Bridge Communities latest news & events

Welcome New Program Partner

03/01/2009 11:59 PM

Welcome Lombard Christian Reformed Church (LCRC)

Lombard CRC Partners with Bridge Communities to Help Homeless Families

The Lombard Christian Reformed Church located at 2020 S. Meyers Road in Lombard, has joined 42 other faith-based and community action groups across DuPage County as a Program Partner with Bridge Communities, the largest transitional housing program in the County – providing over 70,000 housing nights each year.

“Surprisingly, DuPage County is home for 50,000 working poor families who live one paycheck away from becoming homeless,” says Bridge Communities president, Mark Milligan. “Our phones ring over 1100 times a year with calls from persons who are experiencing a housing crisis. We are always looking for new community organizations to partner with us in our mission to help move homeless families from financial instability to a more secure future.”

The Lombard Christian Reformed Church began work with a homeless family from DuPage County in January. The church provides a support structure, financial support, and volunteer mentors who work with the family over the two-year program period. Bridge Communities provides housing and supportive services including employment counseling, educational networking, automobiles, and tutoring. The homeless family, church volunteer mentors and Bridge professional case managers work together to improve the families' financial, educational, employment and familial well-being – all with the goal of self sufficiency at the end of the two-year program period.

“Lombard Christian Reformed Church is concerned about social justice issues affecting our community. Our participation with Bridge Communities will enable our church to tangibly offer 'a cup of cold water' to individuals in need of assistance,” shares Wayne Postma, Program Partner Leader and member of Lombard Christian Reformed Church. “Our church's vision statement says we will 'impact the surrounding community with acts of service,' so our partnership with Bridge Communities is a natural fit.”

For more information about how to become a Bridge Communities Program Partner, please contact Mark Milligan at (630) 545-0610 ext. 10.

Bridge Communities… connecting homeless families to a better future… is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, with offices in Glen Ellyn, whose mission is to provide transitional housing to homeless families in DuPage County through partnerships with faith-based and community organizations who provide mentoring relationships which root homeless families into local neighborhoods. In the past 20 years, Bridge Communities has helped over 2000 people cross the bridge from homelessness to self sufficiency and permanent housing.

Tellabs Foundation Awards Grant

07/20/2009 11:51 AM

Bridge Communities Receives $18,000 Grant from Tellabs Foundation

Bridge Communities – a not-for-profit, transitional housing program serving homeless families in DuPage County - received an $18,000 grant from Tellabs Foundation. The funds will provide the capital improvements needed to install computer and internet networking in nine Bridge owned transitional housing apartment buildings.

“Reliable internet service is critical to every member within the family as they work towards improving their education, employment and quality of life,” said Joyce Hothan, executive director of Bridge Communities. “Through the generous gift from Tellabs Foundation Bridge will be able to provide reliable internet services, at a very affordable rate, to many of the formerly homeless families served through our Transitional Housing Program.”

Bridge Communities partners with 46 faith-based and community-action groups in DuPage County to serve more than 100 homeless families each year. The community partners provide mentors who encourage and work with a family over a two-year period to help them develop life-skills and financial literacy that will lead to long-term independence.

The Tellabs Foundation was established by Tellabs, a global telecommunications equipment provider based in Naperville, Illinois. The Foundation supports the priority areas of education, health and the environment in communities where Tellabs employees live and work. Since 1997, the Foundation has given more than $12 million to nonprofit organizations. More information about the Tellabs Foundation can be found at www.tellabs.com/about/community.shtml.

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Bridge Communities… connecting homeless families to a better future … is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, with offices in Glen Ellyn, whose mission is to provide transitional housing to homeless families in DuPage County through partnerships with faith-based and community organizations who provide mentoring relationships which root homeless families into local neighborhoods. In the past 22 years, Bridge Communities has helped over 2000 people cross the bridge from homelessness to permanent housing. Visit www.bridgecommunities.org for more information about how Bridge is transforming the lives of DuPage County homeless families.

Bridge Builders

03/01/2009 11:58 PM

Creating a Bridge to a Brighter Future

Bridge Builders began with a desire to help homeless families in our communities. It was founded in 2003 by a small group of Glen Ellyn friends who wanted to to increase awareness about Bridge Communities, as well as sponsor entertaining, fun and educational opportunities for client families - in particular the children.

Over the years, Bridge Builders has offered several educational seminars and family-focused activities that have helped enrich client families' experiences while in the Bridge Communities Transitional Housing program. The Bridge Builders has sponsored nutrition counseling sessions, cooking workshops, relationship and dating workshops, family picnics and other family fun activities. The Bridge Builders has helped underwrite costs for summer day and overnight camps, music lessons, family portraits, holiday meals and special family events, such as a basketball game to see the Harlem Globe Trotters. The Bridge Builders also provides child care for client families at Bridge Communities' sponsored events and meetings.

Bridge Communities' Scholarship Fund

But what the Bridge Builders is most proud of is the scholarship program developed for the youth that are in the Transitional Housing program. The Bridge Builders' Scholarship Fund is designed to enrich the lives of teens and young adults in the Bridge Communities program through traditional education, social, health, fitness and personal development.

Funds raised for the Scholarship Fund has helped children/youth:

attend YMCA fitness camp
attend Bulls Basketball Skills camp
attend local park district football camp
participate in karate lessons
participate in a class field trip to Springfield, Illinois
attend COD education courses
purchase electric scooter for physically challenged high school student
attend overnight summer camps
attend overnight Christian faith development and leadership camps
participate in Equine Therapy Camp for a children who had been in foster care

Most notably the Bridge Builder's Scholarship Fund has provided SIX renewable $1,500 college scholarships to graduating high school seniors that are attending accredited universities, including:

Southern Illinois University
University of Illinois at Chicago
College of DuPage
Benedictine University
Milwaukee School of Engineering

Bridge Builders Fundraising Events

Bridge Builders sponsors two fundraising events each year: End of Summer Bash and The Garage Party

End of Summer Bash

Held annually at the end of August, the End of Summer Bashis the last hurrah to summer. The Bash brings together nearly 350 Bridge Communities friends and neighbors for a casual, relaxed party to enjoy one last night of summer while at the same time help homeless families in our communities. The event features an impressive silent auction (funds are used to support the Scholarship Fund), a DJ, cocktails, hors d' oeuvres and hours of dancing.

The Garage Party

Held annually in January, The Garage Party is the "IT" party of the season. Proceeds from The Garage Party benefit the Bridge Communities' Auto Donation Program. Many of our families enter our Transitional Housing program with no car or one that soon breaks down. Donated used cars are refurbished and given to clients in need of a safe, reliable car for commuting to work and transporting their children to school and child care. Our Auto Donation program is a critical piece to getting our families back on the road to self sufficiency.

On February 7th, nearly 400 guests joined us at The Garage Party. We are thrilled to announce that the Bridge Builders raised more than $23,000 to support the Auto Donation Program of Bridge Communities. Visit Glen Ellyn Life for photos and complete re-cap of The Garage Party.

Become a Bridge Builder

Bridge Builders continues to grow through its membership, fundraising events and geographical impact:

If you are interested in becoming a Bridge Builder, please contact Barbara Arentsen at arentsen@wowway.com
If you are interested in expanding Bridge Builders to your community, please contact Sue Lupori at slupori@att.net
If you are interested in joining the Bridge Builders event mailing list, please contact Kathy Doyle at kdoyle196@aol.com
If you are interested in donating to Bridge Builders, please contact Patricia Lekacz at plekacz@att.net
If you are interested in becoming an event sponsor, please contact Deb Ritter at deb@ritter.name
If you have other questions or ideas to help, please contact Carrie Morris at camorris@wideopenwest.com

Events

01/09/2009 10:13 AM

Fundraising Events to Support Bridge Communities

Bridge Communities hosts or is the beneficiary of five annual fundraising events:

Sleep Out Saturday is the flagship event for Bridge Communities. Held the first Saturday of November, Sleep Out Saturday brings together more than 1,200 DuPage County residents to raise awareness about family homelessness and funds for the Bridge Communities' Transitional Housing program.
Glen Ellyn Garden Walk has become an unofficial gateway into summer. The Garden Walk features approximately six private gardens located in historic Glen Ellyn. Each year featured gardens provide guests with a variety of gardening themes, entertaining spaces and plant species. Held in June the Glen Ellyn Garden Walk benefits the Transitional Housing program for Bridge Communities.
Glen Ellyn Kitchen Walk is hosted by the Glen Ellyn office of Baird and Warner Realtors and benefits the Bridge Communities' Transitional Housing program. Kitchen Walk guests are dazzled by some of Glen Ellyn's most beautiful, extravagant and charming kitchens. Held the first Friday of October, the Kitchen Walk concludes with an elegant cocktail party at the Walk's signature sponsor, Drury Design Kitchen and Bath Studio. More information can be found at www.kitchenwalk.org.
End of Summer Bash is hosted by the Bridge Builders and held annually in August. This Party benefits the children's program for Bridge Communities, including: tutoring, scholarships and family-focused educational and recreational activities.
The Garage Party is hosted by the Bridge Builders and has developed into the "IT" party of the winter season. Join hundreds of friends at Gearhead European Automotive in downtown Glen Ellyn and dance the night away to live rock music while you enjoy delicious food and drink. The Garage Party benefits the Auto Donation program for Bridge Communities.

For more information about any of the Bridge Communities fundraising events, please contact Amy Van Polen at amy.vanpolen@bridgecommunities.org or (630) 545-0610 ext. 12.

If you are interested in hosting a fundraising event to benefit Bridge Communities, we would be happy to hear your ideas and lend our professional expertise. Please contact Amy Van Polen at amy.vanpolen@bridgecommunities.org or (630) 545-0610 ext. 12.

News

01/08/2009 04:42 PM

News

03/02/2009 12:10 AM

Connections - A Publication for Friends of Bridge Communities

Published two times per year - spring and fall - Connections gives friends of Bridge Communities a closer look at programs, upcoming events and client accomplishments. Each issue features a current client or graduate and shares their struggles and ultimate success of achieving permanent housing and self sufficiency.

Fall 2009 Newsletter

Spring 2009 Newsletter

Fall 2008 Newsletter

Spring 2008 Newsletter

Fall 2007 Newsletter

Bridge Communities publishes an annual report every year. View the Bridge Communities 2008 annual report.

Media Center

01/09/2009 10:14 AM

Keep In Touch

Bridge Communities strives to keep our constituents, public policy makers, and the community at-large informed about the issues surrounding family homelessness and affordable housing.

Bridge Communities Blog

Join the discussion with Bridge Communities' executive director, program staff, clients and volunteers. A representative from Bridge Communities posts an entry at least once a week with information about client accomplishments, topics related to mission, messages from clients and volunteers, upcoming special events and public policy issues.

Bridge Communities Statistics and Program Outcomes

Bridge Communities has helped nearly 400 families cross the bridge from homelessness to self sufficiency and permanent housing. In 1999, Bridge began to survey client families one-year after they exited the two-year Transitional Housing program. 114 former client families, who have successfully completed the Program, have replied to the self-reporting survey. Results from the 2008 surveys indicate overwhelmingly that while in the Transitional Housing program, Bridge client families developed the skills necessary to achieve productive self sufficient lives.

View Client Outcomes

View Program Statistics