Rehab Centers Host Gospel Fest
by Thelma Sardin
Over 400 Englewood residents took part in Alden Princeton and Wentworth Rehabilitation and Health Care Centers 2nd Annual Gospel Fest on Aug. 27.
Alden gave away 300 backpacks filled with school supplies to neighborhood children to help them prepare for the new school year.
The day was jam packed with family-oriented activities including performances from local church choirs, face painting, raffles and a BBQ.
The Gospel Fest grew from a community outreach initiative that Alden Princeton and Alden Wentworth started five years ago when center staff gave away backpacks to local students. Within the last two years, the fest was added and provides entertainment for the entire Englewood community.
The event [is] a way for Alden Princeton and Alden Wentworth employees to connect with the residents in the Englewood community, said John Wiley, Aldens marketing director.
Laura Kelly, administrator at Alden Princeton says the rehab centers are continually performing philanthropic work in Englewood.
Were constantly doing community outreach programs. This is just one way for us to give back to the community and involve our residents, she said.
Kelly added that neighborhood parents look forward to the Gospel Fest and backpack giveaways to prepare their children for the new school year.
Many of the parents have relied on us since this started last year. We have neighborhood residents come in and ask about the Gospel Fest. They really rely on us to get their children ready for school and we were so glad to do this for them, she said.
According to Kelly, the children from the community were thrilled about the event. She says Alden plans to continue hosting the Gospel Fest in the future.
It was truly amazing to see how excited the children were. We are happy so have this event and we will continue it in the future, said Kelly.
Alden has been in the Englewood community since 1980. The rehab centers provide a host of rehabilitation services as well as behavioral health programs.
We are a rehab to home facility and basically what we do is provide comprehensive medical and rehabilitation services with many of the comforts of home, said Wiley.
He added that Aldens mission is centered on providing services that are needed in the community.
Englewood is a unique community and we want to make sure we are providing the services that are needed in the community, Wiley said.
Alden Princeton is located at 255 W. 69th St. in Chicago and Alden Wentworth is located next door at 201 W. 69th St. For more information log on to www.TheAldenNetwork.com
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