Glencoe resident honored for special recreation work

• Reprints

Craig Culp, executive director of NSSRA, stands with Karla Krones, who won the "professional of the year" award. | Submitted photo

Updated: March 17, 2012 10:01AM

The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) is proud to announce that one of its staff members along with NSSRA’s supporting foundation, the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Foundation (NSSRF), have received awards from Illinois Park and Recreation’s Therapeutic Recreation Section (ITRS) at their annual meeting held Jan. 26 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago.

Manager of Inclusion Karla Krones of Glencoe received the “Professional of the Year” award, and NSSRF, which supports the efforts of NSSRA, received the “Excellence In Service” award.

“This is an exciting time for our agency,” said Craig Culp, Executive Director, NSSRA. “We are thrilled at the well-deserved recognition Karla received in winning the “Professional of the Year” award. For nine years, Karla’s creativity, energy and compassion have set an exceptional example at our agency and we feel lucky to have her. She, along with the rest of NSSRA’s staff, are a group of incredible people who are enthusiastically committed to our mission of enhancing the lives of people with disabilities every day through recreation.”

On the foundation’s award, Culp commented, “NSSRA is so fortunate to have the partnership of NSSRF, our supporting foundation. Their longstanding commitment to supporting NSSRA’s efforts has made a true impact on our agency’s ability to make a difference. While NSSRA gratefully receives the majority of its funding from our partner agencies, NSSRF is able to bridge the financial gaps that remain by funding critical things like program scholarships, special events, and even transportation vehicles. Since 1996, NSSRF has generously provided over $1 million dollars worth of support to our organization. We are grateful for their support as well as that of the individuals, foundations and corporate sponsors who have contributed to their fundraising efforts.”

Added Rick LaChapelle, President of the NSSRF Board of Trustees, “Being a parent of a person with disabilities, I know NSSRA is about so much more than just recreation. It’s about making great friends, learning new skills, building self-esteem, and making memories that last a lifetime. I’ve been able to see first-hand the difference that NSSRA has made in my son’s life, and it’s been an honor to be part of the foundation that helps make this possible. When making decisions about which charities to support, I hope the community at large will consider a donation to this local and very worthy cause.”

For more information about NSSRA or how to donate to its supporting foundation, NSSRF, visit www.nssra.org, or call (847) 509-9400