Sue Duncan Children's Center » Events

Fall Fête Thank You

admin — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 17:06:19 +0000

We extend our most heartfelt thanks to all who attended our Fall Fete Fundraiser! It was great to be back at the University Club, and to see some of our old friends and make some new ones. As usual, the hors d’oeuvres were delicious, the speakers were engaging, and the music was just right. We hope all of you enjoyed the evening as much as we did.

As we look forward to the holidays, our efforts to add another site continue. We need your help. Enrollment at the Center is at capacity, and Owen is still forced to say “no” to hard-working families who need our services. Make this holiday season a bright one for Chicago’s children. Your support can light up their smiles as well as their futures.

Photos by Topher Alexander: christopher(at)hubristics.com
See more photos on our Flickr page

50th Anniversary Rocks Millennium Park

admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 16:37:15 +0000

The 50th Anniversary Kick-Off in Millennium Park Sunday brought people from across the city to celebrate the lifelong work of Sue Duncan. Adults and children enjoyed the shade of Goose Island Beer Garden, tasted fare from Gilbert’s Craft Sausages, danced to the music by Hey Jimmy and took part in face painting. Dr. Noemi Donoso, Chief Education Officer for Chicago Public Schools, gave a speech acknowledging Sue’s contribution to education, while high school student Serenity talked about the impact Sue has had on her life. “I once wanted to go to community college, but now I want to go to Princeton,” she said to the crowd. “Sue taught me I can do whatever I want to do if I work at it.”

Special thanks to our sponsors, Goose Island and Gilbert’s Craft Sausages.

Photos by Tellit Multimedia

50th Anniversary Kick-Off in Millennium Park

admin — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 15:06:18 +0000

Congratulations Summer Soirée Raffle Winners

admin — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 15:31:37 +0000

Here are our winners for our raffle held at last Friday’s event:

4 Cubs Tickets
Kevin Doyle – Contact Ryan McCleary at ryan.mccleary(at)rpmvm.com to coordinate game

2 Dave Matthews Caravan Tickets
Luke Botica – Contact Kirsten at kirsten.carlson(at)tpna.com to have them mailed

$100 in Restaurant Gift Certificates
Monica Nikel – Contact kcullinan(at)cullprop.com to have them mailed

Summer Soirée Event This Friday

admin — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:55:47 +0000

50th Anniversary Celebration and Reunion

admin — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:41:09 +0000

Join Sue, current students and alumni of the Sue Duncan Children’s Center to celebrate 50 years of Sue’s work!

Saturday, June 18
1-5 p.m., rain or shine
Sue Duncan Children’s Center – 4225 S. Lake Park Ave. (at Jackie Robinson Elementary)
Featuring food, music, performances and basketball
Award to Sue presented by Principal Spiller of Jackie Robinson Elementary

Kids Go Bowling at Diversey River Bowl

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 20:31:28 +0000

Thanks to the Auxiliary Board for organizing a fantastic field trip for a group of our kids last Saturday! Our director, Owen Duncan, provided this update:

“The kids had a great time and were very enthusiastic on the way home. Several said they hoped we’d make this an annual tradition. Lots of pizza was eaten, lots of great bowling went on (some of the kids even cracked 100!)

Most importantly, the kids got to experience a different environment from their usual one, and interact in a friendly way with well-educated and professional people. It may have been ‘only bowling’ but the skill of being comfortably social outside their accustomed cultural context is crucial to future success.”

Among the children who went were:
-High school senior Sydney, who is graduating from the University of Chicago Charter High School
-High school senior Humu, who is graduating honor roll from King College Prep and already has scholarship offers to college
-8th grader Adam, who won the prestigious Daniel Murphy Scholarship for high school. Although he hasn’t made a final decision he will likely attend Mt. Carmel, which has offered to pay the difference between the scholarship and its tuition
-9th graders Serenity and Sunni (cousins), who are both high honor roll in the 9th grade at top 10 CPS high schools
-8th grader Chatara, who has been accepted to De La Salle High School. Her older sister Jasmine is in her second year on scholarship at St. Ignatius and continues to work hard and boost her GPA.

As usual, all our 8th and 12th graders are graduating and all the 8th graders are headed to top high schools.

Aux Board Hosting First Winter Event

admin — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 15:39:03 +0000

Santa Visits the Center

admin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 16:35:15 +0000

Santa made his annual stop the Center on Dec. 17 to deliver long-awaited gifts. Thanks to Jackie Epstein, Jeff Gray and all of our Santa donors for making this event possible.

See more photos on Flickr
Video and Photos by Tellit Multimedia

Letters to Santa

admin — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 18:11:33 +0000

As the Center’s holiday party on Dec. 17 draws closer, kids from the Center have worked hard on writing letters to Santa. Every year, the Center relies on generous people to be a Santa to one or more of our children. We would like to thank Jackie Epstein for helping us organize this effort. If you are interested in being a Santa, please contact Owen at info[at]sueduncanchildrenscenter.org.

Excerpt from Jasmine’s Santa letter:

Jasmine, 13, opens her gift at the 2009 party.
My name is Jasmine. I just turned 13 and I love it. I’m in the 8th grade and I’m having fun being in the 8th grade. I live with my great, great grandma. Being in the 8th grade is a lot of work, but I can handle it. Sometimes things can be difficult and hard to understand, but I still find a way to get through it. Have a very hard and strict teacher, but she is someone who cares and helps me get through things. My favorite subjects are reading and writing. I like these subjects because one day I want to become a writer and you need to know how to read and write in order to become a writer. Bet you didn’t know that I’m a fantastic writer. In my spare time I like to help around the community just to show my neighbors and my family I appreciate living there.

Excerpt from Dermarest’s Santa letter:

How are you doing? Is your wife doing well? Do you have children, Santa? How are the reindeer doing? Are your elves doing well too? What types of toys are they making this year? Is your grandmother doing well? How long do you have to fly on Christmas Eve? Did you ever see a whale before up there in the Arctic?

My name is Dermarest. I go to Jackie Robinson School. I am in third grade. I am going to go to college to be a lawyer. I wanted to be a paleontologist, but I changed my mind.

Read our thank you letter to Santa