Paint-A-Thon marks 20th year

A milestone quietly passed last month, when supporters gathered at an Arlington Heights banquet hall to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Community Paint-A-Thon.

Since 1987, some 582 homes in the North and Northwest suburbs have received a fresh coat of paint, some light repairs and an overall new lease on life.

Last month alone, volunteers worked in teams to paint 23 homes throughout the North and Northwest suburbs.

Chipping in to supply the manpower over the years have been more than 11,000 volunteers, including church groups, corporate teams, youth groups, high school service clubs, Rotary and other service organizations, and Scout troops.

One constant through it all, has been the support of officials with Valspar Coating in Wheeling, who have donated all the paint -- an estimated 11,000 gallons -- all 20 years.

"It's always been the goal of the group to help older adults and persons with disabilities to keep up the appearance of their houses, and remain in their own communities," says Sue Ellen Burlini, disabilities coordinator for Wheeling Township.

In all, the program traditionally covers a 10-township area, including residents in Barrington, Elk Grove, Hanover, Maine, New Trier, Niles, Northfield, Palatine, Schaumburg and Wheeling townships.

Maureen Statland is a unit educator with University of Illinois' Extension Services. She has served on the Paint-A-Thon committee for 17 years, including the 12 as its chairman, and she can recite its statistics nearly by heart. But it is the faces of the homeowners -- and energetic volunteers -- that she will carry with her, as she stepped down from the role this year.

"To work with such a dedicated group of individuals is a rare privilege," Statland says. "And, to be able to talk with some of the homeowners, at the end of paint day, or at the periodic celebrations, and hear what it means to have their homes looking so much better, makes all the effort worthwhile."

At the anniversary celebration, Statland turned over her chairman's role to Nancy Janssen, director of the Pavilion Senior Center in Wheeling, who takes over the reigns.