Family Service Center plans centenary celebration

Clockwise from top left: Peggy O'Brien, of Glenview, Mickey Resnick, of Wilmette, Heidi Voorhees, of Wilmette and Mike Basofin of Lake Forest

Updated: January 7, 2013 6:01AM

Five community leaders who have previously served as presidents of Family Service Center are joining with members of the current board of directors to recognize and celebrate the agency’s 100 years of service to Glenview, Northbrook, Wilmette, and Kenilworth.

Mike Basofin, Heidi Voorhees, Louise Yao, Mickey Resnick, and Peggy O’Brien have all served as president of the Board of Directors of Family Service Center. Their dedication to the work and community extends far beyond the time each spent with a gavel in their hands and into a genuine passion for providing counseling, crisis support, and education services to our communities.

The group met on Sept. 27 at the Wilmette office, 3545 Lake Ave., to plan the recognition of the agency’s long, dedicated service, to celebrate strong community partnerships, and to build financial support for “Our Next 100 Years.”

Family Service Center was founded in 1913 by a dedicated group of community leaders from the Wilmette Woman’s Club and representatives from area churches with the aim of helping families in the community. Current services include individual, couples, and family counseling; community crisis support; and educational sessions and workshops.

The agency partners with schools, police departments, local houses of worship, as well as other community agencies including Wilmette’s Warming House, Family Awareness Network (FAN), and the Northbrook YMCA.

Co-chair Mike Basofin emphasized, “In this challenging economic climate, many families don’t have adequate resources. Family Service steps in to help much like a member of the family, providing care and understanding.”

Mickey Resnick added, “We don’t receive state aid or belong to a large national organization. When people in our community support us, their dollars go directly to helping their neighbors.”

Throughout 2013, the group plans to reach out to local businesses and community groups to recognize this extraordinary milestone of service.

Family Service Center has two offices in Wilmette and Northbrook staffed by 21 masters-degreed therapists. No one is turned away due to an inability to pay and clients are typically seen within 24 hours of their first call to FSC. FSC is also an integral partner in our communities’ first responder crisis networks, called upon when there is a tragedy that affects a school, church, synagogue, or business.

Additional information is available at familyservicecenter.com, or by calling (847) 251-7350.

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