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2013 Annual Fundraising Gala to Celebrate the Emergency Fund's 40th Birthday!

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Click the image to view the invite to our 2013 Annual Fundraising Gala

 

Stories from 2011

48-year-old Sarah thought that she was done raising children. When her 22 year old sister, Jane, asked Sarah to babysit, she was happy to watch her twin, four-month-old nieces for the afternoon. But Jane didn’t return that evening. Or the next day. Or the day after that.

For the first two weeks Sarah stayed home from work. She lost income, believing that she needed to be home when Jane returned. Jane finally called to apologize for leaving, but made it clear that she would not be coming back for her children.

Congratulations Norman H. Stone Society Charter Members

In 1973, Norman H. Stone founded the Emergency Fund to help his fellow Chicagoans because, as he put it, “hungry children and desperate mothers cannot be told to fill out forms and come back next year.”

In 2011, the Emergency Fund honored Mr. Stone’s legacy and his generous spirit by launching the Norman H. Stone Society. Norman H. Stone Society members are people who, like Mr. Stone, saw a need and decided to meet it. Each has given the Emergency Fund over $100,000 in their lifetime.

Exciting News!

I am excited to announce that the Emergency Fund and the Chicago Alliance to End Homelessness have combined our work, offices, and energies in the fight against homelessness. The Emergency Fund is all about one thing – helping people. Consolidating with the Alliance helps us do just that. Together, we will create a stronger, more comprehensive system that combines the Emergency Fund’s immediate assistance with the Alliance’s advocacy expertise and systemic approach to ending homelessness.

Supporting the Family

Andrew is a hardworking man. He commutes every day to a steady job. He also tries his best to take care of Linda, who lives with him and suffers from Chrohn’s disease. However, at the end of last year, he met a few unexpected challenges. One winter day, Andrew opened his front door and found his son standing at his doorstep with his granddaughters. They were homeless and desperately needed a place to stay.

On the Phone with Clients

We like to keep in touch with our clients. Thus, every summer, the Emergency Fund conducts a follow-up survey to see how hundreds of Chicagoland residents have actually benefitted from our aid. Through personal phone calls, we try to ask clients a few simple questions such as “Are you still housed?” and “Have you received any referrals for additional services?”

Sometimes, however, clients voluntarily offer amazing details from their story:

A Second Chance

Have you ever put your trust in the wrong person? Most of us have, and we know what it feels like to want a second chance.  For Anita, however, that second chance came with some severe consequences.
 
Anita, a 28-year-old mother of four, loved her boyfriend Frank. They got along very well, and they eventually decided to move in together. However, Anita soon realized that Frank had a drinking problem. He often came home late, intoxicated and irresponsible. Eventually fed up with his unpredictable behavior, Anita told Frank to move out.
 

Hope in Tough Times

Many of us have been hit by the recent recession. For most, the recession has made us budget more tightly on food or skip some vacation days. In the most extreme cases, our neighbors have been laid off from long-time jobs and lost steady sources of income. When 61-year-old Lester lost his packing job in a shampoo warehouse, he suddenly found himself in such a situation, seemingly with little hope in sight.
 

Community is Key

During summer, community becomes a big part of our lives. Between block parties and festivals, barbeques and potlucks, we enjoy the company around us just as much as the beach and the sun.  When times get tough, however, community becomes even more crucial.
 

Inspiration Corporation

There are some things a photo cannot capture. The sunny dining area of Inspiration Corporation is an excellent example, giving off a warm glow which must be felt in person.  It radiates happiness—a feeling reflected in the room and also on the faces of the numerous participants helped by the organization’s housing, supportive, and employment services.

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