News & Events

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Lawrence Hall Youth Services (LHYS) proudly announced today that the agency has licensed its first same-sex family under the newly enacted State of Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act. While LHYS has been licensing same sex foster parents for quite some time with one adult as the licensee and the other as an adult household member, this is the agency’s first home licensed under the new civil union law, with both recognized as foster parents.

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To ensure that each student achieves their maximum potential, Lawrence Hall Youth Services (LHYS) was recently awarded a $150,000 grant from the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Impact Fund, a McCormick Foundation Fund. The grant will go towards funding unique programming at LHYS’ innovative Therapeutic Day School.

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Give thanks by giving back this Thanksgiving.

Help Lawrence Hall Youth Services’ Holiday Gift Drive bring smiles to the faces of hundreds of disadvantaged youth. Give a gift!

The NBC Universal Foundation awards our Therapeutic Day School $35,000 to build a brighter future for our youth.

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A huge thanks to Macy's for helping to ensure that our youth in the Therapeutic Day School have the supplies they need to excel academically for next year! Macy's is making a difference to last a lifetime!

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Donate $5, get a 25% Macy’s coupon and shop ‘til you drop on Saturday, August 27th during their "Shop for a Cause" shop-a-thon. All proceeds will go towards the youth and families for their back-to-school gear. Contact Pam West, LHYS Donations Officer, at (312) 346-3383 x2488 or pwest@lawrencehall.org to snag your coupon now!

Help us shape our youth into the workforce of tomorrow, be a socially responsible business in the Chicago community and invest in Lawrence Hall Youth Services youth. Contact Sean McGinnis, LHYS Vocational Supervisor, at (773) 334-7310 to learn how you can become part of the innovative "Learn and Earn" program at Lawrence Hall. Know a small business owner who would be interested, please forward.

CHICAGO – Dozens of golfers dusted off their clubs, hit the green and hit a hole in one for a good cause. On Friday, June 3, Lawrence Hall Youth Services hosted its 4th Annual Golf Outing to raise money to provide education and training, which its underserved youth need to achieve their academic goals and to become workforce ready youth. Read more...

CEO Mary Hollie chats with WGN's Bill Moller about empowering youth and families. Listen to audio file

CHICAGO - Lawrence Hall Youth Services --a critical link in the Illinois child welfare system, caring for nearly 1,000 children, adolescents and their families each year from Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kendall and McHenry counties - was selected by the National Association of Special Education Teachers, as a School of Excellence for 2011-2012. Read more

CHICAGO - To a packed room of nearly 200 community partners, past and present Board members and Lawrence Hall Youth Services (LHYS) youth and their guests, LHYS CEO Mary H. Hollie announced honorees and award recipients during the organization 146th annual meeting of the Board of Trustees. Read more

Lawrence Hall Youth Services' program to engage youth in their communities and their futures is featured in an article titled "Investing in the Future", in the Alliance for Children and Families Magazine. Please follow the link below to read the full text of the article.

Source: Investing in the Future Article

We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our dear trustee, Albert H. Meers. His passion and commitment to Lawrence Hall’s mission and families compelled him to share his talents, vision, and leadership to the Board of Trustees over the past twenty-three years.

To honor his memory and dedication to improving the lives of children, the Albert H. Meers Scholarship Fund has been established to assist youth with their educational and vocational endeavors as they seek to become independent and self-sufficient adults.

Bert truly made a difference to last a lifetime and he will be missed.

Lawrence Hall would like to extend gratitude towards all the individual, corporate and church sponsors for our 2010 Holiday Wish List Drive. Because of the generosity this year, over 400 wish lists were filled, 60 families received holiday food baskets with turkeys, we distributed new books, coats, gloves, and hats, and hosted holiday gatherings. Thank you for helping to make the season bright.

Wish List Sponsors: Kitty Beecken Kristina Ecklund Christine Eschete Kiel Galland Marie Greci Katrina Johansson Aiko Kojima Glori Rosenson Darlene Scelzo David and Jennifer Stricklin Laura and Leah Ulrich/Friends for Others Gift Drive Sponsors: Affiliated Benefit Consultants American Legion Auxiliary – 9th District Emmanuel Episcopal Church, LaGrange Neiman Marcus, Northbrook Neuberger Berman The North Suburban Youth Foundation The Episcopal Church of St. John the Evangelist William Blair & Co, LLC North Shore Auxiliary Holiday Organizers: Ruth Bender Wendi Biemer Sue Blomberg Nancy Garrigus Kathy McCareins Tina Malnati Emily Merjan Diane Melio Elizabeth Parkinson Laur Szkatulski Char Washburn

General Donations: Albertsons, Inc Diego F. Barrera BEK Distributing, Co. Michelle Berson Iris Bestow Judy Bilow Lisa and David Boon Louis Curry, St. David’s Episcopal Church Robin Downe Fox River Foods Jill and Ken Gentis Steven and Kitty Groot Janet Jaworski Richard Johnson Harold Keene Helen Lawler Ki Su Lee Carol Lewke and the Buckingham Book Club Richard D. Lieb James Lenz Gordon L. MacAdam R. Mark McCareins John W. O’Brien Audrey Ongman Paul Plotnick Marcus Richardson Robert S. Rosenson Ronald H. Rosenson Steven C. Russell Savaglio Brothers, Inc John H. Shaulis Patricia Smith-Huntoon Doug and Noreen M. Stevens Unity in Chicago Dolph Walter Jolene Wise Mark and Julie Youngquist

There are many ways you can make a difference. Please visit our volunteer page to view our opportunities all year round.

Thanks go out to all of the supporters of Lawrence Hall who voted for our students Abraham and Nadis in the 16th Annual Chicago Vehicle Sticker Art Design Contest. Voting was very close this year. Although Nadis and Abraham didn’t win the design contest, we couldn’t be prouder of their efforts. Congratulations to both students for becoming finalists from among 400 entries from over 50 high schools throughout Chicago!

Lawrence Hall students Abraham and Nadis are 2 of the 10 finalists in the Chicago City Vehicle Sticker Design Contest! Now they need your vote.

Visit the Chicago City Clerk site to view the designs based on the theme – Education is Key – and vote!


Please encourage your friends, families, co-workers, and others to vote now through Sunday, December 12th.


Visit www.chicityclerk to cast your vote.

Lawrence Hall students are ready for the new school year, thanks to the generous donations, school supplies, and volunteer support from Macy*s, NBC5 Chicago, William Blair & Co., Prudential Financial, Garvey’s Office Products, the North Shore Auxiliary and countless individuals.

Congratulations to Renesha F., one of our students, who was selected as one of the winners in the 2010 Chicago Teachers Union Young Chicago Artists Contest. Her artwork, entitled “Summer Sunset”, will be exhibited in the CTU office for one year and she will also receive a $100 savings bond.