Bethany Christian Services Annual “Family Changes Everything”

Bethany Christian Services had its annual fundraiser on March 14 at the Carlisle. The theme of the event was, “Family Changes Everything.” Family is the bedrock of stability, peace and comfort that all children need. It was a successful event that raised over $110,000. The fundraiser benefitted Bethany Christian Services and its Safe Families for Children program.

Safe Families for Children program is a network of volunteer host families who help parents in need of temporary care for their children as they work through hardships. Low-income and vulnerable parents need support when crisis enters their lives. A support system for the parents will alleviate their stress level and empower them to make sound decisions for themselves and their children.

Pastor Chris McElwee of Wheaton Bible Church welcomed the guests and Pastor Derek Buikema from Orland Park Church conducted the Invocation for the evening. The Executive Branch Director of Bethany Christian Services of Illinois, Rebecca MacDougall, shared the vision of the organization and recognized all the staff and volunteers who help execute the mission on a daily basis.

Champions for Children Awards were awarded to Bob and Sally Schmid and Don and Bonnie Yost. The Schmid family were recognized for their commitment to raise funds to help families adopt children with special needs. Improving the lives of vulnerable children is a calling that God has given Bob and Sally-ultimately leading them to their children, Ben (China) and Mary (Ethiopia). On an annual basis Bob and his children take part in a triathlon to raise funds for Caring Connection. Funds for Caring Connection are awarded as grants to families seeking to adopt children with special needs. Bob and Sally recently accepted the invitation to serve on the President’s Council for Bethany Christian Services. We, at Bethany, are thankful for the Schmid family’s leadership and participation in helping Bethany protect and enhance the lives of children and families.

Don and Bonnie Yost have always been a team in nurturing children and have welcomed many children into their home through birth, adoption, fostering, and more recently, Safe Families for Children. Looking back, they see how God prepared them for their calling in their life together. Don and Bonnie married in 1967 and had three children together. After attending a conference at their church, Bonnie said that “the Lord spoke to both of us using Scripture from the Gospels. Our speaker certainly did not say, “Go forth and adopt’, but that is what we heard!” Nine months later they welcomed home a preemie, eventually adopting the rest of their family (16 children in total), adding words to their vocabulary like hydrocephalus, intraventricular shunts, seizure, cerebral palsy, apnea, G-tube, sickle cell, peyton ductus ligation, fetal alcohol syndrome, and precocious puberty.

God provided a larger home for them along the way, and although they may have many good reasons to say, “We’ve done our part,” Don and Bonnie are still welcoming children home. They heard about Safe Families for Children and asked the Lord if this was another step in His plan for them. “We both are thankful and blessed to be given the continued privilege to care for those of whom Jesus said, “For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these,” Bonnie said.

There was a great deal to celebrate at the event. For example, the Safe Families for Children Program provided safe homes for 236 children, secured 87 Host Families, and trained 19 new families in 2018 alone. The total number of nights of care provided for the children was 5,416.

We are grateful to our corporate sponsors who helped to underwrite the cost of the event: Ozinga, Olthof Homes, Meier Clinic, Advocate Children’ Hospital, WYLL 1160 AM Hope for Your Life, Windy City Plastics, Genie Miller Gillespie Attorney at Law, Oak Lawn Inside the Smile, Colonial Chapel, Chicago Partners Wealth Advisors, Homewood Disposal Services, MacDougall Tree Service, DJ’s Lawn care & Landscaping, Inc., Providence Bank & Trust, Clarence Davids & Company, Roy & Cheryl Van Eck, and Walt’s Food Center. Their support permitted Bethany to hold an event to showcase the impact Bethany is having in Illinois, to celebrate our success, to honor champions for children, and welcome more partners to come alongside Bethany in 2019.

Bethany Christian Services is still accepting donations that will be matched by two anonymous matching grants. If you would like to make a gift, please contact Veronica Studnicka, the office manager at (708) 385-4889.

Bethany Christian Services of Illinois finds families for children and strengthens families. To learn more about Bethany, please visit https://www.bethany.org/chicago.