Reminder: DuPage PADS Drive for 155!

It’s May, the sun is starting to shine, and we are only two months away from the fourteenth annual DuPage PADS Drive for 155 charity karting race! You may remember that this is one of the favorite events for the Studio21 Architects team, and we always want to take some time to highlight this event that raises money for such a worthy cause. If this is your first time hearing about DuPage PADS or their annual charity kart race, here’s a quick overview.?

DuPage PADS was founded in 1985 to provide interim and permanent housing to those experiencing homelessness in DuPage County. PADS is tuned in to the fact that the solution to homelessness is so much more complex than offering food and temporary shelter; it is about offering the tools and support to stop the cycle. In addition to housing, the team at PADS puts their clients in touch with any supplemental support they may need, like case management and employment support.?

Losing one’s home can happen in an instant, for a multitude of reasons that oftentimes are beyond the individual’s control. Illness, escaping abuse, and unforeseen costs are just a few ways a person’s life could change overnight. Homelessness is not a choice, and PADS shows plainly in their work how?these individuals are seeking the support necessary to get back on their feet and become self-sufficient. In 2023, the organization served 1,206 individuals; of this total, 384 were children in families and 148 lost their homes due to domestic abuse.?

This July will mark Studio21 Architects’ fifth year taking part in the fundraising and racing. Each team not only competes in the race, but also in the fundraising, as the team with the most donations will win a prime spot at the starting line. The Studio21 Architects team is also putting together a second team for the kart race! If you are interested in participating in the race with us, please get in touch with Emma at [email protected].?

We are so grateful for all of your support for our team and DuPage PADS in the past years, and we appreciate your donations—and hopefully participation as well—this year, too! Click here to watch a video that highlights the work that DuPage PADS does for the unhoused in our county, and if you'd like to make a donation, follow this link.