Discover volunteers put muscle into renovating One Hope United campus

Two hundred volunteers from Discover and Chicago Cares gave a serious makover Friday to One Hope United’s 36-acre campus in Lake Villa.

The campus houses 30 boys ages 10-18, most of whom have experienced severe abuse. One Hope United provides counseling, therapy and individualized educational services with a goal to transition the boys to live with a family in the community. The campus also has a therapeutic day school for 45 boys in grades 7-12.

“The boys and the staff at One Hope United are grateful for efforts from volunteers like those from Discover to improve the facilities on our campus,” said Mark McHugh, executive director of One Hope United. “And we could never manage the logistics of 200 volunteers on one day without the fantastic coordination of Chicago Cares.”

Discover volunteers landscaped the front entrance; moved the boys’ furniture and belongings to another building so renovation can begin on the old building; began demolishing the kitchen in the old building; installed basketball and volleyball equipment, installed benches and built cubbies so the kids can store their stuff.

Discover partnered with Chicago Cares as part of its Discover Cares Month, an annual volunteer initiative. Chicago Cares works to better communities through volunteer projects. Volunteer transportation, supplies, training and food are coordinated through Chicago Cares.

For more information about either One Hope United, Chicago Cares or Discover, visit www.onehopeunited.org; www.chicagocares.org and www.discover.com/company.