Marquette Bank's $80,000 Gift Helps Power BEDS Plus Transitional Housing Innovation
Release date: 4/24/2026
Chicago, IL – March 24, 2026 – Marquette Bank, Chicagoland’s leading neighborhood bank, made an $80,000 donation to BEDS Plus in honor of the bank's 80th anniversary, supporting a transformative project that converts the former Aloha motel on Chicago's Southwest Side into a dignified transitional shelter. The BEDS Plus Cicero Avenue Transitional Shelter will feature 55 private rooms designed to serve individuals, couples, families, and people with disabilities.
"It feels like an apartment, it feels like home, and we can help them start to rebuild their lives and move on to their own homes," said Tina Rounds, CEO of the nonprofit BEDS Plus.
The project embodies a new philosophy of dignity-based services paired with comprehensive support. Each room includes a private bathroom, microwave, refrigerator, and personal storage. Residents receive trauma-informed case management, job placement support, on-site medical clinics, and housing navigation services, with an average stay of 90 days designed to transition residents into permanent housing.
Christie Cox, First Vice President and Director of the Marquette Neighborhood Commitment at Marquette Bank, emphasized the bank's commitment: "We've been a longtime supporter of BEDS Plus and having the opportunity to support this transitional housing shelter project is a privilege because it aligns so closely with our efforts focused on community development and developing housing resources in our neighborhoods."
The $80,000 contribution is part of a $15 million project funded through multiple partners, including an $8.5 million award from the Illinois Housing Development Authority and various corporate partners. The grand opening is scheduled for winter 2026. The shelter also includes streetscape improvements, facade upgrades, and new green space at the 8515 S. Cicero Avenue location.
This donation is part of Marquette Bank’s Neighborhood Commitment that focuses on helping residents, organizations and nonprofits in the areas of hunger shelter/housing, education, and health/wellness. Each month, bank employees volunteer, complete service projects and partner with local organizations/nonprofits. This effort also caps off Marquette Bank’s 80th Anniversary where the bank completed over 80 distinct service projects during the anniversary year.
Listen to Christie Cox, Director of the Marquette Neighborhood Commitment speak about the donation on WGN Radio.
Photo (left to right) Marquette Bank employees Paul McCarthy, Chairman; Betty Harn, President & CEO; Christie Cox, First Vice President, Director of Marquette Neighborhood Commitment; Colleen Marszalek, Senior Vice President, Director Customer Operations & Strategy; Pat Hunt, Senior Executive Vice President & CFO; Alan Kwasneski, Executive Vice President, Chief Governance, Risk & Compliance Officer; Jerry Magold, First Vice President, Financing Planning; and Manny Jimenez, First Vice President & Director of Community Reinvestment Act present an $80,000 donation to BEDS Plus at the Cicero Avenue Transitional Shelter groundbreaking.
About Marquette Bank:
Marquette Bank is a full-service, neighborhood bank that serves the financial needs of communities in Chicagoland – offering an extensive line of financial solutions – including retail banking, real estate lending, trust, insurance, investments, wealth management and business banking to consumers and commercial customers. Marquette Bank has 20 branches in: Chicago, Bolingbrook, Bridgeview, Evergreen Park, Hickory Hills, Lemont, New Lenox, Oak Forest, Oak Lawn, Orland Park, Romeoville, Summit and Tinley Park, Illinois.