INSIDE OAK BROOK

Pillars Community Health

Despite being unable to host in-person events since early 2020, Pillars Community Health has maintained our fundraising efforts virtually including a Dine with Distance event, trivia night, cocktail making class and a celebration of our 100th Anniversary which included wine and charcuterie pairings from local restaurant, The Elm. We look forward to our Century Celebration on April 8, 2022.

We have had successful mail campaigns throughout the year. We appreciate the generous community members who have helped increase donations during this very challenging year.

As we begin our second century, our staff has truly risen to the challenge of fulfilling our vision of “communities where all people have access to the care they need, when they need it”. Throughout 2021, their care and commitment brought individuals and families access to the full range of physical and mental health services needed to get and stay healthy, as well as ensuring that those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, and sexual assault received critically needed support and care.

Pillars Community Health continued to provide a continuum of care including both in-person and virtual services for those needing medical and dental services, behavioral health counseling, substance use disorder services, psychiatry, domestic violence shelter and support, advocacy for sexual assault survivors, and bereavement support. Addressing needs brought on by the pandemic included providing over 9700 COVID tests and 6700 vaccinations. Successes in the face of these continued challenges also includes tireless outreach and education to help community members connect to in-person and online resources to support resiliency and coping skills.

The quick pivot to telehealth services, increase in community behavioral health needs, and commitment to diversity, racial equity, lay a strong foundation for Pillars Community Health in 2022 and beyond. We will continue to strengthen their telehealth capabilities, including addition of telehealth suites in all PCH locations, to support those who do not have the needed technology or private location for behavioral health or specialty care visits. “Serenity Spaces” have recently been added to two PCH locations, to provide peaceful respite space to domestic violence clients. In 2021, PCH launched an innovative Trauma Informed/Diversity, Racial Equity, and Inclusion assessment, training and planning process. We will continue on this journey in 2022 to ensure that internal and external efforts are rooted in addressing trauma and systemic racism.

We appreciate and are inspired by our volunteers who steadfastly share their talents and skills. For example, our Sexual Assault Crisis Hotline trained volunteers respond to after hours and weekend hotline calls, making a difference in someone’s life with each interaction. During these challenging times, we have provided additional continuing education opportunities, invitations to our social justice activism events, virtual book clubs, and shared special gifts of appreciation. Our SA volunteer coordinator has one on one listening sessions with individual volunteers to provide added support. Pillars Community Health appreciates the strong support of community partners, organizations, and individuals who share the mission of improving the health of our communities and empowering individuals through compassionate, whole person care.

The Community House

Healing and recovery have been the focus of The Community House staff and board throughout 2021. Despite the pandemic, The Community House remained the center of community involvement and activity as we focused on helping provide safe outlets for individuals of all ages to engage. Even though we are masked and distanced, we are still finding ways to provide human connections and a sense of normalcy when families need us most. Through the arts, athletics, summer camps, science classes, and more, we brought people together to live full and healthy lives.

Our community rallied around the legacy and the love for theater of the late Dick Johnson, a Life Trustee, and raised more than $50,000 for theater improvements for the next generation of performer to enjoy. We needed the support of our donors during this challenging time of reduced services and through the annual fund, the Walk for Mental Health, and the Holiday Ball, donors and friends stepped up to support our mission because the pandemic reminded people how important connection and engagement truly can be.

This support allowed us to serve over 100 counseling clients on a sliding scale, with 70% of those clients being under age 23 and without adequate health insurance. The generosity of our donors also allowed us to flex our day care programming to the low-income and unincorporated Willowbrook Corner neighborhood to be full day, half day, or after school as the school schedule rapidly changed. One Willowbrook Corner parent shared, “Without The Community House offering day care when the school schedule kept changing each week, there is no way I could have kept my job.” We’ve listened to the residents in Willowbrook Corner and in 2022 we are planning to expand our services to include equitable access to both youth mental health services and recreation, athletic, and arts programming.

All families, regardless of their income level or zip code, want the same things for their families and with the support of donors, we can provide bright futures for our neighbors in unincorporated DuPage County.

Since the pandemic began, our fundraising events have evolved from a completely virtual Walk in June of 2020 to our most recent in-person event, Under One Sky for Wellness House this past October, occurring simultaneously at three locations. Our 2020 Ball…at your house gave guests the opportunity to gather in small, intimate groups while still supporting our cause and viewing our virtual program, and the Walk in 2021 gave additional options and locations for participation. We are encouraged by the community’s unwavering support of all of our fundraising efforts.

While fundraising is the primary goal of our events, community building and advancing our mission is also critically important. Thinking outside the box of our traditional event models has allowed our events to reach and inspire new audiences and also achieve record breaking fundraising and attendance. We have learned that offering choices and flexibility surrounding how and where participants can support our events has been both essential and financially successful.

At the start of the pandemic, all programs moved online and we were able to provide uninterrupted cancer support which increased access to anyone affected by cancer. In FY 21, over 47,527 visits were made to online programs. Wellness House now offers over 500 online and inperson programs each month. In 2022, participants will be able to choose from online, in-person and on-demand programming. Wellness House anticipates increasing the number of in-person programs. Participants can choose from a variety of programs such as nutrition, exercise, information and education, stress management and support and family counseling. Many programs are now presented in Spanish.

Over the past year, Wellness House has provided opportunities for our volunteers to help out virtually such as taking attendance on our Zoom programs, leading our kids in Halloween tongue twisters at our Spooky Spectacular, and providing distant reiki. It’s been important to keep our volunteers engaged with our participants and our mission. We recognized a group of volunteers at Giving DuPage's Volapalooza which is an annual award ceremony for volunteers in DuPage County. Wellness House is thankful for all the volunteers who have helped through virtual programming, special events, fundraising events and in-person programming. For volunteers who haven't yet been able to return to their previous role, we asked them to buy a gift for our kids’ Polar Express event--and they stepped up in a big way: buying 45 gifts in 2 hours!

C ompassionateC are

SERVING THE COMMUNITY SINCE 1984.

60 S GRANT STREET | HINSDALE | 630.323.0275 SULLIVANFUNERALHOMEHINSDALE.COM

We’re dedicated to providing personalized, professional and compassionate services to help lighten your burden and support you through the difficult times that follow the loss of a loved one. You can rely on us to provide your family with the highest quality care and service in your time of need.

Terrence M. Sullivan and Brian D. Sullivan