Bridge Communities / Charitable Giving

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By HM staff

We were delighted to hold a series of events this year, using outdoor and socially-distanced formats, as well as hybrid and virtual events. These activities continued to forge connections between the courageous families we serve and the compassionate individuals in the community who journey alongside our families and help empower them to achieve success. In June, we launched our first Wine Women & Shoes event, which had been delayed for a more than a year due to the pandemic. We were thrilled to debut this long-awaited afternoon at Ruth Lake Country Club, where guests enjoyed a high-energy fashion show, shopping, raffles, auctions, wine tastings and so much more—all to benefit the families served by Bridge Communities. The event raised an unprecedented $215,000 and we are looking forward to holding this event once more in Spring 2022! In 2022, we plan to evolve our housing portfolio and program services to develop a service model to stabilize families in a shorter timeframe and serve as a bridge and/or feeder into our Transitional Housing Program. Our employment services programs will formalize education and training options for non-traditional and tradesman job opportunities. We are continuing to host continuing education for our volunteers via our Mentor University classes. These classes have included topics such as Motivational Coaching, Mentoring During COVID-19 and more. We hosted a virtual volunteer appreciation event, One Heart, One Bridge. We connected with mentors via town-hall meetings to gather insights and recommendations for program evolution. And, we’ve recently created a full-time Volunteer Coordinator staff position, which will increase our engagement with our volunteers in the coming year!

*Photo provided by Bridge Communities

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Kristina and Matthew Bailey began reading books to their son, Owen when he was six months old— they haven’t stopped.
Owen turned 4 in June and recently received an award from the Clarendon Hills Public Library for having had 1,000 books read to him before starting kindergarten.

The library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge is one of a few reading challenge programs offered in Clarendon Hills, where the Bailey family has lived for the past 2 1/2 years.
Kristin Bailey said she saw an ad about the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge and decided it was a good fit for Owen.

“He’s always been really into books,” Bailey said. “He had a natural interest in books at nine months old. That’s when COVID started, and he didn’t get out much, so reading books to him worked out very well. He’s a naturally curious kid, and imagination-building is important. The reading allows him to learn and explore new things, and he really wants to learn to read now.”

Krista Devlin, the Clarendon Hills library’s youth services librarian, said there’s a specific reason The Friends of the Library-sponsored 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge was started in 2022.

“Reading aloud to a child is one of the best ways to help develop important early literacy skills, which will prepare them for kindergarten,” Devlin said. “It is also a great way to bond with your child and to encourage a love of reading.”

Devlin said Owen was the second child to reach the challenge of having 1,000 books read to him before starting kindergarten. He was awarded a certificate, a crown, and his picture was taken to recognize his accomplishment.

Bailey, who said she is “a big reader,” said her family usually goes to the library once a week. Reading three books each night to Owen, along with a book before nap time, is the household normal.

“Consistency in our routine has been good and is important,” she said, adding that Owen’s two sisters, ages 2 1/2 and 1

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