Kristen Sitko
Red Shoe Society Chicago
It is easy to see where Colleen got her big heart and giving spirit – her family has been overwhelmingly supportive of our organization even becoming honorary members of Red Shoe. For those of you who may be unfamiliar, Red Shoe Society is a group of young professionals with a common goal to raise resources and awareness for Ronald McDonald House Charities. Our mission is to provide both philanthropic and leadership opportunities for our members while also supporting the families staying at the Ronald McDonald Houses during hospital visits and treatments.
I met Colleen in 2019 when we both accepted new board positions within Red Shoe. I remember there was a board meeting shortly after and I couldn’t attend because of a prior commitment. The very next day I had an email waiting for me. The email started off with “Hi New Co-chair! I wanted to introduce myself. I'm Colleen and I'm the other co-chair for the Volunteer Events Committee for Red Shoe Society! I would love love love to meet up with you and chat!” We set up a date to meet for coffee but, unfortunately, work got busy for both of us so we connected on the phone instead. We chatted on the phone for a while. I remember because my coworker asked where I had been for the past hour.
Our conversation was easy and it felt like we were old friends rather than co-chairs meeting for the first time. She asked me why I joined Red Shoe and I told her about my prior involvement with the charity thru work and that having two young kids myself, the charity’s mission meant a lot to me. I, of course, asked her the same question. She told me she had a personal connection to the charity; she had been the recipient of 2 heart transplants and that her family had actually stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. She said she and her family were so thankful to have that option and she wanted to make sure to pay it forward to ensure other families had the same amazing experience and opportunity.
Of course, in true Colleen fashion, we got straight to business and started talking about ideas for our 2020 calendar. Colleen came up with an amazing idea - she wanted to host a Summer Camp night at the Lurie House. She said summer camp was one thing she would’ve loved to do as a kid but couldn’t because of medical reasons. She wanted the kids to feel the thrill of a camp bonfire with friends and to provide an evening filled with crafts and activities so that the families could feel carefree even if it was just for a few hours. I remember the joy and excitement in her voice as she spoke. It was contagious. I hung up and thinking “Oh, we just have to do this! It’s going to be awesome”. Sadly, Colleen never got to see her summer camp idea through…. which is why on August 5th, Red Shoe will be hosting Camp Colleen at the Lurie House. Camp Colleen will be an annual tradition for Red Shoe and will be the perfect way to keep Colleen’s memory and legacy alive.
While Camp Colleen will be on a smaller scale this year, due to the ongoing pandemic, we will still be able to sponsor a summer camp themed meal and engage with families at the Lurie House while roasting marshmallows, making friendship bracelets, and partaking in other activities that Colleen said were an absolute must to making summer camp memorable. We are both honored and excited to be doing this alongside the Gleason family and we know that Colleen will be with us in spirit donning her camp t-shirt and a big smile.
Colleen was filled with good humor and such selflessness despite carrying her own hardships with her health. She loved each day, loved each person she encountered, and wanted to make time on earth magical for herself and the people around her. We miss our dear friend deeply and think of her often. She will forever inspire us especially as we continue to support a charity that she cared about so dearly.
