Humble Design Fueled by U-Haul Expands Operation to Chicago
Detroit-Born Nonprofit to Furnish Homes for Families Escaping Homelessness in the Windy City
CHICAGO and DETROIT (Feb. 16, 2017) — Humble Design Fueled by U-Haul is expanding its philanthropic mission beyond Greater Detroit to assist disadvantaged families and veterans transitioning out of homeless shelters in the Chicago area.
This is the first expansion of what the nonprofit and its primary sponsor, U-Haul International, hope will lead to Humble Design chapters on a national scale. The organization has provided furnishings and design services to 733 Michigan families since 2009, turning empty houses into clean, dignified and welcoming homes.
Kristin Drutchas will serve as Director of Humble Design Chicago. Drutchas, a former Wicker Park home furnishings business owner and Chicago public school fundraiser, is motivated by the mission ahead.
“Humble Design invites all Chicagoans to get in the game and fight homelessness,” Drutchas said. “We can all do something. Bring your company in for a day of service to set up a family’s home. Donate your gently used furnishings and household items to a new family – it’s recycling at its finest. Help save lives and slam the door on the vicious cycle of homelessness in Chicago.”
The operation has already gained the support of city officials and Chicago-based CB2, the official corporate sponsor of Humble Design Chicago. Together with Humble Design, CB2 has pledged to sponsor 20 homes in the next year.
Humble Design Chicago is scheduled to help its first family on March 1. Additional details will follow. Media is encouraged to attend.
“CB2 is honored to support the mission of Humble Design Chicago,” said Ryan Turf, CB2 Managing Director. “We align with the belief that a home not only provides shelter and comfort, but gives a family dignity and respect. Helping families get back on their feet and into a new home is an incredible accomplishment, thanks to the Humble Design team.”
Visit www.humbledesign.org to learn about the mission or make a contribution. Click on the Humble Design Chicago Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/humblechicago/ to join the volunteer list.
Humble Design Chicago will operate out of U-Haul Moving & Storage of Bridgeport at 431 W. Pershing Road, where there is warehouse space for donations. Donation drop-off hours will soon be posted to the Humble Design website. Donation pick-up service also will be offered one day a week in Cook County.
Humble Design has been profiled on NBC’s Today show, CNN, Inside Edition and many other TV programs. Treger Strasberg co-founded the organization eight years ago and focused her efforts on assisting single mothers emerging from shelters and moving with their children into low-income housing. Many of the families helped are victims of abuse and have left behind all material possessions.
U-Haul signed on as the primary sponsor in 2016, offering the equipment, storage and national infrastructure to make expansion possible. In December, Humble Design appointed ad industry trailblazer and Doner Global Creative Chairman Rob Strasberg, Treger’s husband, co-CEO of the organization to help oversee the expansion efforts.
“Chicago was a perfect fit for our first expansion,” Treger Strasberg said. “We understand from our partnering homeless shelters that no other organization is addressing the issue. We are eager to provide dignity and comfort to some of the 125,000 homeless individuals in the city. Only 1 percent of our 733 families in Detroit have returned to homelessness. We fully expect the same results in Chicago. This will, in turn, save the city and the state essential funds.”
Rob Strasberg added: “With U-Haul Company’s sponsorship, storage and trucks, CB2’s financial commitment and a host of volunteers who have stepped forward, we will start to make an impact on the homeless situation in Chicago from day one.”
About Humble Design
Humble Design is a Detroit-based nonprofit that helps families transitioning out of homeless shelters by providing furnishings and design services. The organization turns empty houses into clean, dignified and welcoming homes — a very simple idea that can change a family's future. Co-founded by Treger Strasberg, the organization primarily serves single moms with children and helps homeless veterans and their families. The Humble Design team has served 733 families since 2009 and currently helps three families a week. www.humbledesign.org
About U-Haul
Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 21,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to more than 139,000 trucks, 108,000 trailers and 38,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers more than 536,000 rooms and more than 47 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry and is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S. www.uhaul.com
About CB2
Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Chicago, CB2 is a modern home destination from Crate & Barrel, offering innovative designs for apartment, home and office. From furniture to barware and unexpected accessories, CB2 is an eclectic mix of sophistication and fun for the modern home. For more information, visit www.cb2.com.
Contact:
Jeff Lockridge
Sebastien Reyes
E-mail: publicrelations@uhaul.com
Phone: 602-760-4941
Website: uhaul.com 
