Resolution
WHEREAS, On Saturday September 20 , 2014 Marillac Social Center will celebrate 100 years of service in the City of Chicago. Under the dedicated mission of the Daughters of Charity Marillac is a "Beacon of Hope" on Chicago's west side. As we celebrate this centennial mile stone we looking back at the vital part Marillac has played in this community for ten generations of families, and
WHEREAS, As we open our new youth & family center we are looking forward to what we can offer generations to come. We hope to continue to serve the children and families of this community following the core values of integrity, excellence, creativity, advocacy, respect and empowerment that have been part of our mission for one hundred years, and
WHEREAS, 100 years ago, at the invitation of Father William J. McNamee, pastor of Old St. Patrick's Church, the Catholic Social Center was established in 1914 on the corner of Sangamon and Jackson Blvd. The first two Daughters of Charity to staff the new service were Sister DeSales Douglas and Sister Paula Courleaux. The services consisted of a Day Nursery, a Kindergarten, a lunch room for those who lived and worked in the neighborhood and programs for women, and
WHEREAS, After 32 years of service, the Catholic Social Center relocated to California and Jackson Blvd. In June 1947 the work continued under a new name, Marillac Social Center, called Marillac House in honor of St. Louise de Marillac, who with St. Vincent de Paul founded the Daughters of Charity. At the new site, the Sisters and staff continued to provide child care for young children of working parents and single parent families. Recreation programs were established for children, teenagers and young adults, as well as services for seniors. Block Clubs were formed and the Family Service department provided a food pantry and a thrift shop to meet the growing needs of the community, and
WHEREAS, Throughout the decades, Marillac Social Center has responded to the needs of the community it serves by expanding its services and facility. Project Hope was started by Kay Hallagan in 1982 for pregnant teens to help them bond with their babies and carry them to full term. Hope Jr. was also started by Kay in 1985 for the young girls in the neighborhood to help them reach their full potential through mentoring and tutoring, and other activities such as drama, sports, art, and field trips. In 1995, a new State of the Arts facility for children and other social services was constructed located at Francisco and Jackson, and
WHEREAS, In 2003 Marillac House and St Vincent de Paul Center created a collaboration now called Marillac St Vincent Family Services. The relationship between the two centers enhanced the quality and accessibility of services for at-risk children, youth, adults and families in Chicago, and WHEREAS, Marillac Social Center continues to provide quality child care for children of Chicago's working families. This program^hds/bejih^geredited by the National Association ofthe Education of the Young Child (NAEYC) thBb'afroh's' lbadirig organization of early childhood professionals. The Family Service Department continues to respond to the changing needs of the community through energy relief service tliroug^j(Slp^S^Gf«at^driicago Food Depository funded food pantry, a Catholic Charities case worker, GED Classes and many other services. Our food pantry serves an average of 1500 families per month. Tfie Senior Program reaches out to 100 homebound. The Take Charge program reaches out to 65-'active seniors who also volunteer to help the homebound, and
WHEREAS, Project Hope and Hope Jr. services have expanded. Project Hope has a Doula Program. We have an After School Matters program that has engaged teens in jobs programs for almost ten years. Hope Jr. neighborhood youth program serves 75 grade school children and 40 high school children daily. Now we are opening the Vince and Pat Foglia Family and Youth Center to respond to the urgent needs of our area, and
WHEREAS, Under the Sponsorship of the Daughters of Charity, Marillac Social Center's sisters and staff are committed to strengthening and empowering those most in need to reach their greatest potential. Our greatest concern is the ever increasing violence facing our children. Our new facility and the ongoing programs offer our children and families on the Westside of Chicago the chance to get involved, and be a positive force in the community. We hope Marillac will continue to be a "Beacon of Hope" in this Chicago community for the next 100 years; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved, Marillac Social Center the plays an important role in proving services to many of the Chicagoans; now, therefore,
Walter Burnett, Jr. Alderman, 27th Ward
Be It Further Resolved, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the representatives of the
Marillac Social Center. /
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