Maryville celebrated its 132-year mission of serving children and families when it hosted its 10th Annual Award Gala on Friday, April 29, at Morgan Manufacturing in Chicago. The event is Maryville’s largest annual fundraiser for the programs and services of its Center for Children on the city’s Northwest Side.
Click here to view our 2016 Gala Video!
The gala also honored Mr. Bert A. Getz, Jr., Co-CEO of Globe Corporation, with the 2016 Guardian Medallion Award. As Director of Globe Foundation, Mr. Getz, a resident of Northfield, supports organizations he believes “help the most fragile families in our society and do so against great odds.” This philanthropic philosophy is what eventually introduced Mr. Getz to the Maryville Center for Children and it programs.
“Maryville does such important work,” he said. “Financial and familial support has to start at the youngest level. Help somebody with a young child and you’ll be giving them the fabric to succeed.”
In 2011, Globe Foundation, the primary philanthropic vehicle for the Getz Family, committed $100,000 to fund capital improvements at the Maryville Center for Children, which included construction of a Sensory Garden and Handicapped-Accessible Playground.
For Mr. Getz, his older brother George and his sister Lynn, philanthropy is a family tradition. “Our family has always served,” he said. “We like to do larger, brick-and-mortar gifts that can have a greater impact, as opposed to smaller gifts,” Mr. Getz added. “It’s much more about philanthropy than charity – it’s about investing in people.” In 2015, Globe Foundation made a second gift of $200,000 for additional improvements at the Maryville Center for Children.
The Maryville Center for Children is comprised of:
- Maryville Crisis Nursery: The only 24/7, 365-day-a-year facility in the Chicago area that offers short-term, emergency care for children, ages birth through six years. The Crisis Nursery supports families who are struggling or dealing with trauma. Issues that bring parents to the Crisis Nursery include poverty, unemployment, homelessness or medical emergencies. Its primary goals are to care for children and help families achieve long-term stability.
- Maryville Children’s Healthcare Center (CHC):The CHC is a care facility for medically fragile, technology-dependent children. Its mission is to help children make a safe transition from hospital to home. The CHC also provides caregiver training and respite services for families.
The 10th Annual Maryville Award Gala included a cocktail reception, dinner, live entertainment, live and silent auctions, a wine pull and raffle. At 9 p.m., there was an After Party hosted by the Maryville Junior Board that featured DJ Matt Roan.
For additional information about the Gala or to make a donation in support of the Maryville Center for Children, please contact Julie Fischer at 847-294-1950 or fischerj@maryvilleacademy.org.
