| Leeanne
McGrath, the founder of Sharing
Connections, used
to become disheartened by the
daily news and the staggering
amount of poverty alongside
such prosperity in her community.
She realized, however, that
even if she could not brighten
the news or make everyone’s
life better, she could at least
do something to help someone.
Thus, in 1986, Leeanne began
using her Lisle garage to collect
baby cribs and baby accessories
from people who no longer needed
them. She then found grateful
families who eagerly gave these
items a new home. |
"Sharing
Connections still acts in
accordance with the same values
in which we began..." |
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Leeanne
McGrath, Founder |
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| Leeanne’s
grassroots organization soon gained a
loyal crew of volunteers, attention from
community agencies, and a surge of public
awareness. Leeanne received numerous awards
recognizing her philanthropic achievements
including the President’s Volunteer
Action Award in 1991 and the National
Caring Award, presented in Washington,
D.C. in 1996.
Eventually, the McGrath’s overflowing
garage necessitated a larger home for
Sharing Connections. In 2001, Sharing
Connections moved to its current location,
a 4,700 square foot warehouses in Downers
Grove. Today, we work collaboratively
with more than 160 hospitals, municipalities,
and other social service agencies to redistribute
beds, tables, chairs, refrigerators, and
more to disadvantaged families in the
Chicago Metropolitan area.
This
one-woman operation has grown to include
several staff members, a full Board of
Trustees, and a small army of volunteers.
Although we have grown, Sharing Connections
still acts in accordance with the same
values in which we began, as reflected
in our Vision and Mission statement. |
