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 Anixte...
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