Baird & Warner Helps with a Spring Clean-Up

Tinley Park, IL – Fifteen Baird & Warner agents from Downers Grove, Frankfort, LaGrange, and Orland Park gathered at St. Coletta’s on Wednesday, May 22, to help clean up landscaping at several group homes located in the Southwest suburbs. Each group was assigned a home where they pulled weeds, laid down stone, spread mulch and helped clean up any branches or debris that landed in the yards from the recent rain storms.

This partnership started in 2018 when Elaine Kindt, a realtor from the Downers Grove office, had a chance conversation with her long-time friend and St. Coletta’s Foundation Board Member Rich Neubauer. She recognized an ideal volunteer opportunity. Kindt explained, “Baird & Warner has a long tradition of helping the community through the Good Will Network. St. Coletta’s mission falls in line with our beliefs to unite communities and make a positive difference in the lives of those around us. We believe in St. Coletta’s amazing programs and respect how they constantly adapt to meet the needs of the individuals served. We want to help support their mission.”

Several agents participated in the past and jumped at the chance to help again. Jason Gansko from the Frankfort office recalled, “When we went on a tour of the facility and saw the Transition Program, the murals and the classrooms, we were impressed by the awesome programs at St. Coletta’s. We are excited about the opportunity to help again.”

When talking about why they continue to help St. Coletta’s, Gretchen Dust, a broker associate at the Frankfort office stated, “What I love about St. Coletta’s is that they make individuals feel appreciated, worthy, and useful.” Dust continues, “St. Coletta’s provides an opportunity for people with disabilities to live independently.”

“We are very grateful for the partnership of our friends from Baird & Warner,” stated Executive Director Annette Skafgaard. “St. Coletta’s has 24 Community Integrated Living Arrangement (CILA) homes and one Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) that are home to 160 residential participants. They are very proud of their homes. The generous gifts of time and talent from Baird & Warner have an immediate impact – and deliver a lot of happiness!”

St. Coletta's of Illinois, celebrating its 70th year, provides services to over 250 adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities through educational, vocational and residential programming. If you are interested in learning more about St. Coletta's of Illinois or would like to schedule a tour of the Tinley Park facility, please contact Annette Skafgaard at 708-342-5200.

St. Coletta's of Illinois Foundation supports people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To learn more about St. Coletta's of Illinois Foundation, please contact the Foundation Office at 708-342-5298 or visit our website at www.stcolettail.org.