Up With Families - About Us

Anyone can join Up With Families (UWF), and we encourage those who have been involved in a past weekend to come to a meeting

Our mission is to recognize the unique challenges faced by families that have a child with a disability. We are committed to providing them with emotional support, information about helpful community resources and how to access them, and to provide them with an opportunity to connect with other families facing similar joys and challenges that go along with raising a child with a disability. A secondary goal of UWF is to promote a positive image of families that have children with disabilities in the community through positive publicity and our volunteers.

In order to provide this valuable programming to 25 families each year, we must raise $25,000, and it is only possible through donations, grants and fundraising. We host an annual fundraiser dance each year in the fall, which also serves as a reunion for past participants. We depend on the generosity of various contributors and sincerely welcome any support that you can give to our organization.

Karen Bernick, Long Grove – President and Adult Program Chair

Sarah Johnston, DeWitt – Treasurer

Lou Ann Harmsen, Davenport – Facilities Chair

Deb Meyne, DeWitt – Fundraising Chair and Secretary

Keely Dykstra, Bettendorf – Children’s Program Chair

Cheryl Michaelsen, DeWitt – Hospitality and Fundraiser Event Co-Chair

Kathy Polzin, Donahue – Family Recruiting Chair

Julaine Edwards, Davenport – Volunteers Chair

Char & Harry Knutsen, Walcott – At Large

Tina McDermott – At Large

Heather Briggs - At Large

Autumn Hinz - At Large