Celebrating 135 years of creating hope, opportunities and bright futures
Throughout 2018, we’re celebrating 135 years of meeting every child, every family, where their need is greatest. Doing whatever it takes so children and families can thrive. We are celebrating you! We are proud of our legacy of meeting the changing needs of vulnerable families throughout Illinois and inspired by the children and families we serve and their stories of resilience.
We want you to help us celebrate. There are many ways to get involved:
Share a Story
Our story began in 1883 with the vision of one man who believed that every child deserves a loving home. What’s your story? We want to hear about your work and the impact you have had on the children, families and communities we serve.
We will be visiting each of the regions to meet with staff and listen to your stories. We would love the chance to talk with you.
We will be spending Wednesday, April 25 in Rockford, Thursday in Bloomington and Friday in Granite City.
If you don’t already have it on your schedule to meet with us, but you have a story to tell, please contact Erin Sharkey at esharkey@childrenshomeandaid.org and arrange a time slot.
If you can’t join us next week, you can download out story telling tip sheet or take a moment to share your story online here.
Add-a-Friend
Share the terrific work you are doing with your friends and family! One of the big goals for the 135th Anniversary celebration is to build our base of friends and supporters. We are asking staff to help spread the word about the good work you are doing!
Click here to add names to our mailing list – your friends will receive a welcome email from Nancy telling them about our work, and giving them the option to opt out if they are not interested in getting emails (but we hope they will be!)
And.. just for participating and providing us with new names – you will be entered into a drawing for fun prizes, including an extra PL Day in 2019, Children’s Home & Aid branded “swag” and tickets to a 2019 Development event.
You can also send this link directly to your friends and family and ask them to sign up themselves. https://www.childrenshomeandaid.org/join-the-celebration
Save the Date!
June 15th is Children’s Home & Aid day. Locations across Illinois will celebrate our 135th all together. More details to come.
I want to do more! How do I get involved?
We are so glad you asked. All across the state, we have staff that are stepping up to lead the effort in their region or program. Please contact the staff celebration lead below and let them know you want to get involved…and thank you!
| REGION | LOCATION | STAFF CELEBRATION LEAD |
| CENTRAL | Bloomington, Champaign, Sycamore | Lisa Pieper |
| NORTHERN | Rockford | Lisa Pieper |
| SOUTHERN | Granite City, Alton, Belleville,
East St. Louis, Herrin |
Kristina Blake, Angie Nissen |
| METRO | Western, Des Plaines | Pat Whitten |
| Wacker | Cathy Brady, Erika Vannerson | |
| Marshfield, Hazel Crest, Joliet | Yolanda Thompson | |
| Evanston-Rice | Keith Polan | |
| Carpentersville-Hoffman Center | Mary Schuring | |
| Englewood-Mitzi Freidheim | Tiffany Carter | |
| Palatine | Linda Wywialowski | |
| Schaumburg, Arlington Heights | Robin Byster |
Helpful Materials!
Get the 135th Logo
Web or email version
Download print quality EPS or PDF
How to Talk About the 135th
Wishing you had some easy to use language to tell others about the 135th? Download and use our handy 135th talking points.
What is This Hope With Wings I Keep Hearing About?
In 2018, Children’s Home & Aid celebrates 135 years of caring for Illinois’ most vulnerable children and families. In commemoration of this occasion, CEO Nancy Ronquillo and trustee Paul Wood will take flight in a vintage two-seater plane to visit four of our program sites across Illinois, raising funds and friends along the way. At each stop on the Hope with Wings – The Spirit of Children’s Home & Aid tour they will collect commemorative items and “Dreams for the Future” from children and families, staff, volunteers and members of the community, to be included in a ceremonial time capsule, connecting the past of each location with the future of our agency. The capsule will be opened on our 150th anniversary in 2033.
We will be distributing Hopes for the Future butterflies to offices across the state to share with all of you and our clients that can be included in the time capsules. Those are being distributed the week of April 23rd.
The tour will be June 4th – 6th and includes stops in the Chicago suburbs, Rockford, Alton and Bloomington. Learn more about Hope with Wings on our tour website.
