OUR MISSION
A COMMUNITY OF WARRIORS
Opportunity Knocks is dedicated to enriching life and community. We exist to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they live, work, learn, grow and connect within their community.
We believe in a dynamic, person-centered and community-based approach to programming that engages the voice of all Warriors, thrives on interdependent connections, encourages exploration, centers on holistic wellness and fostering healthy relationships.
WHO WE SERVE
Perseverance and strength through challenges have led us to nickname our participants Warriors. We are dedicated to providing support and resources for teens and young adults.
WHERE WE SERVE
We are currently serving the communities of Oak Park, Forest Park, and River Forest. Due to our current space constraints, we are limited to serving only those communities.
WHY WE SERVE
Opportunities for young people with I/DD are terribly limited. The state of Illinois ranks 49th in the nation in supporting community-based programs. More than 12,000 are currently awaiting state services.
State of Illinois
National rank in supporting community-based services
%
Awaiting Services
Local Warriors requesting state support, who are still waiting
Warrior Families
Supported by OK programs on an annual average
OUR PROGRAMS
WARRIOR FOCUSED, WARRIOR DRIVEN
We listen to our participants and collaborate as equal architects in developing programs. Specific activities vary throughout the year and across programs, but common to all programs is some combination of a focus on wellness, vocational skills, life skills, leadership, social recreation, and community connection.
AFTER OPPS
After Opps is an after-school/after work program that offers social and recreational activities of all kinds. Each session’s activities are determined through a collaborative partnership between Warrior participants and OK Staff.
Life Shop
An alternative-style day program that takes a Warrior-centered approach to adult life in the community. Designed for Warriors older than age 22, focusing on building life skills, health and wellness, community connections and vocational skills.
Enterprise
With 3 initiatives under the Knockout Brand of social enterprises, we aim to sustain meaningful and gainful vocational skill-building opportunities, while also producing a revenue stream to support OK operations.
OUR COMMUNITY
A COLLECTIVE EFFORT
As a grassroots organization, operating outside of the abysmal state funding structure, we have built OK on a foundation of community support. We rely heavily on a vast network of donors, volunteers, and partners to help support, sustain and grow our mission. We have a great network, but it is paramount that it continues to grow. Want to get involved?
FEATURED PARTNER
The Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township (CMHB) is a branch of Oak Park Township. The CMHB is comprised of nine residents appointed by the Township Supervisor with the approval of the Township Trustees.
Opportunity Knocks is proud to be among the agencies that the CMHB supports. The CMHB is a significant source of support for the Warriors participating in OK’s Life Shop.
We are grateful to have such strong partnerships with the local townships!
DONATE
We are 94% privately funded. Without your support, we would not exist. Please consider supporting the Warriors today.
VOLUNTEER
From program support members to event staff volunteers, corporate groups and internships, opportunities to connect abound.
PARTNER
Corporate sponsorships, program partnerships and all sorts of ways in between to connect your group with our group in mission.
Partner Spotlight
The Milburn Family has been a part of OK since we swung our first sledgehammers during the buildout of our program space at the RFCC in 2009. The family has stayed committed with time, energy and financial support while also committing the vast resources of their business to help Opportunity Knocks continue to grow.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices KoenigRubloff Realty Group has been one of OK's most generous partners since 2013. The broker of the group, John Lawrence serves on the board of directors. With John leading the way, the team at BHHS commits their time as volunteers, their commissions as donors and their love and support as partners in the mission.
Led by local agent and long-time supporter and advocate of the OK Mission, Garfield Philpotts, the Allstate Family has grown into one of OK's most generous corporate partners. Working thru the company's giving program and connecting thru our events as volunteers Garfield connects nearly a dozen agents and many thousands of dollars to the cause!
OK has never had the luxury of depending on a reliable stream of support from the state of Illinois. Thankfully, we have found a great partner in a local governmental agency at the Oak Park Township. The OPT's Community Mental Health Board serves as one of the strongest partners we have in supporting our day program the Life Shop.
Big Thanks to our OK Classic Sponsors
Upcoming Events
Each year, Opportunity Knocks hosts 4 major events, that while are designed to be a great time for all, are crucial in funding the day to day operations. But, there are a lot more! Stay informed of ALL our events by following our events page.
Sep
28
Sat
2019
The 13th Annual OK Classic
REGISTRATION DATE | Monday, July 29th
EVENT DATE | Saturday, September 28th
The OK Classic is one very full day of fun and competitive co-ed, 14-inch softball. This tournament is our original fundraiser and still serves as one of our most important days of the year to gather community in connection to the mission. Please click below to visit the event homepage.
About the Event
The OK Classic
The OK Classic is one very full day of fun and competitive co-ed, 14-inch softball. This tournament is our original fundraiser and still serves as one of our most important days of the year to gather community in connection to the mission. This event also offers a full-on family friendly festival atmosphere in addition to the games. All of this benefits the Warriors at Opportunity Knocks.
The event features a friends-asking-friends fundraising platform among the teams and players in the tournament. That platform is hosted on a third-party site. Please click below to visit that site and find out all of the event details and ways to get involved.
Countdown to First Pitch
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Oct
1
Tue
2019
AUGUST 20 FARM DAY - CANCELED DUE TO STORMS
KNOCKOUT FARM MONTHLY WORK DAY
Help us Knockout the To-Do List
The OK Farm is in full swing and we need volunteers to come out and get their hands dirty! We will be on the farm from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Please join us as we connect, learn and grow together.
KNOCKOUT FARM MONTHLY WORK DAY
Help us Knockout the To-Do List
The OK Farm is in full swing and we need volunteers to come out and get their hands dirty! We will be on the farm from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Please join us as we connect, learn and grow together.
About the Work Day
COME & GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY DOWN ON THE FARM!
Volunteer tasks range from pulling weeds, planting and harvesting, turning compost, spreading mulch, and anything else that may need to be done that day. (You will be notified by 12:00 pm in the case of inclement weather if the work day will be canceled).
Water will be available, but please be sure to bring a water bottle to fill up. The OK Farm also has sunscreen, gloves, and any farm/garden tools we will need. Also, be sure to wear clothes that can get dirty, close-toed shoes, and a hat is recommended.
Please Note: Warriors are welcome however, staff will not be provided for these work days. Please email aniki@opportunityknocksnow.org for accommodations and questions.
Knockout Harvest
Produce with Purpose
The Knockout Farm connects to all of our programs in an experiential and therapeutic way, but it is also a food production operation that thrives and yields an efficient harvest that helps us grow our nutritional and wellness programming, while also offering great variety for our catering menus and artisanal pickle production line. Here's a brief rundown of our seasonal totals from 2018.
Total # of Crops in 2018 Season
Total # of Crops Grown from Seed
Season Harvest Total in lbs
Total lbs of Cucumbers
Knockout Harvest
Produce with Purpose
The Knockout Farm connects to all of our programs in an experiential and therapeutic way, but it is also a food production operation that thrives and yields an efficient harvest that helps us grow our nutritional and wellness programming, while also offering great variety for our catering menus and artisanal pickle production line. Here’s a brief rundown of our seasonal totals from 2018.
Total # of Crops in 2018 Season
Total # of Crops Grown from Seed
Season Harvest Total in lbs
Total lbs of Cucumbers
Our Story
The history of the ok farm
"OUR PURPOSE ON THE FARM IS TO LEARN, GROW AND CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY WHILE WE PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY VEGETABLES TO FEED OUR ENTERPRISES AND FUEL OUR WELLNESS PROGRAMS"
The OK Farm was conceived in late 2015 as a way to give the Warriors a role in the local sustainable food movement by creating a ‘seed to jar’ experience with our Knockout Pickle production. The idea was to plant, grow and harvest the key supply requirements in order to produce a locally grown and locally made pickle.
The Farm was launched in April through a land partnership with our friends at Reuse Depot and a tremendous amount of support from many others in terms of volunteer hours, landscape/garden supplies and equipment. In a short period of time, we turned a 2,500 square foot field off Madison Street into lush, handicap-accessible urban farm.
Of course, the Warriors were in on the action every step of the way. Teams from both Life Shop and After Opps shoveled dirt, planted seeds, watered, weeded and harvested crops throughout the summer and fall. A generous donation of crushed gravel enabled us to convert muddy alleys between beds into pathways that were handicap accessible and remained usable during rainy periods. We also created 22-bed feet of raised boxes that provided crop access to participants in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
Oct
22
Tue
2019
AUGUST 20 FARM DAY - CANCELED DUE TO STORMS
KNOCKOUT FARM MONTHLY WORK DAY
Help us Knockout the To-Do List
The OK Farm is in full swing and we need volunteers to come out and get their hands dirty! We will be on the farm from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Please join us as we connect, learn and grow together.
KNOCKOUT FARM MONTHLY WORK DAY
Help us Knockout the To-Do List
The OK Farm is in full swing and we need volunteers to come out and get their hands dirty! We will be on the farm from 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm. Please join us as we connect, learn and grow together.
About the Work Day
COME & GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY DOWN ON THE FARM!
Volunteer tasks range from pulling weeds, planting and harvesting, turning compost, spreading mulch, and anything else that may need to be done that day. (You will be notified by 12:00 pm in the case of inclement weather if the work day will be canceled).
Water will be available, but please be sure to bring a water bottle to fill up. The OK Farm also has sunscreen, gloves, and any farm/garden tools we will need. Also, be sure to wear clothes that can get dirty, close-toed shoes, and a hat is recommended.
Please Note: Warriors are welcome however, staff will not be provided for these work days. Please email aniki@opportunityknocksnow.org for accommodations and questions.
Knockout Harvest
Produce with Purpose
The Knockout Farm connects to all of our programs in an experiential and therapeutic way, but it is also a food production operation that thrives and yields an efficient harvest that helps us grow our nutritional and wellness programming, while also offering great variety for our catering menus and artisanal pickle production line. Here's a brief rundown of our seasonal totals from 2018.
Total # of Crops in 2018 Season
Total # of Crops Grown from Seed
Season Harvest Total in lbs
Total lbs of Cucumbers
Knockout Harvest
Produce with Purpose
The Knockout Farm connects to all of our programs in an experiential and therapeutic way, but it is also a food production operation that thrives and yields an efficient harvest that helps us grow our nutritional and wellness programming, while also offering great variety for our catering menus and artisanal pickle production line. Here’s a brief rundown of our seasonal totals from 2018.
Total # of Crops in 2018 Season
Total # of Crops Grown from Seed
Season Harvest Total in lbs
Total lbs of Cucumbers
Our Story
The history of the ok farm
"OUR PURPOSE ON THE FARM IS TO LEARN, GROW AND CONNECT WITH OUR COMMUNITY WHILE WE PRODUCE HIGH QUALITY VEGETABLES TO FEED OUR ENTERPRISES AND FUEL OUR WELLNESS PROGRAMS"
The OK Farm was conceived in late 2015 as a way to give the Warriors a role in the local sustainable food movement by creating a ‘seed to jar’ experience with our Knockout Pickle production. The idea was to plant, grow and harvest the key supply requirements in order to produce a locally grown and locally made pickle.
The Farm was launched in April through a land partnership with our friends at Reuse Depot and a tremendous amount of support from many others in terms of volunteer hours, landscape/garden supplies and equipment. In a short period of time, we turned a 2,500 square foot field off Madison Street into lush, handicap-accessible urban farm.
Of course, the Warriors were in on the action every step of the way. Teams from both Life Shop and After Opps shoveled dirt, planted seeds, watered, weeded and harvested crops throughout the summer and fall. A generous donation of crushed gravel enabled us to convert muddy alleys between beds into pathways that were handicap accessible and remained usable during rainy periods. We also created 22-bed feet of raised boxes that provided crop access to participants in wheelchairs or with limited mobility.
Subscribe
Follow Us On Social Media
Follow The warrior blog
Come check out our blog to keep up with the latest events and stories happening here at Opportunity Knocks!
