Epstein Participates in Serve-a-Thon to Repair Schools

Nearly 5,000 volunteers helped beautify and fix up some Chicago Public Schools buildings on Saturday as part of the Chicago Cares Serve-a-Thon.

The Epstein Community Foundation (ECF) had a great time participating in the annual event! We spent our day at Foreman College and Career Academy, a 4-year high school located in the Portage Park neighborhood. Our team painted hallways, painted letters for a mural outside of the school and built benches.

This is the events 25th year and is hosted by Chicago Cares, the citys largest volunteer organization which seeks to make a difference in just one day.

The day of service event began in the morning at Daley Plaza. Volunteers then spanned out across the city, concentrating their efforts on the citys South and West sides to spruce up neighborhood schools.

We save about $3 million in facility funds by having Chicago Cares come out to our schools, said CPS CEO Janice Jackson.

Last year, volunteers helped to repaint several schools. Over the past 25 years, helpers have put in half a million hours to service the City of Chicago.

A special shout out to the following Epstein employees for dedicating their time and effort this weekend: Criss Paccione-Anderson, Monika Ciesielska, Steve Marx, Will Owen (and his wife, Katherine), Jake Effinger, Alexus Davis, Tom Smiles, Tim Gall and Christina Stoczynski. Well done!

"I was amazed at how much we accomplished during the few hours we visited Foreman High School. We were able to impact so many areas within the school," said Steve Marx, who is Epstein's Director of Client Services, Business Development. "I wish I could be there to see the looks on the students' faces when they begin class this fall."

The ECF was founded by Epstein employees in 2008 as an organization devoted to empowering people to improve their lives through a commitment to developing partnerships with communities in need. Over the ensuing years, ECF has been involved in numerous charitable partnerships with organizations such as Refortify and ACE Mentor Chicago.

As this is ECFs 10-year anniversary, we are expanding our giving this year to celebrate!