For years, visitors to Aunt Martha’s office in downtown Park Forest have been greeted by displays of newspaper stories chronicling the agency’s history. There are retrospectives with titles like Aunt Martha’s at 5 and Aunt Martha’s at 10. Press clippings remind us that Aunt Martha’s already had a rich history when it officially opened its doors in December of 1972.
But Aunt Martha’s at 50?
Today, I invite you to join us as we begin our yearlong celebration of Aunt Martha’s 50th Anniversary. Each month, we’ll dive into the agency’s story from a different perspective, combining newly gathered footage and interviews with press clippings, archival photos and video to tell the story of the people, the challenges they took on, the partnerships they forged and the mark they left on their community and our organization. The celebration will culminate in September with a 50th Anniversary fundraiser.
Even after 50 years, Aunt Martha’s is always grateful for all of our friends and supporters. We are especially grateful to the individuals and local businesses who helped make our 2021 Peggy Eisenstein Holiday Gift Program our most successful campaign to date. Though she only joined Aunt Martha’s in October, well into the campaign season, Katie Lewis did exemplary work to connect with our past donors and engage new ones. In short order, she organized a campaign that raised close to $50,000 and, most importantly, saw the delivery of more than 2,000 gifts to foster children and families in Cook, Kane and Will County. Your support for this program has never been more needed or more meaningful.
But Aunt Martha’s at 50?
Yes. And we’re just getting started.
