Board Member Spotlight: Andrew Weingarten

Andrew Weingarten, Darst Center Board Chair

Dear Friends of the Darst Center,

As I conclude my term as the chair of the board of directors, I want to express my gratitude for your support for the center during the past year. It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the board chair during an historic time for the Darst Center. This time last year, we still didn't have a true home. During the course of the past twelve months, we found a new building in Chicago's West Lawn neighborhood, moved in, and worked tirelessly to continue our mission and work, touching the hearts of many retreatants and helping them "see it differently." St. John Baptist de La Salle said "live by the spirit of faith." The Darst Center's relocation required all of us who are close to it to live by the spirit of faith and it is a great blessing for the center to now have a wonderful new home.

I joined the board two years ago because I wanted to contribute positively to an organization that is doing important, meaningful, and transformative work. When considering all that is going on in our world today, I personally feel that the Darst Center's work to provide opportunities for young people to see more clearly the faces pushed to the margins of our society only gets more and more critical by the day. I am proud of the staff, the board, the volunteers, and the donors who make this possible. I am also inspired by the stories of the retreatants and visitors who learn, grow, and act for social justice every day as the result of their visits to the Darst Center.

I am most excited to see how the Darst Center will grow, serve, and make a difference in the future. I know that with your continued support, the Darst Center will continue to be a beacon of hope and a catalyst for change in our world. Please consider how YOU can help to support this important work by giving of your time, talent, or treasure this holiday season and beyond. Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I look forward to staying in touch and seeing you at Darst Center events.

Sincerely,
Andrew