CSS Benefits from "Handprints" and Not Just Monetarily

(FROM LEFT, CSS CONSUMER LORI POEHLER, CSS ART PROGRAM DIRECTOR BARB KESSLER, CSS CONSUMER RACHEL ZAKUTANSKY, CSS CONSUMER ADAM BAILEY, CSS CONSUMER BRAD BREWER, MADISON MAGEE, CSS CONSUMER HILLARY DAHNKE AND CSS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANDY KISTLER)

Madison Magee's project to create a book featuring many friends she met while volunteering at Community Support Systems benefited CSS greatly, and not just monetarily.

Magee began making the book available last year, during her senior year at Teutopolis High School that was also her year in the Effingham County CEO class. Most CEO students come up with a business or product and merchandise them, but Madison decided to take a different path. Her book, "Handprints" features one-page stories on many of the consumers at CSS. The stories focus on the clients, their activities and their drawings.

Magee said she called the book "Handprints" since those she came in contact with at CSS "left their handprints on her heart."

CSS consumer Brad Brewer entitled his work "Filling Bottles of Mystery Oil"...

A ceremony was held Wednesday morning at the CSS Developmental Training Center in Teutopolis to present a check for just over $2,600, representing the net proceeds from sales of the book. Magee was on hand, along with Barb Kessler who oversees the Art program for CSS as well as CSS Executive Director Andy Kistler. Members of Magee's family attended, as did Ron Mietzner who was Magee's mentor in CEO.

Some of the CSS consumers whose stories and artwork were featured in the book were also on hand. We spoke with some of them, including Rachel Zakutansky...

News Director Greg Sapp also spoke with Madison Magee about the project and the success it's seen...

Andy Kistler talked with Greg about the success of the project, far apart from the money it raised...

CSS consumer Hillary Dahnke did her artwork on Computer Classes, her favorite...

One final note about Madison Magee; she loved her time in Effingham County CEO, and she doesn't have to give up the program; there is a CEO-like course available at SIU Edwardsville, where she will be attending later this month.