Lincolnshire firm helps Special Olympics at its new home

A regional organization that provides services to about 3,000 athletes is benefiting from a special relationship with a Lincolnshire-based company.

Interior Investments LLC, which designs and equips work places for corporate and institutional clients, was working close to home on Thursday, outfitting a new, expanded office for Special Olympics Illinois.

From design of the four-room office suite to the installation of high-end equipment, the value of the donated time and materials was set at about $50,000.

“Part of our culture is to provide service to the community,” said Michelle Weiner, vice president of strategic development for the $120 million per year business. “This is very important.”

The charitable donation is significant for the organization, which provides services for child and adult athletes involving nearly two dozen sports. Its Area 13 office, which covers Lake and McHenry counties, has been located for several years in a building owned by one of the Special Olympics of Illinois board members at 103 Schelter Road in Lincolnshire.

When a larger space in the building became available, the organization moved forward with an expansion. The Area 18 office in Rolling Meadows, which covers North Suburban Cook County, will also move to that space.

Operations begin in the new space Monday, with Area 18 coming over as of Dec. 1, according to Area Director Dan Conley.

Eventually, two new staffers will be hired to assist with development and sports competitions. Special Olympics hosts one or more athletic competitions every month and is beginning its basketball season.

Conley said his office has been hosted by another organization, which owned the furniture making the Interior Investments’ donation of desks, chairs, and other equipment for the new space particularly timely.

“I’d be sitting on the floor,” he joked. “We are kind of in awe, really,” he added. “Very much.”

Interior Investments has a long involvement with the organization. Donations from the company’s annual Office Chair Hockey Tournament at Navy Pier, which began in 2008, has totaled $135,000, for example.

Weiner, a Chicago resident, also has had a personal connection, as her son has been a Special Olympics athlete for 12 years. She said both her sons volunteer in the organization’s regional office in Chicago.

Interior Investments officials knew Area 13 was located in the area. But because the majority of the interaction with the organization is in Chicago, it wasn’t until recently they became aware the office was just blocks away from their headquarters.

“This will be the first step in an ongoing relationship,” Weiner said.