2020 Annual Report

YOUR IMPACT 2020

Without question, 2020 was an ugly year. So, we decided to just go with it. Sometimes it is important to embrace the weirdness, the craziness and enjoy the ride. That is what we did, and we discovered the beauty of God’s hand and the beauty of God’s people.

At the beginning of the 2020 crisis, the Board of Directors established three important messages to emphasize. First, Lift Disability Network was in the fight along with our community and families. Simply, we are here! Secondly, we were determined to provide opportunities for families living with disabilities to connect, regardless of the circumstances. We wanted them to know that we will do our best to provide excellent moments of fun and be present in their lives. Finally, we would share the story of resilience. The disability family had something to say in the middle of crisis, after all, adversity is a friend they knew well.

From our greatest disappointment of having to make an announcement to cancel our annual Breakaway Retreat came a remarkable turn of events. The Lift team decided to carry on with a virtual camp. In short words, it was amazing! And from those moments of life change came new programming that revealed new relationships that we did not know were waiting for us to find them in their moment of crisis.

We were extremely busy this past year with new ideas, new programs and new adventures. I can’t explain to you how incredibly beautiful it was to watch God do his work in the lives of so many people this past year. As the year wrapped up, we decided to rejoice and embrace the ugliness and we found a great community of people that cared deeply about our mission. Every donor, every volunteer and every family came together to bring security, safety, and family back into focus. We finished up our 2020 with the greatest year end campaign we have ever experienced. You made that happen. We are so grateful.

Now, we look to 2021 with great expectations. New staff members have taken their place in the organization and new ideas, big ideas, are beginning to happen. Join us as we rise from the ugliness into an inspired Forever Home with our Lift Disability Family.

In Him,

Jim Hukill
Founder & Executive Director

Words from our donors

"You always seem to pull a rabbit out of your hat, and once again you didn’t disappoint. Camp brought my daughter back to life in ways I can’t even describe. She was laughing, engaged, excited. The way you and your staff work tirelessly to ensure every person has the best time is beautiful. Listening to the voices of online participants going through my house is so uplifting and joyful. They had the best time! I don’t know where you pull this out of, but wherever that is, don’t ever stop."

– Monthly Donor | Winter Garden

"I have grown increasingly aware of how vital and rare this ministry is. The new online presence that Lift has added to their ministry shows how quickly and effectively they adapt to the needs of those they serve. The joy and commitment that they bring to everything they do, especially in a self-saturated world, is clearly directed and fueled by God’s Spirit. It is undeniably Kingdom purposes, and for that I will give all I can."

– Longtime Donor | Illinois

"We are honored to support the work Lift does. In a year of extreme isolation, they went above and beyond to foster community, and we are greateful that we get to invest in that."

– Monthly Donor | Winter Garden