Celebrating 50 Years of Project Oz!

Celebrating the Past, Building a Foundation for Growth

Exciting things are happening at Project Oz! This year marks 50 years of our organization working to keep young people safe and strengthening families! Not only are we celebrating Project Oz's history and legacy, but we are also kicking off a transformative building project to lead us into the next 50 years! Read on to learn about plans for our new Youth Education and Support Center, our upcoming 50th anniversary celebration, and a little Oz history.

Designing for the Future: The Youth Education and Support Center

We are thrilled to be able to share the plans for our new Youth Education and Support Center! This major construction project will add approximately 2,500 square feet of flexible space to our existing building. The new space will help us expand our services and better meet the needs of young people experiencing housing instability, family conflicts, and other challenges.

The new Center will be a comfortable space where youth can speak with counselors, learn life and job skills, and connect with technology. It will include a "Nutrition Nook", where they can grab a bite to eat and learn to cook, as well as a "Youth Hygiene Station" complete with laundry facilities, to allow youth visiting our office to clean up with privacy and dignity.  We will also be able to host larger family meetings, restorative circles, trainings, and community events on-site to build connections and encourage important conversations.

Throughout the project, purposeful, youth-friendly, trauma-informed design will create a warm, welcoming environment that promotes healing and communication for youth and families during challenging times. 

Please consider donating to help Project Oz continue to put our founding values into practice every day. You can help us create safe spaces where young people connect to caring adults and develop the skills they need to achieve their goals and lead happy, healthy, productive lives!

With grant funding from the City of Bloomington and the John M. Scott Trust, we are excited to move forward with this project and expect ground breaking to take place later this year! We would also like to extend special thanks to the Bank of Pontiac, JX Gives Back Family Foundation, US Bank, Compeer Financial, Specs Around Town, Tentac Enterprises, and Road Runner Real Estate Sales and Investments for their support. If your business or organization would like to be a part of the Youth Center efforts, please contact us! In addition to financial support, we are also seeking donated materials and services for the project including landscaping, HVAC, washer/dryer, refrigerator, shingles, gutters, and much more. Email us at [email protected] or call us at 309-827-0377.

A Semi-Centennial Celebration: Kicking Off our 2nd Half-Century!

Join us for a night of music and laughter to celebrate Project Oz's 50th Anniversary, hosted by our friends at the Illinois Interior Design Association (IIDA)!

The dueling pianos will face off on September 29th at the Castle Theater, with doors opening at 5:30 pm.

This event promises to be a fun night of singing along, dancing, comedy, and outstanding piano playing that ranges from classics like Billy Joel and Elton John to contemporary hits and country. Best of all, the proceeds will benefit Project Oz programs!

Tickets are on sale here now, along with additional details about the event.

Visit here for event sponsorship opportunities, starting at $250, or contact Lisa Thompson, [email protected], for more information.