TP_091318

16 | September 13, 2018 | The tinley junction business
tinleyjunction.com
Business Briefs
SAVE THE DATE
For more information, call 708-326-9170 or
RSVP* at 22ndcenturymedia.com/aging
SPONSORED BY:
PRESENTED BY
22ND CENTURY
MEDIA
SATURDAY, OCT. 6 • 9AM - 1PM
Tinley Park
Convention Center
18451 Convention Center Drive
THIS EXPO WILL FEATURE:
• Entertainment
• Free games of Bingo
with prizes!
• Free gift bag to the
first 300 attendees!
*RSVP is not required to attend
• Health Screenings
• Speaker Sessions
• Vendor Booths
AND MORE TO COME!
FREE
PARKING & ADMISSION
Tinley Park businesses help
‘drive out’ bullying
Beginning in October, The
Bridge Teen Center in Orland
Park begins its annual
“Drive Out Bullying” initiative
with the help of some
Tinley Park businesses.
With October being recognized
as National Bullying
Prevention Awareness
Month, Bettenhausen Dodge
and Lawn Funeral Home are
assisting the Bridge in sponsorships
for the initiative.
“The Bridge’s programs
are designed in a holistic
way to proactively combat
bullying on a daily basis by
engaging, connecting and
empowering our students,”
said Priscilla Steinmetz,
Founder of The Bridge Teen
Center. “We are honored to
serve on the front lines of
this issue in our community,
providing a safe and positive
environment where students
feel accepted and encouraged.”
The Drive Out Bullying
initiative raises financial and
in-kind support for the free
programs provided by The
Bridge. A total 89% of all
funds raised directly support
these programs without a
single dollar of state or federal
funding.
“The Drive Out Bullying
initiative is an easy way for
the community to give back
and we are humbled by all
the sponsors and volunteers
who make this annual initiative
a huge success,” Steinmetz
said.
The Bride Teen Center’s
sister organization, The
Bridge Thrift Store, also
plays an important role in
the efforts. Located adjacent
to The Bridge Teen Center,
the thrift store provides
30-percent of the total operating
budget for the teen
center. Furthermore, it provides
ongoing job readiness
programs and service opportunities
for teens. During the
Drive Out Bullying initiative
the thrift store provides three
specific ways for the community
to get involved in the
initiative.
Volunteer – Groups and
families are encouraged
to volunteer at The Bridge
Thrift Store by helping to
sort through donated items.
So far, many volunteer
groups from the Tinley Park
community, including Andrew
High School National
Honors Society officers, are
set to serve at the thrift store.
Individuals and groups age
10 and older are needed to
volunteer Saturdays in October
from 8am to 12pm
and 1pm to 4pm. Volunteers
must sign up in advance and
other service dates are available.
Donate – Residents can
drop off gently used items
at the back of The Bridge
Thrift Store building located
at 15605 S. 71st Court in Orland
Park. Clothes, books,
games, furniture, dishes and
more are accepted. People
who donate on Saturdays
(10 a.m. to 4 p.m.) in October
will receive a free Drive
Out Bullying t-shirt, while
supplies last and donations
are tax deductible.
Donation Drives – Groups,
businesses and organizations
can collect donations in support
of The Bridge Thrift
Store with the help of free
promotional materials provided
upon registration.
For more information,
please call (708) 532-0500
or send an email to amber@
thebridgeteencenter.org.
Gigi’s Playhouse Tinley Park
readies for grand opening
GiGi’s Playhouse Tinley
Park is proud to announce
the grand opening of its new
location at 159th and Harlem
Avenue in Tinley Park from
1-4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept.
16.
This grand opening is an
opportunity for families and
community members to see
the new facility and learn
about plans for expanded
services for individuals with
Down syndrome and their
families. The new location
allows for expansion of current
services and growth to
incorporate increased services
for adults with Down
syndrome including, GiGI
U! This expansion will allow
GiGi’s Playhouse Tinley
Park to continue to
support free, life-changing
programming such as oneon-one
literacy and math
tutoring, speech therapy, fitness
classes, career training
and more for children and
adults with Down syndrome
in the Chicago southland.
GiGi’s Playhouse in Tinley
Park currently supports over
300 families and the new location
will help continue to
expand and serve more families
in local communities.
With its national office
based in Hoffman Estates,
GiGi’s Playhouse is the
only international network
of free-standing Down syndrome
Achievement Centers.
With more than 30 locations
around the country and
in Mexico, GiGi’s Playhouse
delivers free educational
and therapeutic programs to
children and adults to maximize
achievement and acceptance.
Founded in 2003,
the organization makes a
lifetime commitment to support
and empower families
from diagnosis to adulthood.
Gigi’s Playhouse also
works to break down barriers
and change the way the
world sees people who are
different, by promoting acceptance
for all through the
#GenerationG campaign.
The goal is to have a Gigi’s
Playhouse in every state by
2021. GiGi’s Playhouse survives
completely on donor
funds and is a 501(c)(3) taxexempt
charitable organization.
For more information
please, visit www.GiGis
playhouse.org.
Compiled by Cody Mroczka,
Editor