Sister Therese DelGenio
Executive Director SW Chicago PADS 

For 15 years, Sister Therese DelGenio has been responding to the needs of the homeless in the neighborhood with food, shelter, showers, clothing, and ongoing assistance with life skills.  Sister Therese was instrumental in creating the Southwest Chicago Public Action to Deliver Shelter (PADS) in 1993.  PADS, an ecumenical and community endeavor which valued the dignity, uniqueness, goodness, and giftedness of all persons, assists people with moving from homelessness to stable employment and housing.

The Public Action to Deliver Shelter program was first housed in a Lutheran Church at 53^rd and Maplewood before moving to buildings on 63^rd Street owned by Greater Southwest Development Council.  For the last five years, PADS is working out of a building on 71^st Street.

Using her skills as an addictions counselor and putting her Bachelor of Arts degree to good use, Sister Therese has a staff of three case managers and an army of over 700 volunteers who are inspired by her selfless love of the poor. She has reached out to the Sisters of St. Casimir for assistance and housing, and to Holy Cross Hospital for laundry services and doctors who care for her clients pro bono. She practices selfless love, but it is a tough love, knowing that people must be able to do for themselves if they are to survive.

All who know her or know of her are inspired by Sister Therese, as well as her staff and volunteers who work so tirelessly to make everyone at PADS feel welcome.  We are inspired by her faith, trusting that nothing is too big to overcome.