WELLNESS HOUSE NAMES ITS HINSDALE BUILDING THE KAY & MIKE BIRCK HOME OF HOPE
Recognizes Major Gift to 25th Anniversary Campaign
HINSDALE, Ill. – In recognition of a $4 million gift received from Kay and Mike Birck and the Tellabs Foundation, Wellness House has announced that its 15,000 square foot building at 131 N. County Line Road, a fixture in the Hinsdale community for almost 26 years, will be named The Kay and Mike Birck Home of Hope. The dedication and official naming of the building took place at a reception on Thursday, July 21, 2016. Mike Birck, who passed from cancer in July of 2015, was a co-founder and chairman of Tellabs, Inc.
At the dedication ceremony, Wellness House President & CEO Jeannie Cella said, “Kay and Mike Birck, through
their kindness, generosity, and faith in our mission, have had a tremendous impact on this organization. The Bircks
made their first donation to Wellness House even before we opened our doors, and have consistently lent support
to our programs ever since. Their $3 million gift to the 25th anniversary campaign, along with the $1 million match
from the Tellabs Foundation, is a clear investment in the future of Wellness House. I’m thrilled to be able to honor
the Birck family in this way, and I know our building’s new name will continually inspire us to reflect Kay and Mike’s
commitment to service and community.”
According to the National Cancer Institute, nearly 1.7 million new cases of cancer will have been diagnosed in
the U.S. in 2015. As more people are diagnosed with cancer and living longer as survivors, the need for
Wellness House’s services to assist them in living their best lives, emotionally and physically, continues to grow.
As last year’s 25th anniversary approached, Wellness House leaders and board of directors collectively challenged themselves to identify new opportunities that could most help those living with cancer. Their efforts led
to the question, “What if we could reach more people beyond our walls?”, which in turn led to the Wellness Beyond Walls campaign and program initiative. Funds raised through this campaign, including the Bircks’ generous gift, will underwrite The Kay & Mike Birck Home of Hope and two signature program offerings in perpetuity. The campaign will also enable new technological offerings and other Wellness House programs at partnership locations across more communities. The goal is to reach more people where they live and work, and to provide more individuals and families with the tools and resources to assist them in their cancer journey. Through the support of people like the Bircks and its other donors, Wellness House is able to provide programs at no cost to its participants.
About Wellness House
26 years ago, a group of people came together because they saw, first-hand, the impact of cancer on their family and friends. Out of concern and determination, Wellness House was born to lighten cancer’s burden through programs that support, inform and educate people affected by cancer. Since then, more than 32,000 people have been
impacted by Wellness House.
Wellness House envisions a community where all people affected by cancer thrive. Offered at no cost, and as a complement to medical treatment, our programs educate, support and empower participants so they will improve their physical and emotional well-being. For more information, visit wellnesshouse.org.