Historic Hull House Closing
Late last week, we read the news that the historic and pioneering Jane Addams Hull House will be filing for bankruptcy and closing its doors this spring.
What a tragedy.
New Opportunities and New CEO Kick off 2012 at Bridge Communities
Bridge Communities' new CEO, John Hayner
John Hayner has been hired as Bridge Communities’ new Chief Executive Officer, a shift that moves Bridge forward into a new era of growth and leadership as Bridge transitions into the future.
As CEO, John will be responsible for Bridge’s day to day operations, long-term strategic and organizational planning, and Board communications. He’ll will work closely with and learn from Bridge’s Co-Founder Mark Milligan and Bridge’s Executive Director of Program Joyce Hothan. Mark and Joyce will remain actively involved in the leadership of Bridge Communities, and the rest of the staff remains unchanged.
Here’s some perspective from Bridge Communities Board Chairman Tim Boyd: “Bridge has ambitious goals and plans for the coming years and we are confident that John, in partnership with Mark Milligan and Joyce Hothan, will meet and exceed our expectations. John joins Bridge Communities at a time of substantial community need, as so many DuPage County families struggle to find and maintain affordable housing. John’s leadership will strengthen an already highly skilled team of professional staff and volunteers. Bridge will continue to provide the largest and most effective transitional housing program in DuPage County.”
And in John’s own words: “I’ve always admired Bridge Communities’ dedication to helping homeless families transition to self-sufficiency and Bridge’s long-standing reputation in DuPage County and beyond. Bridge’s broad-based community support, legions of volunteers for mentoring and tutoring, committed board of directors, and superb staff would be the envy of any human services organization. I am pleased to be coming in to see to the continuation of the great legacy established by Mark, Bob, and Joyce.”
John is a long-time Glen Ellyn resident with a deep background in financial and operations management, entrepreneurship, and non-profit management. He was an active volunteer and board member with Anima Young Singers and Teen-Parent Connection. He completed a master’s degree at the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration in 2005, where he continues as Adjunct Faculty. Most recently, John served as Chief Operating Officer of Perspectives Charter School in Chicago.
Congratulations, Joyce!
Joyce Hothan, our Executive Director of Program, has managed our growth over 15 years now. Thanks to her, Bridge Communities has grown from a small grass-roots group of volunteers into a professional staff with 100 client families. Joyce recruited all of our case managers, set up our mentor training, helped to recruit churches to be Program Partners and sponsor apartments. Bridge has grown from 9 families to 100 under her leadership, and developed new ideas along the way such as aptitude testing, employment counseling, and the condominium which involves equity sharing to make ownership more affordable.
Bridge has a lot to be proud of, thanks to Joyce!
Bob Wahlgren, Co-Founder
Helping Dr. King’s Dream Come True
A Martin Luther King Day Reflection by Joyce Hothan
Yesterday I read a review of “My Story”, A Memoir by Harry Belefonte. In the book Harry talks about meeting Dr. King. He says “this man was both determined to do what he saw as his mission – and truly was overwhelmed by it.”
Just this week I reviewed the 2011 Bridge Communities statistics on homeless families who entered our program. 62% of these families were African-American.
We know this far exceeds the number of African-American families residing in DuPage County. As Belefonte notes “The problem faced by most Americans of color seem as dire and entrenched as they were half a century ago.”
We have a lot more work to do to make Dr. King’s dream come true. His life gives us the inspiration at Bridge Communities to continue to make a difference in the lives of homeless families of color. Thank you, Dr. King, for that inspiration!
Joyce Hothan, Executive Director
630-545-0610 x11
New Year’s Resolutions
From Joyce Hothan, Bridge Communities’ Executive Director…
I made only one New Year’s resolution this year. My resolution is to dance more!
For those of you who know me well, this might not come as a surprise. I think I enjoy dancing more than eating, which says a lot. “Why?” you ask? Simple…it makes me feel good! Latin dances tend to be my favorite, but fast rock & roll and jive are fun, too!
It ‘s a good thing, too, because I know that we all are “dancing as fast as we can” at Bridge to serve the ever-increasing number of homeless families coming to our door. Last year, we served more families than ever, and this year’s goals are to exceed those. Actually, you all have joined in this dance. And as I said in the beginning, it makes me feel great! Let’s keep dancin’! Happy New Year!
The Garage Party
Cold? Bored? Hungry? Thirsty?
No worries. We’ve got it all covered in one great night: The Garage Party. Hosted by Bridge Builders, The Garage Party is your solution to the winter blues.
On Saturday, February 4th, 400 of your closest friends will be at Gearhead European Automotive in Glen Ellyn, listening to tunes by Local Favorite, sipping wine from Cab’s Wine Bar Bistro and nibbling on munchies from Tap House Grill.
Not only will you be fighting extreme boredom by having an extremely fun time…you’ll also be helping a great cause. The funds raised at The Garage Party directly benefit Bridge Communities’ Auto Donation Program, which provides safe, reliable transportation to homeless families in Bridge’s Transitional Housing Program.
The Garage Party takes place from 7 p.m. to midnight on February 4th at Gearhead, 474 Forest Avenue in Glen Ellyn. Tickets for The Garage Party are on sale now for $40 per person. Questions? Email bridgebuildersge@yahoo.com.
Bridge Families Celebrate Christmas Together
On Friday, December 9, Bridge Communities’ client families celebrated the holidays together at a joyful private party at The DuPage Children’s Museum in Naperville. Approximately 230 people attended; the guest list included Bridge client families, staff, volunteers and special guests.
The entire Museum was open for the celebration. The heart of the party took place in the lower level, where a scrumptious feast from Barone’s of Glen Ellyn awaited.
Revelers were serenaded by a band of merry carolers, courtesy of Naperville Evangelical Covenant Church and DuPage AME Church.
Bridge Builders manned Santa’s Workshop, where children in Bridge’s Transitional Housing Program were able to shop (for free!) for Christmas gifts for their parents.
Santa Claus made a special appearance and surprised each child with the gift of reading – each child received a personally selected, gift-wrapped, age-appropriate book, courtesy of The Bookstore Glen Ellyn and Anderson’s Bookshop’s Book Angels program. In addition, each family received gift cards from Naperville Covenant Church, an endeavor of its Windy City Project, a mission outreach program.
Steve Jurkovic Photography donated services to capture the joy of the festivities.
Homeless families endure so much stress in their everyday lives. Bridge Communities is grateful to every contributor who helped make the Bridge Family Christmas Party a carefree evening of joyful celebration for Bridge families. Thank you, and Merry Christmas!
Create Your Own Extended Family – Adopt One!
Many people associate “family” with the holiday season. We spend time with families. We celebrate family traditions. We send cards and gifts to our families. We reminisce about past holidays celebrated with family.
This year, why not create your own extended family? Adopt a homeless family that’s currently in Bridge Communities’ Transitional Housing Program, and you can give even more during the season of giving. When you adopt a Bridge client family, you’ll experience the joy of giving love and hope to a Bridge family.
To adopt a family, simply visit https://bridgecommunities.org/how-you-can-help/adopt-a-family.html to use our online donation form. A $25 donation will provide a new toy for a homeless child. A donation of $50 will clothe a homeless child in a warm coat, boots, gloves, a hat and scarf. A $100 donation will provide the extra food needed during the holiday school break.
Or, you can donate a gift card to a Bridge mom so she can shop for her family’s holiday needs. Gift cards from Target, Kohl’s, Wal-Mart and major grocery chain stores like Jewel and Dominick’s can be mailed to:
Bridge Communities
Adopt a Family
505 Crescent Blvd.
Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
Your generosity will bring great joy to your extended Bridge family this holiday season!
Thanks for Giving
When I walked into the Bridge Communities the office the other day, I was overwhelmed by what I saw: almost 100 beautifully adorned gift bags full of Thanksgiving groceries – mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, gravy, dessert, and beautifully hand-crafted cards - each bag complete with a gift card for purchasing a turkey.
One of Bridge’s Program Partners generously donated the gift bags – one for each client family in Bridge Communities’ Transitional Housing Program.
Imagine being homeless on Thanksgiving. On Christmas. On your birthday.
Imagine not being able to provide your family the traditions you hold dear. The celebrations they deserve.
Fortunately, Bridge’s client families don’t have to worry about any of that anymore. They have the shelter of a Bridge Communities apartment. They have the services of Bridge case managers and volunteer mentors. And they have the Thanksgiving feast provided by kind-hearted supporters like you.
As I sit with my family this Thanksgiving, I will give thanks for my job at Bridge Communities, and for the incredible colleagues I am blessed to work with. I will give thanks for Mark Milligan and Bob Wahlgren for creating Bridge, and for Joyce Hothan for developing the Program into what it is today. I will give thanks for the hundreds of generous volunteers and donors who give of their time, talent and treasure.
This Thanksgiving, what can you give . . . and for what will you give thanks?
Insights from Stephen King
I know what you’re thinking – “Stephen King? Bridge Communities? I don’t get it.”
Bear with me. I recently heard a message in which the speaker referenced Stephen King’s commencement address to the 2001 graduating class at Vassar College. In his address, King spoke at length about the importance of giving. The speaker also talked about how many of us aren’t “programmed” to give; it’s not inherently within us, and that’s OK. We certainly can nurture our own giving, practice it, and exercise it to make it stronger.
Take a few minutes to read and consider what Stephen King shared with Vassar’s newly-minted alumni. I think you’ll be glad you did…
“A couple years ago I found out what ‘you can’t take it with you’ means. I found out while I was lying in a ditch at the side of a country road, covered with mud and blood and with the tibia of my right leg poking out the side of my jeans like a branch of a tree taken down in a thunderstorm. I had a MasterCard in my wallet, but when you’re lying in a ditch with broken glass in your hair, no one accepts MasterCard.
“We all know that life is ephemeral, but on that particular day and in the months that followed, I got a painful but extremely valuable look at life’s simple backstage truths. We come in naked and broke. We may be dressed when we go out, but we’re just as broke. Warren Buffet? Going to go out broke. Bill Gates? Going out broke. Tom Hanks? Going out broke. Steven King? Broke. Not a crying dime.
“All the money you earn, all the stocks you buy, all the mutual funds you trade – all of that is mostly smoke and mirrors. It’s still going to be a quarter-past getting late whether you tell the time on a Timex or a Rolex. No matter how large your bank account, no matter how many credit cards you have, sooner or later things will begin to go wrong with the only three things you have that you can really call your own: your body, your spirit, and your mind.
“So I want you to consider making your life one long gift to others. And why not? All you have is on loan, anyway. All that lasts is what you pass on…
“We have the power to help, the power to change. And why should we refuse? Because we’re going to take it with us? Please. Giving is a way of taking the focus off the money we make and putting it back where it belongs – on the lives we lead, the families we raise, the communities that nurture us.
“A life of giving – not just money, but time and spirit – repays. It helps us remember that we may be going out broke, but right now we’re doing O.K. Right now we have the power to do great good for others and for ourselves.
”So I ask you to begin giving, and to continue as you began. I think you’ll find in the end that you got far more than you ever had, and did more good than you ever dreamed.”
If you are interested in exploring giving opportunities with Bridge Communities, please contact Amy Van Polen.
Thank you.
