CHICAGO and DETROIT, Feb. 16,
2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Humble Design Fueled by U-Haul is
expanding its philanthropic mission beyond Greater Detroit to assist disadvantaged
families and veterans transitioning out of homeless shelters in the
Chicago area.
This is the first expansion of what the nonprofit and its
primary sponsor, U-Haul International, hope will lead to Humble
Design chapters on a national scale. The organization has provided
furnishings and design services to 733 Michigan families since
2009, turning empty houses into clean, dignified and welcoming
homes.
Kristin Drutchas will serve as
Director of Humble Design Chicago. Drutchas, a former Wicker Park
home furnishings business owner and Chicago public school fundraiser, is motivated
by the mission ahead.
"Humble Design invites all Chicagoans to get in the game and
fight homelessness," Drutchas said. "We can all do something. Bring
your company in for a day of service to set up a family's home.
Donate your gently used furnishings and household items to a new
family – it's recycling at its finest. Help save lives and slam the
door on the vicious cycle of homelessness in Chicago."
The operation has already gained the support of city officials
and Chicago-based CB2, the
official corporate sponsor of Humble Design Chicago. Together with
Humble Design, CB2 has pledged to sponsor 20 homes in the next
year.
Humble Design Chicago is scheduled to help its first family on
March 1. Additional details will
follow. Media is encouraged to attend.
"CB2 is honored to support the mission of Humble Design
Chicago," said Ryan Turf, CB2 Managing Director. "We align with the
belief that a home not only provides shelter and comfort, but gives
a family dignity and respect. Helping families get back on their
feet and into a new home is an incredible accomplishment, thanks to
the Humble Design team."
Visit www.humbledesign.org to learn about the mission or make a
contribution. Click on the Humble Design Chicago Facebook page at
https://www.facebook.com/humblechicago/ to join the volunteer
list.
Humble Design Chicago will operate out of U-Haul Moving &
Storage of Bridgeport at 431 W.
Pershing Road, where there is warehouse space for donations.
Donation drop-off hours will soon be posted to the Humble Design
website. Donation pick-up service also will be offered one day a
week in Cook County.
Humble Design has been profiled on NBC's Today show, CNN, Inside
Edition and many other TV programs. Treger Strasberg co-founded the
organization eight years ago and focused her efforts on assisting
single mothers emerging from shelters and moving with their
children into low-income housing. Many of the families helped are
victims of abuse and have left behind all material possessions.
U-Haul signed on as the primary sponsor in 2016, offering the
equipment, storage and national infrastructure to make expansion
possible. In December, Humble Design appointed ad industry
trailblazer and Doner Global Creative Chairman Rob Strasberg, Treger's husband, co-CEO of the
organization to help oversee the expansion efforts.
"Chicago was a perfect fit for
our first expansion," Treger Strasberg said. "We understand from
our partnering homeless shelters that no other organization is
addressing the issue. We are eager to provide dignity and comfort
to some of the 125,000 homeless individuals in the city. Only 1
percent of our 733 families in Detroit have returned to homelessness. We
fully expect the same results in Chicago. This will, in turn, save the city and
the state essential funds."
Rob Strasberg added: "With U-Haul Company's sponsorship, storage
and trucks, CB2's financial commitment and a host of volunteers who
have stepped forward, we will start to make an impact on the
homeless situation in Chicago from
day one."
About Humble Design
Humble Design is a Detroit-based nonprofit that helps families
transitioning out of homeless shelters by providing furnishings and
design services. The organization turns empty houses into clean,
dignified and welcoming homes — a very simple idea that can change
a family's future. Co-founded by Treger Strasberg, the organization
primarily serves single moms with children and helps homeless
veterans and their families. The Humble Design team has served 733
families since 2009 and currently helps three families a week.
www.humbledesign.org
About U-Haul
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of
do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 21,000 locations
across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers'
patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to more than 139,000
trucks, 108,000 trailers and 38,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers
more than 536,000 rooms and more than 50 million square feet of
self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout
North America. U-Haul is the
largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive
aftermarket industry and is the largest retailer of propane in the
U.S. www.uhaul.com
About CB2
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Chicago, CB2 is a modern home destination from
Crate & Barrel, offering innovative designs for apartment, home
and office. From furniture to barware and unexpected accessories,
CB2 is an eclectic mix of sophistication and fun for the modern
home. For more information, visit
www.cb2.com.
Contact:
Jeff Lockridge
Sebastien Reyes
E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com
Phone: 602-760-4941
Website: uhaul.com
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SOURCE U-Haul