About Us

Marklund is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that serves infants, children, teens and adults with severe and profound developmental disabilities and special healthcare needs.

With three residential locations–the Marklund Hyde Center in Geneva, the Marklund Philip Center in Bloomingdale, and the Marklund Wasmond Center in Elgin–it is currently home to nearly 178 residents. The Hyde Center is specifically licensed as an Intermediate Care Facility (ICF), while the Philip and Wasmond Centers are licensed as Medically Complex/Skilled Nursing facilities for adults and children with developmental disabilities (MC/DD). Each of our locations has on-site Community Day Services for adults, which provide individualized programming that includes topical curriculum, and focuses on daily living and vocational skills to improve each individual’s level of independence. More than 500 staff members and thousands of volunteers support the needs of the residents and community clients at all of our facilities.

Marklund Day School, with locations in Bloomingdale, Geneva and Elgin, is a non-public, State Board of Education Licensed Therapeutic Day program that partners with area school districts to serve children with multiple medical needs, learning, emotional and developmental disabilities, and those diagnosed on the autism spectrum.

At Marklund, many of our residents and community clients are non-ambulatory and have severe cognitive deficits due to genetic disorders, complications during pregnancy and delivery, and other issues.  Others acquired disabilities during infancy or childhood through tragic accidents. Many have complex medical problems that require 24-hour skilled nursing care and regular therapy interventions.

 

Highlights from Fiscal Year 2020:

• Total number of people served: 269
  • 176 residents
  • 93 community clients  (71 in Marklund Day School and 22 in Developmental Training)
• Broke ground and opened Marklund Day School-Geneva at on Hyde Center campus
• Held record-breaking Top Hat Ball and Golf Classic fundraising events
• Faced COVID-19 global pandemic; adjusted policies and practices to provide safe environment for all residents and staff.
• Hosted virtual Run, Walk & Roll-Bloomingdale 5K/1Mile event in April, and virtual Cyber Classic event (in place of annual Golf Classic) due to pandemic

Our PROMISE: Make everyday life possible for individuals with profound disabilities.

The story of Marklund is one of unconditional love, selflessness and hope. Marklund was founded when a nurse named Claire Haverkampf began to provide foster care to Mark William Lund, a little boy born with Down Syndrome and severe cardiac complications. Five days after his birth on December 21, 1954, at Elmhurst Hospital, Mark William Lund came to live with Claire and her husband Stan and their two children in their Northlake home. Here, Mark was cared for as a member of the family.

Word of the Haverkampf’s selflessness spread and soon they opened their expanded home to more children with developmental disabilities. As the “family” grew, so did their need for physical space. They moved to a larger home in Bloomingdale where Marklund was formed.

The Haverkampfs were visionaries. They saw the real need for a place where infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities could find a full life experience.

In October, 2016, Marklund acquired the Little Angels Center for Exceptional Care organization in Elgin. The two centers shared similar histories, with Little Angels being founded in 1958 by Pat and Bob Wasmond, after Pat, a nurse, was offered to provide care to a child with severe disabilities. Pat offered her assistance and the child came to live with Pat, Bob and their children.

Word spread in the Elgin area of this exceptional family and the wonderful care this child was receiving. Soon the Wasmonds began receiving calls from other families seeking this kind of help. It became evident to Pat there was a vital call for this type of care in the Elgin area. She and her husband decided to create a home for children with profound disabilities and Little Angels was founded. Over the past 59 years, Little Angels–now called the Marklund Wasmond Home–grew to where it now is home to 57 residents.

With a solid foundation and foresight, Marklund has grown into eight homes throughout the Chicago area. Marklund serves individuals with severe and profound developmental disabilities through 24-hour nursing care, and a full range of therapeutic and educational programs.

Beginning with two children, and two homes, Marklund is now a place where hundreds are impacted, by many staff and volunteers, in many different sites throughout DuPage, Kane and Cook counties.

Combined, our 500+ full and part time staff now make everyday life possible for over 250 clients and students. “This could not have happened without the strong, dedicated, mission-driven staff and Board of Directors that Marklund is blessed to have,” said Gil Fonger,Marklund president & CEO.  “I am grateful to our founders – Claire & Stan Haverkampf (Marklund) and Pat & Bob Wasmond (Little Angels) – for what they started over 60 years ago, as well as our administrative, direct care and support teams for what they continue to do today.”

READ MORE

At Marklund, we are proud to carry out our mission of serving individuals with severe and profound developmental disabilities and being a highly trusted nonprofit charity organization.  As a recognized tax-exempt nonprofit organization, under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, Marklund seeks to be transparent in its financial operations by making the following information publicly available.  If you have any questions, please contact us directly.

To see financial statements, click here https://www.marklund.org/financials/