The Epstein Story: Our First 100 Years – GIVING BACK.

April is National Volunteer Month in the US – a time in which we honor all volunteers in our communities as well as encourage volunteerism, a concept that has been a major part of the Epstein organization since our founding in 1921 and one that still plays a significant role today.

Our firm’s belief in serving one’s community stems from our founder, Abraham Epstein, and his two sons, Raymond and Sidney Epstein, who fully embraced communal responsibility for others as a central component of their Jewish beliefs. Abraham played a significant role (eventually becoming President) with Mount Sinai Hospital, a medical facility funded in large part by Chicago’s Jewish leaders and whose founding mission was to serve the poor immigrants located around Mr. Sinai’s home at 15^th and California Avenue. Raymond succeeded his father at Mount Sinai and also was a driving force in encouraging his younger brother, Sidney, to get involved in volunteer efforts after Sidney returned from his duties with the Army in 1946. Raymond’s encouragement of Sidney eventually led to Sidney founding with Elliot Donnelly, Chicago Youth Centers in 1956, an organization that today serves 1,500 children in at-risk Chicago communities.

Abraham, Raymond and Sidney’s sense of giving back is one that has been fully embraced by today’s employee-owners of Epstein. In 2008, we established the Epstein Community Foundation (ECF) an organization that works on a number of volunteer projects like renovating homes and purchasing books and back-to-school supplies for local classrooms. For instance, this weekend a team of volunteers from the ECF will be participating once-again in Rebuilding Together Metro Chicago, a program in which a home is upgraded to create a safer environment for the homeowner to live in.

In addition to the ECF, Epstein’s staff volunteers their time to the ACE Mentor Chicago, a weekly after-school program that introduces and mentors’ minority high-school students to potential careers in architecture, engineering and construction.

Lastly, we are proud to celebrate National Volunteer Month and encourage all of you to get involved with your communities.