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PASA?PASA? NEWS FROM ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF CHICAGO

Spring 2008ASSOCIATION HOUSE

ESTABLISHED 1899

WE SERVE A MULTI-CULTURAL COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING

COMPREHENSIVE, COLLABORATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PROGRAMS IN ENGLISH AND

SPANISH. WE PROMOTE HEALTH AND WELLNESS AND CREATE OPPORTUNITIES

FOR EDUCATIONAL AND ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT.

West TownHumboldt Park

AvondaleHermosa

Logan Squareand beyond

A publication of Association House of Chicago © 2008

¿Que Pasa?¿Que Pasa? EditorCynthia L. Schmidt CFRE

Association House1116 N. Kedzie Ave

Chicago, IL 60651

Tel: 773-772-7170

www.associationhouse.org

It was a dark and chilly night in Chicago, but the candlelit dining room at Association House was full of warmth and friendship at the annual Association House Board Appreciation Dinner held each winter. The event brought donors, volunteers and staff together for a memorable evening. This year’s celebration honored Paul T. Metzger as the Association House of Chicago’s 2007 Person of the Year in recognition of his nearly 25 years of service on the Board of Directors. Tributes during the evening included remarks from former Campaign Chairs, Tricia Rosenberg, (who traveled from Santa Fe for the celebration), and Ronald Kurz. They thanked Paul for his active role in helping the Campaign for Association House Opening Doors to a New Century meet and exceed its goal. Former Board members Mary Naftzger and Hugo Rodriguez

extended their personal thanks to Paul for his visionary leadership and his tireless support of the mission and work of Association House. Harriet’s remarks were the highlight of the evening, as she read “old” Board minutes in a wonderful tribute that spanned Paul’s early Board involvement at Association House. “History was in the making at Association House and clearly from the minutes you can see that from Paul’s very fi rst Board meeting in 1984, his ever present wisdom and guidance was a strong presence that gave confi dence and encouragement to both the Board and Leadership Staff” expressed Harriet. Today, Paul’s service is as strong as ever. He continues to serve in leadership positions on the Board, including Program, Finance and Executive Committees. Through Paul’s dedication and generosity of spirit to Association House, he continues to create important opportunities for the agency. Among his many contributions, Paul’s most recent help with the extensive work of Bond refi nancing for Association House’s main building located on N. Kedzie Avenue, provides for the long term fi nancial stability and current renovation of the property.

Paul was accompanied at the dinner by his wife Sarah Bradley, and his oldest son, Tim. Paul’s two other sons, Chris and Andy, sent their greetings. Paul is a partner with the law fi rm of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP in Chicago.

Association House honors Paul Metzger

Don’t Miss The Faces Faces ofof Hope BenefitHope Benefit will be held on Friday, May 16, 2008 at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. Benefi t Chairs Cynthia Ullrich and Mark Allen, along with the Board of Directors will host the 14th annual Benefi t at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago. All funds

raised directly support the programs offered by Association House. Invitations are available by calling 773-772-8162 or e-mailing your request to facesofhope@associationhouse.org.

Association House extends appreciation to the 2008 Faces Faces ofof Hope Hope

Premier Sponsors.

aised directly supporth g ff d

Pa l Met ge

From L to R:From L to R: Executive Director Harriet Sadauskas, Paul Executive Director Harriet Sadauskas, Paul Metzger and Board President Nile Wendorf.Metzger and Board President Nile Wendorf.

DONOR’S CORNER

In a continuation of a partnership that endured for a remarkable 22 years, Association House of Chicago gratefully acknowledges a generous grant from the Sara Lee Foundation. Support from Sara Lee helped Association House provide more than 100,000 pounds of food to approximately 2,800 families last year through the Association House Food Pantry. The Food Pantry, a program of Income Support Services, serves as the key entry point for individuals needing economic and educational advancement opportunities.

Become Involved: How you can HelpHow you can Help An exciting, new live auction item at the Faces of Hope Benefit this year will be a Collection of Fine Wine featuring 50 bottles of selected wines, personally donated by friends of Association House. Please kick-off our collection by donating a bottle (or two!) of your favorite wine. All wines will benefi t the Gala and any wine not used in the collection will enhance other auction packges. All wines and donors will be listed in the Program Book.

The community served by Associciation House faces diffi cult health challenges, including alarming asthma rates in children, extraordinarily high death rates caused by diabetes, hypertension, childhood obesity and other preventable diseases. In 2005, Associaton House created the Healthy Lifesytles program to offer services that address these critical issues with education and wellness activities. The primary focus of the Association House’s Healthy Lifestyles Program is to promote a healthy diet and exercise for our children and families. Healthy Lifestyles reaches out to the community in a variety of ways like the Salsa Sabor y Salud Program, which provides culturally appropriate and fun nutritional information. Presentations, classes, workshops

and demonstrations about maintaining health and preventing serious illness are combined with strategic services such as a locally-produced and affordable fresh fruit and vegetable service, nutritionally balanced Food Pantry distributions and free access to recreation and sports. Association House staff provide these services in collaboration with other agencies, both on-site at Association House and at High Schools, Day Care and Community Centers. This year, Association House will again host the fall Fitness for Kids Health Fair. This event increases community knowledge about the risks associated with childhood inactivity and subsequent obesity, and educates families about how to manage their health and wellness through physical movement, nutritional eating and

education. The Fitness for Kids fair begins with a community bike ride and offers free classes, products and health services along with music, dance and martial arts performances throughout the day. For general information about the fair please call 773-772-7170. Association House is grateful to the many generous donors of the Healthy Lifestyles program, including Kraft Foods, the Oberweiler Foundation and the Aetna Foundation. If you are interested in supporting the Healthy Lifestyles program, or know of any individuals, businesses, congregations or civic groups that may be able to help sponsor program initiatives, or donate healthy snacks and other items, please call 773-772-8165.

Healthy Lifestyles Program Profi le

Verizon Wireless Recognizes Student Verizon Wireless continues to deepen their relationship with the community and their partnership with Association House of Chicago. In March, Erica Sevilla, Public Relations Manager at Verizon Wireless, presented two concert tickets to an outstanding student from the Association House alternative High School, El Cuarto Año. Erica personally met Raul Gomez, a student in his fi nal year at Association House, and awarded him two tickets to RBD, the Latin-Grammy Award winning Mexican pop group, from Verizon Wireless, the national sponsor of the RBD tour. In addition to the tickets, Raul received RBD clothing and a poster. Raul credits his educational success to the “small classes and great teachers” at El Cuarto Año. “The teachers say so many things that make you feel you

can do anything” he stated. Raul enrolled at Association House after he left a school which he described as “a constant battle.” El Cuarto Año offers students who have offi cially dropped-out of High School a second opportunity to graduate with their High School diploma. The inquiry-based curriculum and one on one mentoring help students acquire skills that are relevant to their lives, and ensure post-secondary success. Raul feels that the school has “a full focus on education.” Erica explained that “Verizon Wireless is pleased to be able to recognize organizations like Association House that are affecting positive change in the communities we serve. Raul is an exemplary student who can serve as a symbol of hope for other students who are ready to give up – he shows us that where there’s a will there’s a way.”

Erica Sevilla from Verizon Wireless and Raul Gomez, a fi nal year El Cuarto Año student.

Cheers!Cheers!If you would like to donate wine or any auction item please call

773-772-8114. (All wines donated by May 1st will be included in

the Program Book)