Shelter, Inc. celebrates 30 years with gala
Supporters of Shelter, Inc. went back to the future Friday, as they held their 30th charity ball - in the same Hyatt Regency Schaumburg where they first created the signature event, which heightened their name and mission across the Northwest suburbs.
It was in 1987 that the grass-roots agency heeded the suggestion of the Hyatt's general manager at the time, and threw a charity ball, with the goal of raising money for a boys' group home.
That same general manager, Heinz Kern, returned this year to receive Shelter's highest honor, the Paul Buckholz Award, named for the Arlington Heights police officer who started the organization.
"I've been in the hotel business all my life and I knew that if they were going to have a fundraiser, they had to do it right," said Kern, who now serves as vice president of Tamar Productions, a Chicago-based special events company. "We wanted to set the standard."
Right from the first ball, organizers went all out designing its theme and decorations. This year was no different, with strands of pearls and feathers at each table, lending themselves to a "Great Gatsby" kind of evening. The front of a classic Rolls-Royce even peered out over the stage.
Pat La Mont of Schaumburg has attended all 30 charity balls. He joined its committee after attending the first gala and wound up serving on its board of directors for 17 years.
"We've supported lots of charities, but this one is local," La Mont said. "You can see the good they are doing in the community."
Shelter's role in the community, which is to respond to children in the community who are abused, neglected or in need of supervision, remained the focus of the evening.
Shelter serves children and adolescents by providing 24-hour emergency and long-term care through its foster families and group homes in Arlington Heights, Palatine and Schaumburg.
The agency added an educational component 20 years ago, called Healthy Families, aimed at preventing abuse and neglect while also focusing on positive parenting skills.
"We're really proud of that program," said Guy Eisenhuth of Deer Park, board president. "We've never had a child or family go through the program and end up needing emergency care."
Still, Shelter officials point to these surprising statistics: It is estimated that one in five children are abused or neglected, and the most in danger are those up to 3 years old.
"This crisis is very real in the Northwest suburbs," said Carol Brown, Shelter spokesperson. "It would surprise everyone to learn how much our services are needed and how much we need the community's support to help the most vulnerable among us."