Empowering Families in DuPage County

Martha Melman and Tony Hunter, co-chairs of Metropolitan Family Services’ Campaign to Mpower Families, greeted more than 40 DuPage County stakeholders at Oak Brook’s Wildfire restaurant on Wednesday, July 13 to share how the Campaign will expand the agency’s life-changing services within the county.

“My wife and I are just average people, but we felt it was so important to support the Campaign and have an impact on the future of this great organization,” said Mike Skarr, a member of the DuPage Community Board. “This campaign provides an amazing opportunity for all of us to make a lasting impact on Metropolitan Family Services for the next generation.”

The Campaign to Mpower Families is Metropolitan’s initiative to expand its services from 68,000 clients yearly to 100,0000 clients yearly by 2020. The Campaign, under the leadership of co-chairs Martha Melman, Tony Hunter, and Richard Price, has already raised $13 million of its $25 million goal, with $4 million of the total designated for DuPage County programs and services.

Campaign funds have already begun making an impact in DuPage with the opening of the Addison Children’s Center in April 2016. Other DuPage-specific projects include enhancements for the Wheaton offices and community center, and key infrastructure improvements such as a new electronic health records system.

Speakers at the event included former clients Edel and Cynthia, who became teen parents at age 16 and enrolled their child in a Head Start program through Metropolitan. Four years later, they now have two children receiving quality childhood education at Metropolitan as well as stable employment for both of them – in Head Start.

“We started with Metropolitan as teenagers and now we’re helping other families,” Edel said. ““We are so grateful to Metropolitan for the opportunity to work with other teachers and staff who motivate us to strive for success.

“I am so thankful to be a part of this company,” he said.

To learn more about the Campaign to Mpower Families, contact Campaign Manager Corinne Henry at henryc@metrofamily.org or 312-986-4239.

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