Donation helps fund new shelter for homeless women and children

Ryan Delp, an insurance agent at Bradish Associates, Ltd., in Arlington Heights, presented a check for $6,000 to Lake County Haven on Wednesday, May 2. The award came from the charitable foundation of Socius Insurance Services, Inc., based in Elgin, Illinois. Socius is a wholesale brokerage firm that Bradish works alongside to serve clients. Delp nominated Lake County Haven to receive the funds, and the organization was selected as a recipient for 2018.

The award comes at a particularly good time for the Libertyville-based organization. Lake County Haven is currently in the midst of a capital campaign to expand the number of people it can help by opening a new shelter. The new shelter will provide a safe place to stay for an additional 10 women and their children as well as access to counseling and other services for families affected by homelessness and abusive relationships.

Founded in 1992, Lake County Haven has been helping homeless women and children for more than 25 years. Its mission is to support and empower women to leave homelessness behind and achieve independence and self-sufficiency. "With our new shelter we will be able to help more women and children, providing the things that most people take for granted, such as having enough food to eat and enjoying a safe and secure space to sleep and keep one's things," said Executive Director Laura Sabino. The new shelter will also provide access to professional counseling and medical care. "Services like these help families heal from the trauma of falling into homelessness and living in survival mode on the streets."

Sabino is confident the money will be put to good use: "We appreciate this support as we look toward opening the new site. This donation will directly impact the lives of many women and their families, beginning in the very near future." Bradish Associates has been active in helping the local community for nearly 40 years. "We are always looking for opportunities to advocate for our clients, especially not-for-profit organizations, which definitely need new sources of funding," said Delp. "We are glad to be able to work with Socius to help organizations like Lake County Haven."

Bradish Associates is a family-owned, independent insurance agency. Established in 1980, its ongoing mission is to focus on finding the best insurance policies to meet the unique needs of each client, whether a business, not-for-profit organization, an individual or a family. Bradish Associates is at 215 N. Arlington Heights Rd., in Arlington Heights. To learn more, visit www.bradish.com. To contribute to the new shelter fund or learn more about Lake County Haven, visit www.lakecountyhaven.org.