Film Equipment Stolen From Director In Apartment Burglary

CHICAGO, IL — A Chicago film director was the victim of an apartment burglary in the city's West Town neighborhood on Friday, losing about $4,000 worth of equipment he spent about a year saving up for.

Hayward Suggs is a full-time Chicago Public Schools film teacher who spends much of his spare time directing his own projects and helping several of his friends with their own.

"Hayward's passion and enthusiasm for film is remarkable," said Patti Swanson, Suggs' girlfriend. "In the last year, Hayward has saved up for and purchased a ton of new equipment. He has purchased microphones, cameras and technical rigs worth over $4,000 — all of which he lost today."

Swanson is known to many in Chicago as the founder of the"Chicago for Chicagoans" city neighborhood tours that offer a historical and contemporary look at various Chicago neighborhoods with a "pay what you can" option for tour-goers.

Her latest project, though, is to help her boyfriend replace as much of the pricey equipment that was lost in Friday's break-in as possible. A GoFundMe campaign raised more that $200 in its six hours, but much more is needed to get the $4,000 needed to replace all the equipment.

"Over the last year+ that we've been dating, I have watched him pour his heart into the people and the community around him," Swanson said. "He has been known to bring his own fancy film equipment in for his students to use in school, and has bent over backwards to help these teens get job interviews and other opportunities in the Chicago film industry and beyond."

Suggs' dedication to his own work and that of others has made the film industry in Chicago stronger over the past year. Now, there's an opportunity for those who make films and others who just love watching them to help him continue to strengthen the local landscape.

"Few people give so much to others, and I think he's overdue to receive some sweetness in return," Swanson said. "This money will help him replace his laptop and equipment, and allow him to continue making films and helping others make theirs."

Help Hayward Replace His Film Equipment Here

Photo via GoFundMe