HR0269 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0269 LRB103 32262 LAW 61511 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of Representatives wish to congratulate the Gift from the Heart Foundation, also known as Dar Serca, on the occasion of its 35th anniversary; and

WHEREAS, Almost 40 years ago, Izabela Rybak's late husband, Wademar, came to the United States in 1985 on a tourist visa seeking treatment for their son, Rafal, who was born with cerebral palsy; and

WHEREAS, Wademar Rybak wrote to various hospitals requesting assistance and quotes for Rafal's treatment, and Shriners Hospital in Chicago accepted him as a patient with treatment offered at no charge; and

WHEREAS, After being granted a tourist visa, Izabela Rybak joined Wademar in the U.S., leaving their two teenage daughters in Poland with family, coming to Chicago with her son; and

WHEREAS, Rafal Rybak needed multiple surgeries, so Izabela and Wademar Rybak applied for permanent residency; and

WHEREAS, After Izabela and Wademar Rybak legalized their immigration status, their daughters joined them in the U.S. permanently, and the family was reunited after a year apart; and

WHEREAS, In 1986, Izabela Rybak met parents of two children with the same disability as her son, who then asked for assistance with their children's treatment; she submitted the necessary paperwork, and their applications were accepted; and

WHEREAS, Izabela Rybak was required by the hospital to sign an affidavit of support that would ensure proper care, lodging, and transport to the hospital for the families she was helping; she signed the affidavit, even though she was unsure of her own financial situation; and

WHEREAS, Izabela Rybak requested support on a Polish radio station broadcast, and the community responded by donating money, furniture, and housing; she then regularly raised awareness for this issue on the radio; and

WHEREAS, In 1988, Izabela Rybak cofounded and established Dar Serca, meaning "a gift from the heart" in Polish, an organization to permanently offer assistance to families of children from around the world who required trips to the United States for specialized care; and

WHEREAS, Dar Serca, or the Gift from the Heart Foundation, erected a new building in Schiller Park in 2009 that could house six families at a time and provide food, lodging, and transportation, which was made possible by donations from the Polish community; and

WHEREAS, After 35 years, the Gift from the Heart Foundation now offers an expanded variety of supportive services; it assists children with orthopedic disabilities, offers extremely complicated cases expert diagnosis and treatment, provides children housing, transportation, and translation services, supplies medications, rehabilitation equipment, and orthopedic devices, covers living expenses for children and their parents from abroad, organizes free summer camps for local children with disabilities, and gives children with illnesses, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down's Syndrome, and Cerebral Palsy, the opportunity to attend after school programs that improve their way of living and health; and

WHEREAS, Due to Izabela Rybak's efforts, the Gift from the Heart Foundation has helped over 1,300 children receive high quality surgeries and medical treatments so they can live healthy and happy lives; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we congratulate the Gift from the Heart Foundation, also known as Dar Serca, on its 35 years of success helping children with disabilities across the world receive the lifesaving treatment they need in the United States; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we commend Izabela Rybak for her dedication and service to others through the Gift from the Heart Foundation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be presented to Gift from the Heart Foundation President Dorothy Malachowski, Director Izabela Rybak, and all members of the Gift from the Heart Foundation Board of Directors as an expression of our esteem and respect.