Hundreds help Fellowship Housing

Over 240 Northwest suburban guests gathered at the Schaumburg Renaissance Hotel & Convention Center recently to celebrate and raise funds for Hoffman-Estates based nonprofit, Fellowship Housing.

In existence for 17 years, Fellowship Housing exists to transform the lives of single-mother-led families, who are homeless or at risk. Families are accepted into Fellowship's two-year transitional housing program and learn to become financially independent through intensive case management and holistic mentoring.

The event, the first-ever of its kind for Fellowship Housing, was chaired by Inverness resident Karen Fitzgerald, who also serves as president of the board; honorary chair was Mrs. Illinois/America 2008 Lisa Dean Niewolny, also an Inverness resident. Former NFL linebacker and Palatine resident Jim Schwantz served as master of ceremonies.

Guests were inspired by the personal testimony of one of the mothers in the Fellowship Housing program, Emily Christ. Christ told the guests about her struggles as a child, having experienced the death of her mother at a young age, and how she had been raised by an emotionally abusive alcoholic father. As a young woman she suffered a crippling divorce that left her without the means to support herself and her two young boys.

Christ spoke of the progress she has made since joining the program, including the accomplishments of debt retirement, building a savings plan, restoring self-esteem and achieving enhanced parenting skills. She also excitedly told supporters that she had just been accepted by Habitat for Humanity to receive a home. "My big dream of owning my own home is coming true! I am here tonight as proof that miracles really can and do happen. Because of Fellowship Housing's program, I will soon be able to stand in my own living room and live the message of this gala, There's No Place Like Home"stated Christ.

Susan Forbes, executive director of Fellowship Housing, told guests, "Some of you have been part of this life-changing work for many years. I want to invite all of you to join Fellowship Housing in its mission to change the life of a mom and change generations to come."

"There's No Place Like Home" was generously sponsored by FFP, LLC, Orsini Home Medical Equipment, Alexian Brothers Children's Hospital, Barrington Realty Advisors LLC, Charter National Bank and Trust, The Commercial Real Estate Fellowship, The Frankini Family, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation and several anonymous donors.