A very wise person
long ago once said,
that we should

“Love our neighbor as we would love ourselves”.    ~Jesus Christ

In that same spirit we ask you to join us as we “make a difference” in the lives of families in your neighborhood.

The mission of the Swan House is to make a difference for a family and a neighborhood.  Building pride, hope and a spirit of shared accomplishment. By supporting educational attainment and neighborhood development, the Swan House Initiative empowers youth, families and communities.

The Swan House History

Christopher D. Swan, an entrepreneur who was born and raised in one of the poorest neighborhoods of inner city Chicago, developed a passion for helping others rise above their circumstances.  He took his educational and business experience in the construction industry and combined it with his drive for helping people in the community and partnered with ABC TV-7 Sports Anchor and co-founder Jim Rose to create The Swan Group in May 2000. One of the goals was to assist a single parent student with housing while attending college thereby creating “The Swan House” Initiative. 

Chris was inspired by a fellow classmate from inner city Chicago who had several children by the time she was 21 and turned to a life of prostitution to support herself and her children. Chris Swan (of Chicago and Green Bay WI) started without as much as two cents of his own to rub together.  He has begun a campaign, to help educate single mothers/dads. Chris & Jane Swan dream is to reduce homelessness and provide affordable brand new homes to low income single parent families.

Both Chris, Jim & Jane saw friends they grew up with who never escaped the poverty of their youth, and have never forgotten the friends who did not make it out of difficult circumstances and have dedicated their lives to helping every person get a good start in life. The Swan House understand the enormous talent that is often overlooked and want to help both youth and families fulfill their potential.

Please help The Swan House pursue their dream of an education for those who cannot find a way out on their own.

If your organization or business would like to get involved through volunteering, financial support and/or material contributions, please contact us at (920) 217-4056 or click on the Contact icon below.

We need your help to continue Making a Difference in the Lives of Children and their Parents!

COUNTING ON YOU!!!!!!! 
 

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 Archives

Jim Rose remarks/First Chicago Swan House Give Away Ceremony.
October 5, 2006  

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. WELCOME TO A MORNING THAT WE, THE MEMBERS OF THE SWAN GROUP HAVE ANTICIPATED FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. DURING THAT TIME, THE FOUR OF US WHO ARE LEFT, CHRIS, JANE, VERNA SWAN, AND MYSELF, HAVE LAUGHED, CRIED, BLED, AND SWEATED THRU THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS, THE SWAN HOUSE.

WE BEGAN THIS JOURNEY ON MOTHER'S DAY 2000, WHEN I MET CHRIS SWAN WHILE GRIDDLING PANCAKES FOR MOTHERS AT A SOUTH SIDE RESTURANT AS PART OF REAL FATHER REAL MEN COOK. WHILE GRIDDLING, WE TALKED ABOUT OUR DREAMS. TO BUILD A HOME FOR A SINGLE PARENT MOM. CHRIS SAID, LETS MAKE THIS DREAM COME TRUE. SO, WE FORMED THE SWAN GROUP. CHRIS PUT TOGETHER SOME LOCAL FOLKS IN BANKING, CONSTRUCTION AND UTILITIES AND OFF WE WENT. THRU CHRIS SWAN'S CONTACTS, WE RECEIVED THE LAND FROM THE HERITAGE BANK AND THE REGIONAL REDEVELOPEMENT CORPORATION. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF THE VILLAGE OF RIVERDALE BURNED THE EXISTING, CONDEMMED HOUSE DOWN AND CLEARED THE LAND.

IN JULY OF 2002, WE BROKE GROUND AND BEGAN CONSTRUCTION.

MARTY OZINGA STEPPED UP AND WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED, DONATED THE CONCRETE WHICH WAS POURED, AND AWAY WE WENT.

OVER THE NEXT 4 YEARS, THE SWAN HOUSE STARTED TO TAKE SHAPE. WE RAISED MONEY THRU SUPER BOWL PARTIES, AND A BARBECUE. BUT IT WAS THE CHARITY OF MANY OF YOU IN THE COMMUNITY THAT MADE THIS HAPPEN. CHRIS AND I FILLED IN THE GAPS WITH MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKETS AND SLOWLY THE SWAN HOUSE GREW.

ABC 7 TV TELEVISED OUR EFFORTS WITH NUMEROUS LIVE REPORTS OVER THESE 4 YEARS AND THAT BROUGHT US MORE CONTRACTORS AND THEIR SUPPLIES.

ONE COLD DECEMBER DAY IN 2004, CHRIS WONDERED WHERE WE WERE GOING TO GET OUR FURNACE, DUCTWORK, AIR CONDITIONING. THE NEXT DAY, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM BRIAN DWYER OF PRESTIGE HEATING AND COOLING AND ONE MONTH LATER, JANUARY 15TH, 2005, HE BROUGHT HIS CREW OVER AND INSTALLED EVERYTHING.

THEN, OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS, WE MADE A CONCERTED EFFORT TO FINISH BECAUSE OF NUMEROUS BREAK-INS. TOM MINTZ OF TOM'S REMODELING HAS BEEN WITH US EVERY WEEKEND OVER THESE LAST TWO MONTHS DONATING HIS PRICELESS EXERTISE IN FINISHING THIS PROJECT.

IN THE FINAL WEEKS, THE PLUMBERS COUNCIL CAME IN, AND WITH THERE CREW,TIED IN ALL THE PLUMBING, WASTE, AND VENT LINES TO GET US TO THE FINISH LINE.

AND THAT BRINGS US TO TODAY. IN MY OPINION, THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE WE MUST OVERCOME AS AN AMERICAN SOCIETY IS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEMS OUR SINGLE PARENT MOTHERS HAVE. TO ME, THEY HAVE THE TOUGHEST JOB IN OUR WORLD. TODAY, FOR ONE SINGLE PARENT MOM, ONE OF THOSE PROBLEMS, THE BIGGEST WE FEEL, WILL BE ERASED. TO HAVE AN ENVIRONMENT TO RAISE THE DIFFERENCE MAKERS WHO MIGHT JUST HELP US SAVE THIS TUMULTIOUS PLANET.

AND NOW, IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT I INTRODUCE THE MAN WHOM THE PROJECT IS NAMED FOR. A MAN WHO SPENT OVER 15-HUNDRED HOURS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. A MAN WHOSE VISION IS PERFECT FOR OUR TIMES. A MAN WHOSE CHARACTER IS WITHOUT QUESTION. WHEN YOU DRIVE 3 AND A HALF HOURS, EACH WAY, EVERY OTHER WEEKEND FOR 4 YEARS TO MAKE A DREAM COME TRUE, YOU ARE EXTRAODINARY. THIS MAN IS A CHICAGO NATIVE, WHO LIVES IN GREEN BAY WISCONSIN, WHOSE COMPANY, SWAN CORP ONE, LAID EVERY BRICK FOR THE RENOVATION OF LAMBEAU FIELD ATRIUM.  LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SWAN GROUP, AND MY BEST FRIEND, CHRIS SWAN.