Northwest Suburban Guild touches young lives
A 5-year-old girl undergoing chemotherapy gets a respite from treatment as
she sits cross-legged on the floor of Children's Memorial's Janice and Kimberly Brown Family Life
Center, giggling as a volunteer reads “Green
Eggs and Ham.” Two floors up an 11-year-old boy confined to bed lights up when
Project Open Book volunteers come in with a
cart full of books for him to choose from. And, on the hospital's 4th floor, an
8-year-old girl with a brain tumor is cheered up by working on a project with an
art therapist.
What these children have in common is that their lives have been touched by
the Northwest Suburban Guild. The Guild, an affiliated organization of
Children's Memorial, has raised more than $550,000 over the last 30 years to
support the hospital's Family Services
Department. The department's programs address the non-medical needs of
patients and families, and include social
work, pastoral care, child life, art and play therapy and the
hospital's interactive television station, Skylight TV.
“For three decades, the Northwest Suburban Guild has helped us offer
comprehensive, family-centered care to patients and families facing some of the
most difficult challenges of their lives,” says Donald Camp, administrator for
Family Services and Case Management at Children's Memorial.
The Guild was founded in 1976 by a committed group dedicated to volunteer
work, fundraising and increasing awareness of Children's Memorial. Many of the
original members had a direct connection with the hospital through experiences
with either their own children or children they knew.
“Our members are compassionate, and care a great deal about children's health
care,” says Lynn Hughes, a founding member of the Guild who is also a member of
the Founders' Board, the Woman's
Board of Children's Memorial Hospital. “They work tirelessly, and there's also a
great sense of community among the group.”
Hughes says from the very beginning the Guild was involved in volunteer work.
One of their first efforts was a coffee cart to provide comfort for parents
spending long periods of time at their children's bedsides. Northwest Suburban
Guild president Kathy Zweidinger says members continue to actively donate their
time to work directly with children.
“Volunteering makes you feel connected,” says Zweidinger, whose 22-year-old
son, T.J., has cerebral palsy and has undergone multiple surgeries at Children's
Memorial. “Organizing fundraising events is wonderful, but sometimes you really
need to see first-hand how your support is helping kids.”
Janice Brown was a member of the Guild, whose commitment to Children's
Memorial continues to impact thousands of patients and families each month.
After Janice and daughter Kimberly died in a 1986 plane crash, her husband,
Terry, made a gift to establish the Janice and Kimberly Brown Family Life
Center, a bright, colorfully-decorated treatment-free area where kids can play
games, read books, take part in live TV broadcasts, meet visiting celebrities
and much more.
The Guild's funds are raised through a variety of events.
The group's signature event is the Celebrations house walk tour of country homes
in the northwest suburban Inverness area, and is held every three years. On
October 27 the Guild presented its Breeder's Cup event at Arlington
Park in Arlington Heights.
Hughes says that by staying true to the group's original goals, Northwest
Suburban Guild members have found their efforts to improve the lives of sick and
injured children rewarding.
“Knowing that we can help make life a little bit easier for children and
families going through a difficult time is a wonderful feeling,” she says.
“Through a group like this we can accomplish far more than one individual ever
could.”