Revitalizing Home and Hope
Renewal by Andersen of Chicago brings warmth to local organization for student scholars
It felt like one of the coldest days of 2024 with temps in the teens, but in one Illinois neighborhood, there was warmth being felt all around, thanks in part to Renewal by Andersen of Chicago. In mid-December 2024, the team donated and installed 41 windows to a home that needed an upgrade.
“Those homes were built in the early 1900s so you can imagine the efficiencies are not there,” said Karen Croteau, president of Boys Hope Girls Hope (BHGH) of Illinois, which is part of a larger network of 15 BHGH chapters throughout the United States.
BHGH is a non-profit organization whose mission is to nurture and guide motivated young people in need to become well-educated, career-ready men and women. The organization does this by providing housing and college prep education at local partner schools. Once in college, BHGH provides support for internships and readying students to launch their careers.
“We're serving kids who are first generation below poverty line, but who have a burning desire to use education as a way to achieve their life goals, and it works. 100% of our scholars graduate from high school and enroll in college, and then in college, we have a 75% graduation rate,” said Croteau.
Currently, BHGH of Illinois owns four homes, all of which need repairs. The one being worked on by the Renewal team was gutted and is going through a complete overhaul. As a non-profit, BHGH relies on partnerships to complete necessary repairs on their homes, so when Croteau found out Renewal was donating a house full of windows, she was excited.
“We felt like we won the lottery. We are so grateful,” said Croteau.
In some ways, the Renewal team feels the same way. Mike Matkowich, general manager Renewal’s Chicago location says his team lined up to be a part of this donation.
“If we can make good things happen, we got a lot of people raising our hand and our market willing to help. One of the most important things we do is help people,” added Matkowich.
“One of the most important things we do is help people.”
For BHGH, the larger plan is to repair all four homes through partnerships and donations similar to its tie with Renewal. For now, scholars will enjoy a cozier atmosphere inside one of its homes with new windows.
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