From idea to raising $30 million, and from breaking ground to tearing down the old, the new St. Vincent de Paul Center is ready to formally dedicate its new 144,000 square foot facility, 2145 N. Halsted St., on June 5. The private ceremony will begin at 10:30 a.m. with a number of community leaders, including Ald. Vi Daley (43rd), and Dan Walsh, president of Walsh Construction which built the new facility, and also chairman of the center's advisory and development board. Bishop Edwin M. Conway will bless the center.
A time capsule containing both historical and current information about the center will be placed in the cornerstone of the building as part of the ceremony. The time capsule will include fingerprints from each of the more than 300 children who attend the center's daycare program.
"We called our program to build this facility the Building with Hope Campaign. If anyone ever doubted the power of hope, this building demonstrates that it not only exists but that hundreds if not thousands of people working together can make the unbelievable become real. Just look at our new center—it truly allows us to serve more than 300 young children in daycare, the homeless and the underserved in our community," said Sister Katie Norris, the center's executive director.
A community open house will follow the dedication ceremony on Sunday, June 9, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served.
St. Vincent de Paul began construction of its facility in June 2000. As part of its demolition and construction process, the center tore down its aging facility and is now building a play-park setting next to the new structure at 2145 N. Halsted St.
Founded in 1915, St. Vincent de Paul Center is a Daughters of Charity agency providing infant-to-elder care. It has approximately 100 full- and part-time staff and about 300 volunteers. The center can be reached at (312) 943-6776 or www.svdpc.org.
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