A Commemorative Bench for Caryn

THANK YOU SO MUCH!
We have reached our goal and are moving forward with honoring Caryn with this bench. When details of the installation and are available, I will share them here.
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Hello family and friends,

The family (Wil, Jas, Jared, and extended family), the disability community, colleagues, co-workers, and friends recently suffered a tragic loss of our dear Caryn Pack Ivey.

She called on Saturday, May 18th .
She sounded wonderful!
She didn’t show up or text for my birthday on May 21st .
She never missed acknowledging a birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day, 4th of July, etc. without a phone call or a text.
She passed on May 27th .
She transitioned.
She’s gone.
She is missed.

In honor/memory of our beautiful friend, Caryn Pack Ivey we are asking for donation to purchase a 365 lb. black iron cast park bench 8 ft. in length engraved w/ Caryn’s picture, and words of expression. The bench will be installed on a concrete platform donated by DNR and placed in the adaptive park donated by the Sigma Gamma Foundation at Belle Isle.

The price of the park bench is $1175.00. The custom plaque is 8” high 12” wide with half tone image and text (including installation on bench) is $680.00. Freight delivery $390.23. Total cost $2245.23 of which $250.00 has been donated. (Thank you Sybil Spencer, Rodney Buckingham, and me.)

Any funds remaining after the purchase of the commemorative bench and plaque will be donated to the adaptive park for additional adaptive equipment or improvements.

Let me tell you why this magnificent lady should be honored and remembered. Besides being gifted and sharing the most beautiful voice Caryn was a loving and devoted wife and mother to her husband Wil and daughter, Jaslyn, and became the phenomenal crusader for the disability community after the birth of their son, Jared.

Caryn started out on a mission to learn the rights and responsibilities for the needs of her baby. She spent the next 23 years advocating, crusading, and mentoring for all children w/ special needs through out the state of Michigan. She traveled far and wide to collaborate, exchange, learn, and share special educational information for our children w/ special needs.

Caryn was:

o Project Director for Michigan Alliance for Families
o Parent Advocate for Wayne Regional Education Service Agency (RESA)
o Parent Liaison for Wayne County Great Start Collaborative

She was a member of the;
o Arc Michigan
o Arc of Northwest Wayne County
o Detroit Parent Network Parent Leadership Program
o Detroit Public Schools Special Education Parent Advisory Council

o Down Syndrome Guild of Southeast Michigan
o Michigan Council for Rehabilitation Services
o Michigan Developmental Disabilities Council
o Michigan Department of Education Family Engagement Stakeholder Group
o Michigan Department of Health and Human Services-Parent/Family/Advocacy and Education Organization
o Michigan Public Health Institute
o Michigan’s Special Education Advisory Committee
o Partners in Policymaking
o Rising Star Academy Fundraiser Committee
o United Cerebral Palsy of Metropolitan Detroit
o Wayne County Great Start Collaborative
o Wayne County Special Education Parent Advisory Council

As you can see, this phenomenal lady wore many hats and was a tremendous asset to children w/ special needs, as well as to the parents of children w/ special needs. It was nothing to see Caryn hosting a table at an outreach event. Informing and providing guidance to parents and professionals on special education programs, resources, and learning opportunities.

Caryn was our go-to person. Heck, Caryn was everybody’s go-to person. She was a fabulous listener and believed in giving everyone the benefit of the doubt. She was stickler for enforcing selfcare. So please contribute to this beautiful commemorative bench and plaque in honor of Caryn Pack Ivey.

This commemorative bench will be a gathering place for those who knew and loved Caryn. It may bring special comforts to her family. Especially for Jared, he will be able to sit w/ his mom (in spirit) in her favorite spot, Belle Isle. I see it!

I visualize running.
I’m exhausted.
I stop and rest w/ my friend.

Please help make this happen. Tentative date for installation of the commemorative bench is early fall.

Funds must be submitted to Penchura, LLC by September 23, 2019 for it to be ready in time for early fall installation.

The donation of the commemorative bench will be stated on the plaque as "from friends and family".