RESOLUTION HONORING THE ANIXTER CENTER FOR 100 YEARS OF SERVICE
WHEREAS, The Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center is celebrating its 100th year of outstanding service in the Chicago metropolitan area; and
WHEREAS, The City Council has been informed about the exceptional achievements of this organization by the Honorable Brian Hopkins, Alderman ofthe 2nd Ward; and
WHEREAS, In 1918, thirteen women formed an orphanage called the Douglas Park Jewish Day and Night Nursery; and
WHEREAS, The Board of Directors decided in 1956 that the biggest need in the community was services for the disabled. Therefore, they totally transformed the focus of the organization to the needs of the disabled and thus changed the name to the Douglas Park Nursery and Training Center for Retarded Children; and
WHEREAS, The following year they broke ground on a new school and changed the name once again, this time to the Chicago School for Retarded Children; and
WHEREAS, In 1961, the organization began training adults and started providing sheltered employment in packaging, In the 1970s they continued to grow, adding a housing facility and industrial-based training; and
WHEREAS, The 1980's were a transformative time for the agency. They broadened their services to people with hearing impairment and behavior disorders. Their housing options expanded exponentially to include support of individual and group living situations as well as community integrated living choices; and
WHEREAS, Program growth continued with the addition of a literacy program, substance abuse services and desperately needed case management services; and
WHEREAS, The organization next changed its name in 1979 to Chicago Services for Work and Rehabilitation. Four years later the new name for the organization became THE CENTER for the Rehabilitation and Training of the Disabled. Finally, in 1993 the name was changed to its current one: the Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center; and
WHEREAS, 1997 was a transformative year for the Anixter Center. It acquired CALOR, providing HIV and AIDS services for the Hispanic community. It also merged with the Chicago Hearing Society that same year with its name unchanged; and
WHEREAS, The Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center continues expanding to this day. It annually serves over 8,000 individuals in thirty different high quality programs including job training, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, and teaching literacy. Furthermore, housing is provided for over 200 people at fourteen different sites; and
WHEREAS, The strong management of the Anixter Center is a key component of the organization's success. The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Anixter Center is Rebecca Clark. The current Chairman ofthe Board of Directors is Mary M. McDonnell and the Chairman-Elect is Jon Unas; and
WHEREAS, The Anixter Center is celebrating its 100th anniversary with a benefit aptly named "A Century of Service". The event will be held at the new 1914 Club at Wrigley Field on May 15, 2019; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, gathered here this thirteenth day of March, 2019, do hereby congratulate the Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center on 100 years of exemplary service in the Chicagoland area; and
BRIAN HOPKINS Alderman, 2nd Ward
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be prepared and presented to the Lester and Rosalie Anixter Center.