Building a Building With Love: Our journey to a new Philip J Rock Center & School building
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SAVE THE DATE for 2025! Be A Voice for the Voiceless 3rd Annual Fundraiser
Mark your calendar for THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2025
About the PJR Foundation
The PJR Center & School Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization, was established in 2022 to help raise funds to continue the mission and purpose of the Philip J Rock Center & School. It was a dream of Senator Phil Rock to create a Foundation which would provide funding to support educational resources and experiences that the operating budget cannot cover so that the students and their families can continue to receive the best educational programs and resources available. Senator Rock passed away in January 2016. His wife Sheila and their four children; Kathleen, Meghan, Colleen and Jay, believe in the importance of preserving and perpetuating PJR’s legacy to do the right thing and help those who cannot help themselves.
The Philip J. Rock Center and School is committed to providing education, therapy and support services to its students, so they develop their maximum level of independence. Please join us in supporting our teachers and students by making a donation to the PJR Center & School Foundation. Your donations make a difference -- thank you for your support!
Together for independence.
Senator Rock always referenced the Philip J Rock Center & School as his greatest legislative legacy.
Philip J. Rock was President of the Illinois Senate from 1979 until he retired in 1993, was known for his concern for the underprivileged, and was most proud of creating the nation's first public school for the deaf and blind, the outgrowth of a national rubella outbreak in the mid-1960s.
The Philip J Rock Center and School is the only public school in the country providing services exclusively to deaf-blind children and youth. The school continues to be committed to providing education, therapy and support services to its students, so they develop their maximum level of independence.
The Philip J Rock Center and School is the only public school in the country providing services exclusively to deaf-blind children and youth. The school continues to be committed to providing education, therapy and support services to its students, so they develop their maximum level of independence.
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Board of Directors
Colleen Mueller, Board President
Jay Rock, Board Vice President
Meghan Simmons, Secretary
Bonnie Jordan, Executive Director
Philip J Rock Center & School
Lissa DrussMary FurbushDan FuscoDorothy FuscoJanay Hayes-Mohamed, PRC ParentRon NyeNatasha Nye
Heidi Officer, PRC ParentSheila RockJill Rock NottageKathleen SnowRob SwainMaria Vankley, PRC Parent