Schaumburg day care center finally opens doors
Children's Home and Aid Society of Illinois this week finally opened the doors of its long-delayed low-income day care center in Schaumburg.
Not only did the 42 children already cared for at Our Saviour's United Methodist Church next door get to move over to the new center, but so did eight new children whose families had been waiting for the increase in capacity.
Come Monday, at least three more children are expected.
Because the facility's license arrived just last week, the agency hasn't even been able to advertise its increased capacity yet, said Karen Selman, vice president of Northwest Suburban Services for Children's Home and Aid.
Once that gets going, the new building should reach its 110-child limit by June 30.
Applicants for placement at the day care are prioritized along certain guidelines: Victims of abuse or neglect are accepted first, followed by the children of adolescent parents and then low-income parents. After that, children are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, with priority given to Schaumburg families.
The center was still in the early weeks of construction in 2003 when it fell victim to a state funding freeze imposed by then-newly-sworn-in Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
For more than five years after, the project remained little more than a modern art exhibit of reddish-colored steel beams at the southwest corner of Schaumburg and Plum Grove roads.
But that ended last year when a committee of local business people formed to raise private funds to pay off a $1.8 million loan and complete construction.
John Rippinger, president of the Rippinger Financial Group of Companies and a founding committee member, was gratified by the center's opening.
"I couldn't be more proud that it's there," he said. "But we've got a huge job fundraising to pay for it now."
The committee has already raised $200,000, but last month received a challenge from the Kresge Foundation to provide the final $500,000 if the rest of the money is raised by Sept. 1.
"I cannot leave $500,000 on the table," Rippinger vowed. "It's too big a number."
And he says he's not daunted by the effect the economy may have on potential donors.
"It's the old story: If fundraising were easy, everyone would be doing it," he laughed.
A center dedication will take place Saturday, March 7, and though that event is by invitation, the public is welcome to arrange a tour of the center by calling (630) 671-2400.
Information on donating to the day care center can be found at childrenshomeandaid.org.