Glenwood names its new leader

One year after a budget crisis threatened to shutter the Glenwood School for Boys and Girls' campus west of St. Charles, the nonprofit school for at-risk kids is putting its future in the hands of a veteran educator whose resume includes 20 years at a similar organization downstate.

Samuel P. Banks, outgoing president and chief executive officer of Urbana's Cunningham Children's Home, was tapped this month to replace Glenwood chief John Irwin, who's retiring after 18 years.

According to Glenwood officials, Banks' leadership was the reason the Urbana school was able to go from serving 57 children under an annual budget of less than $1 million to being a $12.5 million operation with 222 employees. He has a "passion for making a difference in the lives of at-risk children," they said.

In a statement, Banks said he's "excited about the opportunity to be a part of the work and mission of Glenwood. It's an organization that's made a tremendous impact on the lives of hundreds of young people and their families for many years, and I'm anxious to play a leadership role in continuing the excellent tradition of care and education for Glenwood students in the years to come."

For a while, though, it didn't look like there would be any years to come for Glenwood -- not in the St. Charles area, anyway.

Last April, the school was teetering under a $3 million shortfall in its operating budget, and officials at the time said it might be forced to close its Fox Valley campus along Silver Glen Road. The crisis was averted by a free-for-all fundraiser that lasted only a matter of weeks. Temporary enrollment cuts also shored up some funds.

While the search that resulted in Banks' hiring was on a national level, Glenwood had to look no further than the Chicago area for its new board chairman, who was brought in about the same time they identified Banks as the lead candidate. Norm Wesley, veteran chairman of the board for Fortune Brands, took over in December.

"I've been inspired by the mission of Glenwood School for Boys and Girls for many years, so I'm delighted to serve as chairman of the board of trustees," Wesley said, according to a news release.

"Along with my fellow trustees and the school's leaders, I'm looking forward to working with Sam Banks to provide opportunities and hope to hundreds of children and families seeking a brighter future."

Headquartered at its main campus in Glenwood, the school serves roughly 280 children identified as "at-risk" because of issues such as the death of a parent, divorce, poverty, violence and substance abuse. It serves about 60 communities.

Rose Day: Time is running out to get in on this year's Rose Day sale, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club's St. Charles chapter.

By buying a bouquet of a dozen long-stemmed roses for $20, you'll be indirectly helping some of the many good organizations the Kiwanis Club supports, including Glenwood School, Lazarus House, CASA Kane County and the Fox Valley Special Recreation Association, among others.

Orders will be available for pickup from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22 at Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St. For details, call (630) 584-1055.