Hi everyone!

If you’ve been following along, you know that in October of 2021, we expanded our LIFT™ Workshop to a new, bigger space down the hall to allow us to onboard more LIFT™ Program associates, further develop our Programming & curriculum, and fulfill our record number of large orders.

With the recent passing of our founder, Mike's, father, Ben, we wanted to honor his memory in a way consistent with how much he devoted his resources, passion, and time to helping others. We decided that a perfect and fitting tribute to Ben, and his legacy of giving, was to dedicate the new HHPLIFT workspace in his memory: The Ben Arkes LIFT™ Center. 

On February 22, 2022, what would have been Ben’s 100th birthday, we held a virtual dedication ceremony where we shared the Workshop space, details of our Program, and goals for the coming year with the community & heard stories about Ben and his impact from his loved ones.

Those who knew Ben at the old HHPLIFT office always had a story to tell about him – whether it came from sharing personal anecdotes, talking business, eating the food he’d bring to the office when he’d come in, or listening to his music. We’re honored to uphold his ever-present giving spirit, curiosity, and genuine desire to know & help the people in his life.

The Ben Arkes LIFT™ Center is the perfect home to the LIFT™ Program: a place where we aim to remove traditional barriers to fair wage employment, onboard incredible people right here in Chicago, and offer them priceless, translatable on-the-job training & career development skills they can take with them throughout the rest of their careers. Combined with mentorship, educational workshops, and leadership opportunities, LIFT™ Program associates are able to forge a new path forward of economic independence.

Stay tuned throughout the rest of the year to see all that’s to come from the Ben Arkes LIFT™ Center.

Until next time,

The HHPLIFT team

For more information, please contact info@HHPLIFT.com