RRAF TIMELINE
1981 - Incorporated as a Not-For-Profit Illinois Corporation. Initial activities included conferences, family
camps, and other recreational and educational programs.
1987 - We receive an initial $55,000 grant from the State of Illinois to begin providing day services to five
individuals. Training is held in a rented classroom at the former Mary Queen of Heaven parochial
school in Elmhurst, IL. RRAF is one of the first community agencies in the state to accept adults with
autism.
1990 - Founding father, Sam Lapertosa, Sr. passes away.
1991 - Founding mother, Rosemary Lapertosa passes away. Board and families regroup, and several
emergency initiatives are undertaken. Son of founders is transferred to another agency able to provide
residential services. Marilyn Flanagan is promoted to Executive Director (and later named President).
Dennis Lake joins the Board of Directors.
1992 - Programming services move to a larger, more community based site in Elmhurst, IL.
Attendance increases to thirteen. Family members, beginning with Raymond Urick, serve on the Board of
Directors. Joe Gehrman, Roger Davis, and Roberta Robison also serve. Roger Davis remains a member
of the Board, having served since 1994.
1997 - RRAF receives its first accreditation award through CARF, the Rehabilitation Accreditation
Commission. We receive a three year accreditation, the highest award possible.
2000 - RRAF receives a second three year accreditation award through CARF.
2001 - RRAF purchases, remodels, and moves its operations to 613 South Main Street in Lombard.
Kendall Marks of Midwest Bank believes in our dream and provides the financing to make this
happen. Families and friends come out in droves to donate time and money. Tom Flanagan joins the
Board of Directors
2002 - Jill Mueller joins the Board of Directors. RRAF upgrades the parking lot at 613 South Main Street
with additional help from Midwest Bank in Roselle. The Village of Lombard provides landscaping along the
front of our property. Our census grows to 15.
2003 - RRAF purchases the property next to ours at 619 South Main Street in Lombard. This purchase
enables RRAF to expand its census, by summer we are at 17. RRAF receives a third three year
accreditation award through CARF.
2004 - RRAF continues to expand. We purchase another van, implementing a 4th route. Our census
grows to 19.
2005 - RRAF takes possession of the 619 property and remodeling begins. We refinance our mortgage,
again with the help of Midwest Bank, obtaining most of the funds needed for this remodeling process. Our
census grows to 22 with additional admissions expected. We purchase another van, implementing a 5th
route.
2006 - Remodeling of the 619 building and parking lot is completed and day services expand across the
two buildings. As of June 30, 2006 our census is at 25, with additional admissions expected. RRAF
receives its fourth three year accreditation award through CARF. Our Board is applauded for their efforts by
receiving the first ever offered "Governance Standards Applied" addendum to this accreditation.
2007 - Our census grows to 29. We learn that we have been awarded a grant from the DuPage Community
Foundation, this most recent grant for $5,000. This grant will allow additional expansion and admissions.
Dennis Lake, a Board Member and Treasurer since 1991, passes away.
2008 - Kathleen Altman joins the Board of Directors. For the 11th time in 12 years RRAF's Developmental
Training Program receives a 100% when it is surveyed by the Department of Human Services!
2009 - Roberta Robison rejoins the Board of Directors. For the 12th time in 13 years RRAF's
Developmental Training Program receives a 100% when it is surveyed by the Department of Human
Services. Our CILA program also receives a 100% during that survey. RRAF also receives its fifth three
year accreditation award through CARF. Our Board is again applauded for their efforts by receiving another
"Governance Standards Applied" addendum to this accreditation.
1981 - Incorporated as a Not-For-Profit Illinois Corporation. Initial activities included conferences, family
camps, and other recreational and educational programs.
1987 - We receive an initial $55,000 grant from the State of Illinois to begin providing day services to five
individuals. Training is held in a rented classroom at the former Mary Queen of Heaven parochial
school in Elmhurst, IL. RRAF is one of the first community agencies in the state to accept adults with
autism.
1990 - Founding father, Sam Lapertosa, Sr. passes away.
1991 - Founding mother, Rosemary Lapertosa passes away. Board and families regroup, and several
emergency initiatives are undertaken. Son of founders is transferred to another agency able to provide
residential services. Marilyn Flanagan is promoted to Executive Director (and later named President).
Dennis Lake joins the Board of Directors.
1992 - Programming services move to a larger, more community based site in Elmhurst, IL.
Attendance increases to thirteen. Family members, beginning with Raymond Urick, serve on the Board of
Directors. Joe Gehrman, Roger Davis, and Roberta Robison also serve. Roger Davis remains a member
of the Board, having served since 1994.
1997 - RRAF receives its first accreditation award through CARF, the Rehabilitation Accreditation
Commission. We receive a three year accreditation, the highest award possible.
2000 - RRAF receives a second three year accreditation award through CARF.
2001 - RRAF purchases, remodels, and moves its operations to 613 South Main Street in Lombard.
Kendall Marks of Midwest Bank believes in our dream and provides the financing to make this
happen. Families and friends come out in droves to donate time and money. Tom Flanagan joins the
Board of Directors
2002 - Jill Mueller joins the Board of Directors. RRAF upgrades the parking lot at 613 South Main Street
with additional help from Midwest Bank in Roselle. The Village of Lombard provides landscaping along the
front of our property. Our census grows to 15.
2003 - RRAF purchases the property next to ours at 619 South Main Street in Lombard. This purchase
enables RRAF to expand its census, by summer we are at 17. RRAF receives a third three year
accreditation award through CARF.
2004 - RRAF continues to expand. We purchase another van, implementing a 4th route. Our census
grows to 19.
2005 - RRAF takes possession of the 619 property and remodeling begins. We refinance our mortgage,
again with the help of Midwest Bank, obtaining most of the funds needed for this remodeling process. Our
census grows to 22 with additional admissions expected. We purchase another van, implementing a 5th
route.
2006 - Remodeling of the 619 building and parking lot is completed and day services expand across the
two buildings. As of June 30, 2006 our census is at 25, with additional admissions expected. RRAF
receives its fourth three year accreditation award through CARF. Our Board is applauded for their efforts by
receiving the first ever offered "Governance Standards Applied" addendum to this accreditation.
2007 - Our census grows to 29. We learn that we have been awarded a grant from the DuPage Community
Foundation, this most recent grant for $5,000. This grant will allow additional expansion and admissions.
Dennis Lake, a Board Member and Treasurer since 1991, passes away.
2008 - Kathleen Altman joins the Board of Directors. For the 11th time in 12 years RRAF's Developmental
Training Program receives a 100% when it is surveyed by the Department of Human Services!
2009 - Roberta Robison rejoins the Board of Directors. For the 12th time in 13 years RRAF's
Developmental Training Program receives a 100% when it is surveyed by the Department of Human
Services. Our CILA program also receives a 100% during that survey. RRAF also receives its fifth three
year accreditation award through CARF. Our Board is again applauded for their efforts by receiving another
"Governance Standards Applied" addendum to this accreditation.
Our Timeline
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