Opening New Doors to Community Health . . .
Angel Harvey Infant Welfare Society of Chicago
Community Health Center
On April 21, 2005 the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago celebrated the grand opening of the Angel Harvey Infant Welfare Society of Chicago Community Health Center, a four-story, 40,000-square-foot facility in Logan Square. Over 300 guests attended this special event, including several local dignitaries: Lieutenant Governor Patrick Quinn; Soraida Gutierrez, Congressman Luis Gutierrez’s wife; Illinois State Representative William Delgado; Alderman Ariel Reboyras; and Alderman Rey Colon. Linda Celesia, Board of Directors President, reflected upon the historical significance of the Infant Welfare Society and its move to Logan Square. NBC anchor, Allison Rosati, served as
master of ceremonies for the day.
The full-service, patient-friendly facility features modern medical exam rooms, a dedicated ophthalmology suite, an expanded pediatric dental clinic with state-of-the-art operatories, a 1,240-square-foot community room and more. The building also features environmentally-friendly innovations such as a soy-based roofing topcoat to reduce solar heat and conserve energy.
The event came near the culmination of a two-year, $3 million capital campaign, thanks to the hard work and generosity of the organization’s Board of Directors, Capital Campaign Committee, Auxiliary and hundreds of generous friends and supporters of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. Rooms throughout the new health care center reflect the names of these individuals, as does as a commemorative brick pathway to the main entrance.
The new community health center will fill a tremendous need for affordable medical care for uninsured children and women. More than 20 percent of children in Chicago are uninsured. The Logan Square location, in the heart of our patients’ community, gives even more underserved families the opportunity to receive quality care close to home.
Infant Welfare named the building in honor of Lynne “Angel” Harvey, wife and business partner of radio legend Paul Harvey, and a radio legend in her own right. Mrs. Harvey is a long-time supporter of and contributor to the Infant Welfare Society. She served as President of the Infant Welfare Society Auxiliary from 1969 to 1971 during the opening of Infant Welfare’s previous location at 1931 North Halsted.
“Lynne Harvey has been Infant Welfare’s very own “Angel” for many years,” said Anna Igoe, co-chair of the capital campaign and current board president. “Angel has truly set the precedent for our capital campaign. Without supporters like her, Infant Welfare could not provide the kind of quality services for which we are known.”
The grand opening also featured the unveiling of a new sculpture donated by renowned local artist Rebecca Childers Caleel. A resident of Oak Brook, Caleel has donated more than 1,000 hours of her own time in her Westmont studio creating “Hope,” a nearly 6-foot bronze sculpture that stands in the front lobby of Infant Welfare’s new community health center. The larger-than-life sculpture depicts a loving mother cradling her baby while her young daughter playfully peeks around a column in the front lobby.
A historic and architectural treasure in Logan Square, the building housing Infant Welfare’s new community health center was built in 1924 as the Kimbell Savings and Trust Bank and is the former home of the Logan Square YMCA. The building has an orange landmark status rating, with potential for full landmark status.
