HINSDALE CENTRAL LEAP CLUB

STUDENTS IN SOUTH AFRICA DO AN EXPERIMENT IN CHEMISTRY CLASS

Reaching Out Across Continents

Nearly 8,500 miles from Hinsdale, South African schools receive support from volunteer students and staff of Hinsdale High School District 86.

Since 2006, the Hinsdale Central LEAP Club has built a partnership with six schools in impoverished areas of Cape Town and Johannesburg. Founded by South African John Gilmour, the LEAP program opened its first high school in 2004.

This year, the Central club’s spring fundraising efforts have been challenged by Coronavirus social-distancing measures, but according to LEAP club president Olivia Ostrowski, they made the best of it.

“Largely being student-run, we have taken a big hit," Ostrowski said. "Normally, our fundraisers have been in the spring, with our neon dance, silent auction and tomato sales. We had to cancel the dance and auction, but we decided to conduct our tomato sales online instead of in-person. In the end,

BY SCOTT JONLICH

we had a successful online sale this year.”

Each year, Hinsdale residents Tom and Judy Casten grow the tomatoes in their yard at Washington and Third Street. The Castens have supported LEAP throughout the years, raising much-needed funds for the program. The club’s goal is to transform South African students, who are financially and socially disadvantaged, into role models and leaders of change in their country.

“The LEAP club has instilled a deep sense of gratitude, and [I] fell in love with its message,” Ostrowski said. “We are lucky growing up in Hinsdale to have security and stability. Then, traveling to South Africa, I was exposed to the egregious conditions the South Africans live in, and that was extremely eye-opening to me. It taught me to be extremely grateful for what I have.”

Ostrowski said people can get involved by helping out with fundraisers. "Currently, we are the only LEAP club in the world, and want to spread the word to new volunteers and supporters," she said. "We still have tomato plants at the Castens' home. In the fall, we will be back in full swing when the school year begins.”

Pam Kalafut, the club sponsor and former activities director at Central, said, “When we first went to South Africa, we did not go there with the attitude 'we’re going to save you.'—We want to be your friends, work together to improve our lives and share good between us. We don’t see it as a charity; we see it as a friendship."

Hinsdale Central faculty member Heather Fehrman, who was in attendance for the tomato sale with Ostrowski and Kalafut, said, “I went to South Africa a couple of years ago as part of a teacher exchange program. A handful of teachers from District 86 were able to go down there as part of a global teachers’ institute conference, and we were able to meet teachers from all across South Africa who are doing amazing things there for their kids. Our contribution is to give them additional financial resources.”

For the entire LEAP club leaders and the Castens, the efforts from a newlyarriving Central class is always inspiring, as Ostrowski described seeing families living in tin shacks without running water

or electricity.

“There are six schools throughout the nation that are remnants of Apartheid, and we select six students who are very ambitious and are goal-oriented," she said. "They know they can change the community they are in. These kids don’t have the kind of educational opportunities we have in the United States, so we give them opportunities to succeed, so they can bring it back to their community."

Tom Casten was struck by the disparity between schools in the United States and South Africa, and believes the current threat of COVID-19 will create a greater crisis.

“These schools are in deep trouble in South Africa," Casten said. "How can you socially-distance yourself when you have seven people living in a small 7-foot by 10- foot container, and you have a neighbor three feet away? We have to find a way to succeed and to help them.”

Judy Casten told Hinsdale Magazine the personal growth offered in the South African schools have made amazing progress over the decade. The children can talk about their feelings and challenges, as the schools provide social and emotional learning.

Casten recalled John Gilmore saying, “You can’t teach a child when you can’t get his attention. Many of the students come from very difficult households in many ways. How do you get the students to trust one another with the trauma of abuse they experienced? You can’t build a community if you don’t trust the other person."

“When children experience abuse at home and the child is in trauma at that age, how are you going to learn chemistry that day?” Tom Casten said. “The later the age of a student, the more difficult it is for them to adjust and trust the educator. We can’t solve that problem for [students], but it’s not the end of the world. Now they can concentrate on learning without judgment. We want our community to adopt this LEAP program as a sister organization.” ■

Volunteer at the Casten home tomato garden during a Hinsdale Central LEAP Club annual fundraiser. Heather Fehrman, Olivia Ostrowski, Pam Kalafut, Tom Casten, and Judy Casten.

Stacey Keeler, RN

Program Coordinator, Cardiac Innovations & Structural Heart Center®

No matter where we are, we never really leave our patient’s side.

Stacey Keeler may be done working for the day, but in her head she’s still with her structural heart patients, finding all the little ways she can treat them less like patients and more like family. It’s that never-o-the-clock attitude that’s led Edward-Elmhurst Health to become a nationally recognized leader in heart care. Take your free HeartAware Assessment at ThisIsPersonalEEH.org

Jeffrey Fitzer, MD

Obstetrics-Gynecology

Locations

8 Salt Creek Ln., Suite 301, Hinsdale 303 W. Lake St., Addison 133 E. Brush Hill Rd., Suite 308, Elmhurst 755 N. York St., Elmhurst

Phone

331.221.9002

Web

www.EEHealth.org

JEFFREY FITZER, MD, a board-certified obstetriciangynecologist with Elmhurst Clinic, sees patients at his offices in Hinsdale, Addison and two locations in Elmhurst.

Dr. Fitzer is accepting new patients at Edward-Elmhurst Health Centers in Hinsdale at 8 Salt Creek Ln., North Elmhurst at 755 N. York St. and in Addison at 303 W. Lake St. Dr. Fitzer also sees patients in the West Medical Office Building on the Elmhurst Hospital campus, 133 W. Brush Hill Rd.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Fitzer, visit www.EEHeealth.org/Schedule or call (331) 221-9002.

About Dr. Fitzer earned his medical degree from the University of IllinoisCollege of Medicine. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Illinois Masonic Medical Center.

“I strive to provide excellence in healthcare by educating patients and assisting them to make healthy lifestyle choices from adolescence through menopause,” says Dr. Fitzer.

Dr. Fitzer offers a full range of obstetric and gynecologic services, including preconceptual counseling and complete prenatal care (both low- and high-risk pregnancies), well-woman care including annual exams and contraception, as well as gynecologic surgery (including minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures and robotics), and menopause care. He also speaks Spanish.

Elmhurst Clinic is a multi-specialty medical group with more than 100 physicians who practice in more than 20 specialties at 12 locations in Elmhurst, Addison, Bloomingdale, Lombard, Oak Park, Hinsdale, Naperville and Westchester.

For more information, visit www.EEHealth.org/ElmhurstClinic.

Julie Afridi, DO

Medical Director, Integrative Family Medicine

Locations

8 Salt Creek Ln., Suite 302, Hinsdale 1200 S. York St., Suite 4260, Elmhurst

Phone

331.221.6135

Web

www.EEHealth.org

JULIA AFRIDI, DO is board certified in family medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment. She is a member of Elmhurst Memorial Medical Group (EMMG) and is the Medical Director of Elmhurst Hospital’s Integrative Medicine Clinic.

Dr. Afridi is accepting new patients at EMMG’s offices in the Edward-Elmhurst Health Center in Hinsdale, 8 Salt Creek Ln. and the Elmhurst Center for Health, 1200 S. York St. on the campus of Elmhurst Hospital.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Afridi, visit www.EEHealth.org/Schedule or call (331) 221-6135.

About Dr. Afridi received her osteopathic medicine degree from the Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove. She completed her internship and residency at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Her clinical interests include integrative medicine, holistic medicine, obesity, osteopathic manipulation, osteopathic spinal manipulation, pediatrics, school physicals, chronic pain management, family care, weight management and women’s health.

“It is important for me to address the whole patient,” says Dr. Afridi. “To see everybody as more than parts that need fixing. I approach each patient with a treatment plan that is uniquely tailored to each individual. I incorporate integrative and holistic medicine where appropriate and with a patient who is open to it. It is not just about feeling healthy and well, but also about the experience of getting there.”

For more information, visit www.EEHealth.org/Services/ Integrative-Medicine.

Dr. Afridi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine and member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. Dr. Afridi speaks French and Spanish.

Elmhurst Memorial Medical Group (EMMG) is a physician practice of Edward-Elmhurst Health with 16 board certified physicians who provide primary care for infants through seniors. EMMG has offices in Elmhurst, Hinsdale and Oak Park.

For more information, visit www.EEHealth.org/EMMG.

Briana Peper, PA

Integrative Medicine

Locations

8 Salt Creek Ln., Suite 302, Hinsdale 1200 S. York St., Suite 4260, Elmhurst

Phone

331.221.6135

Web

www.EEHealth.org

BRIANA PEPER, MPAS, PA-C, a physician assistant with Elmhurst Memorial Medical Group (EMMG) who specializes in family medicine, sees patients at Elmhurst Hospital’s Integrative Medicine Clinic.

Peper is accepting new patients at EMMG’s offices in the Edward-Elmhurst Health Center in Hinsdale, 8 Salt Creek Ln. and the Elmhurst Center for Health, 1200 S. York St. on the campus of Elmhurst Hospital.

To schedule an appointment with Peper, visit www. EEHealth.org/Schedule or call (331) 221-6135.

About Peper earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine.

Her clinical interests include autoimmune disorders, digestive problems, disease prevention, family care, holistic medicine, integrative medicine, pediatrics, polycystic ovarian syndrome, weight management, women’s health and thyroid disease. health goals,” says Peper. “I enjoy working as a team with patients to design a plan to help them improve their overall health. I am passionate about incorporating integrative and holistic medicine when appropriate to help treat the whole person including body, mind and spirit.”

For more information, visit www.EEHealth.org/Services/ Integrative-Medicine.

Peper is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants.

Elmhurst Memorial Medical Group (EMMG) is a physician practice of Edward-Elmhurst Health with 16 board certified physicians who provide primary care for infants through seniors. EMMG has offices in Elmhurst, Hinsdale and Oak Park.

For more information, visit www.EEHealth.org/EMMG.

The $20 million, three-floor, 33,000-square-foot Edward-Elmhurst Health Center in Hinsdale, which opened in 2016, provides numerous other services, including Immediate Care, primary care physicians and specialists, Linden Oaks Behavioral Health, imaging (digital x-rays, mammograms, ultrasound, DEXA bone density scan), physical therapy, occupational health and lab.

Edward-Elmhurst Immediate Care is a convenient option for nonlife threatening illnesses and injuries such as cuts, broken bones, high fevers, minor burns, earaches, colds, flu, sinus infections and urinary tract infections, among others. Our Immediate Care provides a calm, quiet atmosphere where expert care meets exceptional convenience. We treat all ages, including infants and young children. No appointment is necessary.

For more information, visit www.EEHealth.org/Hinsdale or call (331) 221-2500.

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