Futures Unlimited marks anniversary

PONTIAC – A local organization which has been providing services for those with disabilities for more than 50 years is marking its anniversary with a special event Wednesday in downtown Pontiac followed by a golf outing Friday.

Futures Unlimited will celebrate 50 years of services to Livingston County with food trucks, displays and door prizes from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Block 59 downtown. Lunch will be available for purchase from local vendors such as Coffee Steamer, The Lunch Box, Pique Tacos and Route 66 Licks.

“We were incorporated on July 1, 1970,” explained Patty Haberkorn, Futures executive director. “Because of COVID, we weren’t exactly able to celebrate during the past year.”

Visitors to downtown Wednesday can expect to find information on the organization along with seed balls, which is a micro-business from Futures providing work for people with disabilities. These are hand rolled balls of seed.

“We hope to be around for another 50 years,” Haberkorn added.

The mission of Futures is to assist individuals in Livingston County as they achieve independence and develop the needed skills to live and work successfully in the community. Several programs are offered to help people do this.

“When the organization started in 1970, there were 16 clients and three staff. We currently serve anywhere from, depending on the year, 350 to close to 500 people in all of the programs,” noted Haberkorn.

Depending on the day, Futures has 100 to 110 staff members. The organization has seen plenty of changes throughout the years. A residential program was started in 1991.

“That has grown as we now have four houses.”

Futures serves 16 clients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Otherwise, programs are mainly in the day with some in the evening, depending on the needs of those served. Haberkorn explained everything is very individualized to a person’s skill level and what they want to learn.

“We try to do almost anything to help people gain more independence,” said Haberkorn.

Wolf Creek Golf Course in Cayuga, north of Pontiac, will be the site for the annual Futures golf event on Friday. The Brian Blossom Memorial Golf Outing has a shotgun start of 9 a.m. This is held in honor of Blossom, who was the former executive director who passed away in 2014.

Anyone interested in forming a team for the golf outing can contact the main office at 815-842-1122 and ask for Kathy Melvin, Adeana Fox or Haberkorn.

Those attending Wednesday’s downtown anniversary celebration or Friday’s golf outing can register to win a cooler on wheels. The winner will be drawn at the golf outing with tickets available at these events or by contacting someone at Futures.

More information can be found at www.futuresunlimited.org, by e-mailing futures@futuresunlimited.org or by visiting the main office along Torrance Avenue in Pontiac.