The annual fashion show put on by Good Shepherd Center each November offers more than a chance to raise money for the nonprofit multiservice agency: It also allows the center’s leadership to educate the community about its purpose.
“The greatest thing about this event is a lot of services we do in the community and the family home,” said Brendan McCormick, who’s served as the center’s executive director for nearly 25 years. “This is the one time a year we get to show off the beauty of our center.”
The agency, which assists more than 150 families annually in south suburban Cook County and northern Will County, was founded in 1963 at Good Shepherd Church in Park Forest. “The Center was a pioneer in serving children at that time, as educational/therapy programs were rare for young children in their first critical five years of life,” its website notes.
“At that time, kids with disabilities couldn’t go to school until age 7,” McCormick said. “Our founder thought that was ridiculous so she founded the center to help kids with special needs. … Ever since, we continue to add new programs to the agency but they’re always based on the needs of the community and the families we serve.”
McCormick said he’s very proud of the work its staff does. “They find out what (families) need, get their phone number and call around and help them find what they need. That’s what we’re here for. We’re a great resource for the Southland. That’s why legislators call me – they know to call us. That’s the point of advocacy.”
Soon after its founding, the center received a grant from the state that allowed it to increase the number of children it served, and it moved to Flossmoor Community Church. Eventually it moved to larger digs in Hazel Crest and has operated Acorn Child Care Center in Oak Forest since 2015. “People with kids with disabilities have trouble finding places that can take kids,” McCormick said. “It’s licensed for 66.”
The organization’s mission is to serve children with or without disabilities and adults with or without disabilities “to empower them to lead a better life,” he said. “We’re competitive. We don’t like being good – we like to be great. What we do is important to us. If you give kids a good start, they’re going to do well.”
That mission requires money, and the gala is one way to help raise it. This year’s event on Nov. 9 at Idlewild Country Club featured a pirate theme, complete with a couple of professional costumed pirates.
“We’re going for ‘Treasure Island.’ We hired an actor playing the role of Jack Sparrow and a crew member,” Gina Szpur, development director for Good Shepherd Center, said before the event. “He’ll be walking the red carpet to entertain our guests.”
Another feature of the day is models of all ages walking the “plank” and showing off fashions from area boutiques, including one that sells furs for women and men.
Attendees traditionally wear anything from suits to business casual. “Guests can dress as pirates if they like,” Szpur said with a laugh.
The gala’s fundraising goal was $15,000, Szpur said, although the center hosts several events throughout the year, including a Big Wheel race planned for July for which 25 teams already have signed up.
The center will begin a capital campaign in the early spring to erect a building on land it bought along 147th Street in Oak Forest to provide a place to provide job training for adults with disabilities.
“That’s why we do events like this fashion fundraiser,” McCormick said. “All the funds raised go into savings to fund our next venture.”
Beyond serving its own clients, the center provides training for every child care center in south suburban and northern Cook County, McCormick said.
Through the center, families can find help with physical, speech, occupational and developmental therapy, early intervention from birth to age 3 and child care from age 6 to 13. Its respite care program requires a child to have a disability. “But if there’s one kid in the home with a disability, then we’ll take care of all the children,” he said. “We want to get the moms out.”
The center also has offered a waiver program for the last 10 or 12 years.
“There are more than 20,000 adults with disabilities living at home with people older than 70. A lawsuit was brought because we need to do some planning,” McCormick explained. “Once they leave high school, they only have services until 21. With the waiver, families are given a certain amount of money to buy services kids need after age 21. Once you’re in the program, the individual with disabilities is eligible for a group home if something happens to the caregiver.”
If the center is chosen to provide services, it works with the families and young adults to figure out what the goals are “whether it’s to get a job or do volunteer work. Whatever they want to do,” he said. “Our staff helps them meet those goals.”
Potential supporters can contact them at gscenter.org or 708-985-3728 to find out about volunteer opportunities. “We’re always looking for sponsors and partners to help build us up,” Szpur said.
“The cool thing about Good Shepherd is the fact that we’re making a difference in the lives of children and families,” McCormick said. “If you’d like to be a part of that, we’d love to have you on board.”
Melinda Moore is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
