McDaniel Foundation helps fund condos for homeless

McDaniel Foundation helps fund condos for homeless

Call it the “Ronald McDaniel House.” Some area homeless families will soon be getting more than just a bed to sleep in, as Bridge Communities, a transitional housing program serving DuPage County homeless families, has received $300,000 from The Ronald McDaniel Foundation to complete the purchase of a six-flat apartment building in Westmont.

The apartments, currently under renovation, will be converted to condominiums and sold to formerly homeless families who have completed the Bridge Communities transitional housing program in a special equity-sharing arrangement. Bridge Communities has purchased three six-flat apartment buildings in Naperville Westmont and Lombard for the program. After completing an education and budgeting program and other personal development, families are able to purchase the condominiums on a payment plan that allows them to meet their needs and build equity.

Giving green for trees
The Morton Arboretum has received $30,000 from Harris Bank, a sponsor of the Arboretum’s 2008 Summer Concert Series. The check was presented on the concert stage prior to the Emmylou Harris performance in June. This is the first year of Harris’ involvement with the Arboretum. The concert series entitled “In Tune With Trees” is designed to attract audiences to the Arboretum and encourage all to plant and protect trees. The series featured performances by Paula Cole, Chris Isaak and Ralph’s World.

Local leaders on board with PADS
In other Harris Bank news, Harris Hinsdale’s senior vice president Cheryle Wittert has become a board member of DuPage PADS. Joining her as new members of the board are Doug Lellbach, owner of Lellbach Builders; Rev. Thomas Ostrander, senior pastor at First United Methodist Church of Downers Grove; and Mina Setork, owner of DynaCom Management.

Southeast DuPage gets added PRC services
Expanding to meet the needs of low income residents in the suburbs, The People’s Resource Center is opening a multi-service satellite to serve low-income residents of 11 communities in Southeast DuPage County. PRC Southeast will serve residents of Westmont, Woodridge, Downers Grove, Darien, Lisle, Willowbrook, Clarendon Hills, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace and Burr Ridge. This satellite is located at 649 Blackhawk in Westmont. People’s Resource Center headquarters remains in Wheaton at 201 S. Naperville Road. PRC’s free programs and services programs include distribution of food and clothes, ESL and literacy classes, computer training and refurbishing, and job search assistance. Volunteers are needed at PRC Southeast. Call Melissa Travis at 630/682-5402.

The center already has received an $18,000 grant from the Tellabs Foundation. The funds will equip and furnish the new Community Technology Center (CTC) at PRC Southeast, designed to teach computer literacy and provide Internet access to Southeast DuPage residents. The free classes and drop-in center are scheduled to begin in early September.

Community banker takes helm at Marianjoy
Donald Fischer has been named chairman of the board of directors at Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital. A member of the board for four years, Fischer is the chairman of Community Bank-Wheaton/Glen Ellyn, an institution he organized in 1994. He also serves as a member of the Glen Ellyn Rotary Club Foundation, the Wheaton Economic Restructuring Committee, and a board member of the Wheaton Lion’s Club. The Marianjoy board also has added Maureen Buckley, executive vice president for Leaders Bank in Oak Brook.

Szczepaniak named grants chief for DCF
The DuPage Community Foundation has hired Barb Szczepaniak as director of grants. Prior to joining the Foundation, Szczepaniak served 11 years as executive director of the Elmhurst School District 205 Foundation for Educational Excellence. She replaces a retiring Bonnie Heydorn, who has worked for The DuPage Community Foundation since 1990 and served as head of its Grant Department since 1997.

DuPage charity needs old computers
The Humanitarian Service Project of DuPage is looking for used computers so interns can better support the organization composing letters, researching grants, creating visual displays, maintaining database and writing press releases. If you have a computers to donate, call 630-221-8340.

Philanthropist, business leader dies
David K. Hill, a suburban philanthropist and the real estate developer died in July at the age of 67. Hill led Rolling Meadows-based Kimball Hill Homes since 1969. He was a trustee of both Harper College and Roosevelt University, and a vigilant supporter of health and human services organizations, such as the Northwest Community Hospital Foundation, the North West Housing Partnership, and the WINGS domestic violence shelter in Palatine.

Silver Cross raises $157,000 in golf event
The Silver Cross Foundation raised $157,000 at the 17th Annual Charity Golf Classic on June 23. Held at the historic Midlothian Country Club, more than 200 golfers came out to support Silver Cross Hospital’s cardiovascular programs and services.

Contact associate editor Sherri Dauskurdas at Sdauskurdas@thebusinessledger.com

Posted on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 (Archive on Wednesday, September 03, 2008)
Posted by jstoltz Contributed by jstoltz

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