Lamp Incorporated Supports First Look for Charity at Chicago Auto Show

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In early February, a large group from Lamp Incorporated attended the First Look for Charity gala at McCormick Place, an exclusive pre-opening black-tie benefit organized by the Chicago Auto Show. We were proud to be there to support our client, Advocate Health. The event raises money for local charities and is one of Chicagoland’s largest single-day charitable events. This year, the gala supported 18 area nonprofits. Advocate Health’s beneficiary was the Advocate Heart Institute and the Advocate Children’s Heart Institute, for pediatric and adolescent patients.

Lamp Inc team at Auto Show 2017Lamp Inc at Auto Show 2017

It was a wonderful evening, supporting wonderful organizations.

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Boys and Girls Club Sing Carols at Lamp Incorporated

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This holiday season, we were lucky to be visited by one of our favorite local organizations, the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, who we are proud to support! The group sang carols and put on a joy-filled, jazzy, well-planned performance. It brightened our holiday, and we hope it brightens yours!

This year as a company, we sponsored four families from the Elgin Boys and Girls Club. We purchased gifts, food and gas gift cards to be sure they have a fabulous Christmas season.

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The Boys and Girls Club of Elgin offers 9 sites serving over 2,000 local youth. The organization offers a place after school where children can go for homework help, a warm meal, and fun. Their goal is to enable young people to realize their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Would you like to learn more about Lamp’s involvement in the community? Join our eList.

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Anderson Animal Shelter Reveals Renovations – Daily Herald

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Written By Brian Hill, Daily Herald. November 22, 2014

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20141122/news/141129405/

South Elgin animal shelter unveils renovations

Anderson Animal Shelter reopened Saturday following a comprehensive remodeling which began about three months ago.

Changes include new caging for dogs and cats, new flooring throughout the shelter, new plumbing and a new logo and website.

“This was a huge undertaking,” Executive Director Beth Drake said before the grand reopening, “but we couldn’t be happier. The shelter looks absolutely amazing, and the changes in the animals are all positive. They are calmer (and quieter) in their new cages. It will really make a difference in their overall health and adoptability.”

“It’s a completely different building and it’s awesome.” said volunteer Barb Hannan of Elgin, who was working with the cats in their new living space. “It’s much better for everyone.”

In addition to the shelter redesign, Anderson has also undergone a change in animal housing philosophy with many of the animals moved to foster homes to reduce the population at the shelter. With fewer animals to care for, shelter staff can focus on the individual needs of each animal.

“This means that our animals are emotionally and physically healthier, and this has had a positive impact on our adoptions,” Drake said, nothing that since the policy change in June adoption rates have increased 40 percent.

For more information on the shelter, call (847) 697-2880.

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United Way of Elgin – Courier News

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Written by Courier News Staff, The Courier News. July 25, 2014.

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/2014/07/25/united-way-raises-1017000-2013-2014/

United Way of Elgin Raises $1,017,000 in 2013-2014

With a mission to improves lives by mobilizing the caring power of communities around the world and goals to improve education, financial stability and promote healthy lives, the United Way continues to make a growing impact on the Elgin community.

At the close of the 2013-2014 fiscal year, United Way of Elgin reported $1,017,000 in revenue.

That revenue includes money raised from the community campaign, grants, and other special events. Led by Chair Jennifer Rakow, IHC Construction Companies and Honorary Chair Jack Shales, Shales McNutt, the campaign saw both increased participation and increased giving at several top supporters.

Elgin Community College, School District U-46/Elgin Teachers Association, and Lundstrom Insurance all had double-digit participation increases.

Judson University had the highest overall participation increase, and for the second year in a row, Lamp Inc. achieved 100% participation from employees.

Many people also responded to the Jack Shales 60 for 60 Challenge, issued in honor of Jack’s 60th Anniversary with United Way. We easily hit Jack’s goal of $60,000 new dollars thanks to outstanding support from people like the employees of the City of Elgin, who increased giving by over $5,000 this year, and the Grand Victoria Foundation’s generous $25,000 gift.

United Way of Elgin also received multiple grants during the year for the Dolly Parton Imagination Library program, which sends free books to children from birth to five.

The Andrew & Alice Fischer Charitable Trust, The EFS Foundation, the Hoffer Foundation, and the City of Elgin Riverboat Fund all helped the program reach over 4,000 kids this past year.

Special events, like the annual Tee It Up! Golf Outing helped raise additional dollars specifically for United Way initiatives like the Dolly Parton Imagination Library or for the Community Fund, which provides funding to local social service programs.

A gift to United Way is one of the most effective ways to help so many people in the community who need help.

If you are interested in learning more about the United Way of Elgin or how you can contribute to support your community, please visit our website atwww.uwelgin.org/give or call Elissa Kojzarek at 847-741-2259.

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Renovations for Anderson Animal Shelter- Courier News

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Written by Courier News Staff, The Courier News. July 16, 2014

http://couriernews.suntimes.com/2014/07/16/major-renovations-planned-anderson-animal-shelter/?utm_source=Elgin+Courier-News&utm_campaign=3294e4d45b-Elgin_Newsletter_7_177_16_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_53cae08a8e-3294e4d45b-78871401#byline

Major Renovations Planned for Anderson Animal Shelter

Anderson Animal Shelter is getting a makeover and is looking for foster volunteers to care for the animals during the renovation.

A donation — from Marco and Patricia Muscarello, on behalf of the Ivar and Ruth Anderson Animal Anti-Cruelty Foundation — will update the forty-year-old building, 1000 South LaFox, South Elgin. Beginning Sept. 1, new caging will be installed throughout the dog and cat adoption areas and the reception and non-public areas of the shelter will receive a face-lift.

“The Anderson Animal Shelter building is outdated, said Executive Director Beth Drake. “Our plumbing was installed when the shelter was built 40 years ago and has reached the end of its life expectancy. Our parking lot is too small to accommodate all our shelter visitors. Most importantly, our animal caging is outdated.”

Currently, the cats are housed in small, stainless steel cages and dogs are housed in chain link kennels.

“This type of caging is not ideal for shelter animals,” said Drake. “It increases their stress and leads to emotional and physical distress. The shelter redesign will incorporate creative housing solutions designed to reduce animal stress. Our adoptable cats will be housed with other cats in cat colonies, or individually in large ‘kitty condos’ with perching and sleeping ledges, allowing them to feel more at home. Adoptable dogs will be housed in their own small rooms, rather than in kennels.”

Under Drake’s leadership, shelter staff and volunteers have begun to implement activities to increase the adoptability of shelter animals in advance of the shelter redesign. Dog playgroups are now a daily occurrence. Dogs that “play well with others” are allowed to interact with one another off leash in an outdoor fenced area with special supervision.

“One of the most exciting improvements I’ve witnessed is dog playgroups, said Josephine Bachelder one of the Shelter’s current volunteers. “Socialization is vital to the emotional health of dogs and you can really see it in the shelter dogs during and after they’ve been in a playgroup. They’re so much more relaxed — it obviously has a positive effect on their overall well-being.”

“A remodeling project of this magnitude is a momentous event in the life of the shelter,” said Cindy Green, longtime member of the Board of Directors. “The upcoming changes will not only benefit the animals in our care, but also the staff and the community as a whole. In my almost seventeen years as a Board Member, I can’t remember feeling such unified excitement.”

The shelter plans to shut down for the month of September for the construction and renovations. Some of the shelter animals will be moved to a satellite adoption location at an undetermined location, where adoptions will continue while the shelter is closed. Anderson staff is currently looking for foster volunteers willing to care for an adult dog or cat or a litter of puppies or kittens for the transition period.

“We’re looking for as many as 100 foster homes willing to bring a shelter pet into their home for a period of one to two months while the shelter is under construction,” said Jon Koffenberger, the Shelter’s Animal Care Manager. “You don’t need to be an experienced foster volunteer, but we do ask that you have some pet experience. Many of the animals here at Anderson have been at the shelter for a long time. They’ve forgotten what it means to be part of a family and will need some help readjusting to that type of life,” he said. “We’ll transition our residents provide their food and any veterinary care they need. We’ll also be there to assist if fosters have behavior concerns about their foster pets. All we ask is that you love them and care for them as if they were your own until it’s time for them to come back to the shelter.”

Should foster volunteers wish to adopt their foster pet, they will be given first priority,” said Drake. “The transition to a shelter environment can be very stressful for dogs and cats,” she added. “Oftentimes, it can be very helpful to engage foster homes and get the animals out of our facility so that they can learn some basic manners, work on potty training and other kinds of activities. Regardless of how wonderful a shelter is, it is an inherently stressful place to be.”

For information about the foster program visit www.andersonanimalshelter.org or call 847-697-2880 x23 or email jkoffenberger@andersonanimalshelter.org.

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St. Mary Parish Center Ground Breaking- The Chicago Sun-Times

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Written By Jeanie Mayer, The Chicago Sun-Times. April 19, 2012

http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/11966896-417/ground-broken-for-st-mary-parish-center-in-huntley.html

Ground Broken for St. Mary Parish Center in Huntley

HUNTLEY — Approximately 150 people braved fierce winds and damp skies Monday to attend the ceremonial groundbreaking of the St. Mary Parish Ministry Center.

Honorees at the event included Bishop of the Rockford Diocese Thomas Doran, Village President Charles Sass, and the Knights of Columbus Honor Guard. Builder Ian Lamp presented Msgr. Steve Knox with the ceremonial silver shovel during the event.

St. Mary Catholic Church has been a part of the Huntley community since 1870, when the first church building was erected. Subsequent buildings were constructed over the years, with the most recent being the current church building at 10307 Dundee Ave. that was built in 2001 at a cost of $11 million.

The 32,000-square-foot Ministry Center will include office space, fellowship areas, more than 17 flexible-use classrooms for religious education classes, and a small adoration chapel.

Knox, who is pastor of the parish, opened the ceremonies by acknowledging the hard work and dedication of the people in his parish. “A lot of work has been done coming to this point, and we are blessed with this historic moment,” Knox said.

Knox recalled the blessing of the church building by Bishop Doran in 2001 and invited the bishop to bless the ground at the ceremony that day. “Bless this ground and all those who will participate in this work,” Doran said as part of his official blessing.

Knox also called on Sass to say a few words at the ceremony and received from him a Certificate of Recognition on behalf of the village for the project.

“On behalf of the village, congratulations on this expansion,” Sass said. “St. Mary is an integral part of the village of Huntley. The St. Mary Church Ministry Center will benefit Huntley residents for years to come.”

The $7.8 million expansion project took about 18 months of planning and has already been fully funded by parishioner pledges and donations.

Parishioner Marti Gielow and her husband Howie attended the groundbreaking ceremony. Gielow said she looks forward to having a large facility for fellowship activities and the needed classroom space for religious education. “I am most excited about the adoration chapel” that will be erected with the building, she said.

Construction work on the project is expected to take 10 to 11 months.

lamp incorporated current projects

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