|
 |
| |
Community Activities and Support
Project RUSH is a not-for-profit
organization which provides essential and immediate aid to homeless young people in Chicago. Founded in 1989 by a group of
area business professionals with the common bond of being amateur hockey players, our mission is to raise money to acquire,
develop and place into service, shelter housing, and to provide educational assistance to qualified young people. To date,
we have raised over $4,000,000 in support of this mission. Due to our entirely pro-bono, volunteer make-up, Project RUSH is
able to effectively turn the generosity of our benefactors into a highly productive purpose to provide hope and opportunity
for Chicago’s homeless young people. All administrative time and operational expenses of Project RUSH are donated by
the Board of Directors. Our efforts in support of that goal have included contributions
and financial commitments to the following Chicago non-profit organizations, and have benefitted literally thousands of young
people since our inception in 1989. Teen Living Programs:
One of our first beneficiaries, Teen Living Programs
(TLP), established more than 30 years ago, delivers comprehensive, long-term solutions to youth without homes who strive for
self-sufficiency and community connection. Our significant support
of TLP includes Foundation House, which was acquired and placed into service in August of 1991. Foundation House was a multi-apartment
building on the North side of Chicago, which included transitional living quarters, office and clinical support. In 1994 Project RUSH and TLP dedicated Belfort House on the city’s South side. Project RUSH
initially assumed ownership of the building from the City of Chicago, then gutted and completely rehabbed the building. Since
1994, this 16,000 sq. ft. facility has served as transitional housing for approximately 175 youth. Education guidance, counseling
and other critical services are available. In 2008, Project RUSH donated
$150,000 to TLP for the construction of a new facility on their South Indiana Avenue property.
Inner Voice – A Voice for Self Reliance: - Project RUSH’s history with Inner Voice dates to 1999. Wolfson House, located on
Chicago’s West side, was originally purchased by Project RUSH and placed into service in 1999 by Inner Voice, a Chicago-based
agency dedicated to ending homelessness. Wolfson House was immediately running at full capacity, providing shelter for approximately
120 young mothers and children annually, and delivering service to as many as 800 individuals each year. Since that time we
have provided ongoing support and funding for Wolfson House.
- During 2003, Project
RUSH funded extensive remodeling of the Wolfson House annex building, now used for computer training, education and a children's
recreation facility.
- In 2006 and 2007, Project RUSH contributions provided a badly needed upgrade
to the Wolfson House kitchen facilities, including new cooking, storage and refrigeration equipment essential to the service
provided to the residents.
In 2007, Project RUSH made a commitment to Thelma’s
Place, another Inner Voice facility. Funds raised will underwrite a major portion of rehab work to enable Thelma’s Place
to serve more homeless women and their children. In 2007, as in past
years, we once again provided 80 children at Wolfson House with Christmas gift certificates.
La Casa Norte:
La Casa Norte, a transitional housing development located on Chicago’s
West side, received a major contribution from Project Rush to help fund "Solid Ground," a supportive housing program
for predominantly Latino and African America young men. "Solid
Ground" was recently honored as one of four winners of the Maxwell Award of Excellence, sponsored by the Fannie Mae Foundation
and the Partnership to End Long Term Homelessness in Washington, D.C.
The NightMinistry: Chicago Boys Hope Girls Hope: - Educational Assistance
- Project RUSH
co-sponsored a student who is attending Conserve School in Land O’Lakes, Wisconsin. This young woman is a boarding student
who excels at math and science and aspires to be an environmental scientist.
- Project RUSH contributed funds in 2007 to Boys Hope Girls Hope for construction efforts at two of their homes in
Evanston.
Project RUSH continues to fund educational scholarships given to qualified students
for post-high school academic and occupational training within The Teen Living Programs and at the Frances Xavier Warde School,
St. Francis de Sales High School and San Miguel School, and through The Daniel Murphy Foundation. Over 50 children have received
scholarship or individual educational assistance from Project RUSH since our inception.
|
|
|
