Couple Goes From 'Corps' to Core Benefactors

Delve into the archives of Rosecrance's 100 years of service, and you'll see Randy and Carol Krup in photos and programs for nearly half of that history.

The Krups were original members of The Rosecrance Corps along with Phil and Cherri Eaton, John and Robbie Mink, and others during the 1970s. The Corps worked with the young boys that Rosecrance used to serve at its former location on Alpine Road. Carol said they made sure every boy had a birthday cake, and they would do monthly outings.

Randy spent more than 40 years as a Rosecrance board member. His introduction to Rosecrance was through the Blackhawk Valley Region Sports Car Club of America, which donated money to the agency from its annual auto show. He was also involved with the Try-Beta Club, a service organization in Rockford that continues to fundraise for Rosecrance and other local community organizations.

As Rosecrance grew through the years, Randy helped scout new locations and make key decisions alongside fellow board members and Eaton for new building projects. Carol was integral in helping with the flower sale that used to happen at the Alpine campus; the event morphed into Flower Day that now takes place at Gensler Gardens. She recalled that Corps members were responsible to sell the flowers and watch them during the weekend sale, which involved spending the night with the flowers in a tent outside the campus.

"Both Randy and I have felt Rosecrance is a very honorable and good charity to assist young people and adults to obtain mental health and drug and alcohol treatment so that they could become productive members of our society," Carol said.

The Krups remain faithful Rosecrance benefactors and are members of The 1916 Society, which honors people who have remembered Rosecrance in their wills and trusts. The name reflects the year Rosecrance was founded and gives a nod to our founders, James and Fanny Rosecrance.

"I've always felt so strongly about the people who work at Rosecrance," Randy said. "I think we've got the best of the best, we really do. ... I wanted the agency to succeed, and it really became dear to me that it did."