Helping Our Children Succeed

Start Saving Today for Your Kids’ Tomorrow

In my last note, I wrote to you about running track, and some people asked if I did the “field” part of track and field. The short answer: Yes, but there was room for improvement.

I think I was the tallest fifth grader when I went out for the track team. I had long arms. My dad was tall, and his dad was tall. Coach knew this and decided I should throw discus.

This picture was taken soon after the picture in my last note. It shows me pulling away from the group. I was much better at running than I was in the field events.  

Sure, I was skinny, but his logic was that I would grow, get stronger, and with my wingspan, I could probably just drop the discus pretty far. The discus ring was close to the shotput ring, so I also did shotput. Same logic. I could just drop the shot put pretty far because of my long arms.

Unfortunately, I was not very strong, didn’t get much stronger, and was pretty pathetic at both events. After two years of struggle, the coach agreed to let me try the long jump and the high jump.

Let’s just say I didn’t do much better. Never did I harbor Olympic dreams. I tried other sports and eventually found things that I did better at and enjoyed more.

You never know what kids will do well at and what they may like. As parents, all we can do is offer suggestions, cheer them on, and support them.

Helping More People with Disabilities

Watch this video to find out more about how people with disabilities can benefit by opening ABLE accounts.

Recently, I announced some big news for people with disabilities and their families. ABLE accounts are now available to individuals who acquired a disability before the age of 46. Previously, the age limit was before a person’s 26th birthday.

Because of this change, about 6 million more people in the United States – including 250,000 in Illinois – can save and invest money to improve their quality of life without risking federal benefits.

You can read more about this exciting update in a Chicago Tribune article that I wrote with University of Chicago Professor Harold Pollack.

In Other News…

• Frerichs returns Purple Heart medal to family of late World War II veteran (1330 WRAM, Monmouth)

• Time to get out the cameras. Treasurer Frerichs opens 2026 Cream of the Crop Photo Contest (WCIA-TV, Champaign)

• Illinois expanding ABLE savings program for people with disabilities (WBBM-TV, Chicago)

Honoring Amazing Women for Their Leadership

Our 2026 Women’s History Month celebration was truly inspiring. Across Illinois, women are leading in a range of fields, including business, athletics, community service, education, labor, and the arts.

My office is proud to elevate their voices and celebrate their accomplishments. Watch the video above to learn more about them.