'Evening in Wonderland' gala signals Shelter Inc.'s new energy
Shelter Inc. in Arlington Heights has been caring for abused and neglected children for more than 40 years, but it seems the organization's services are needed now more than ever.
At its annual charity ball on Friday, Executive Director Carina Santa Maria told the nearly 300 guests that the agency's two adolescent group homes - one for boys in Palatine and another for girls in Schaumburg - are at capacity.
"We're seeing a real increase in the need for services for teens, whether it be for mental health services or responding to homelessness," Santa Maria said. "In fact, we're learning that the highest number of homeless youth, outside of the Chicago Public Schools, are in Arlington Heights, Palatine and Wheeling."
Hearing those numbers only reaffirms Shelter's mission, Santa Maria added.
"I feel like we're kind of the best-kept secret," she added, "and we're out to change that."
Sharing the agency's story - and the number of clients it serves - at Friday night's gala advanced that goal, leaders said.
"This is definitely an opportunity to tell our mission - and describe what we do on a daily basis," said Guy Eisenhuth of Deer Park, immediate past president board chair.
The new board president, Leslie Carlson of Mundelein, said the evening's whimsical "Evening in Wonderland" theme was intentional and a way to signal the agency's new energy.
"This is our major fundraiser," Carlson said. "It's really important to reinvigorate our donors, volunteers and business partners and set the tone for the future."
During the evening, Shelter presented its Paul Buckholz Award to its two health care partners: Amita Healthcare and Northwest Community Hospital.
A pair of administrators accepted the award on behalf of Amita: Katherine Baker, director of the Mother Baby Unit at St. Alexius Hospital in Hoffman Estates, and Karen Moore, director of Women and Infant Services at Alexian Brothers Hospital in Elk Grove Village.
"The Healthy Families program is extremely successful," Moore said. "It's so reassuring for these young parents and provides them with what they need when they go home."
During hospital visits with parents who have been screened by nurses and hospital staff, parents receive referrals for child care, education or health care. Follow-up home visits focus on positive parenting skills, child development and child health information.
The program has proved to be so successful, Shelter recently expanded into Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, as well as Maine Township, the village of Niles and Des Plaines. Their expansion came by way of grants from the Barrington-based Impact 100 and the Illinois State Board of Education.
Steve Scogna, president and CEO of Northwest Community Hospital, added that the hospital works collaboratively with Shelter.
"We've had a long-standing partnership, with this magnificent organization," Scogna said, "and it's one we're proud of."