A Legacy of Compassion. A Future of Hope.
For nearly four decades, Fr. Ed Shea, OFM, has been a steady and compassionate presence for individuals experiencing homelessness in Chicago. Through direct service and his leadership on the Board of Franciscan Outreach, he has walked alongside thousands of men and women, offering support, dignity, care, and a path forward.
On June 6, Fr. Ed celebrates the 39th anniversary of his ordination, a meaningful milestone that reflects a lifetime dedicated to serving others.
To honor this moment, we are coming together to recognize Fr. Ed in a lasting and impactful way.
Franciscan Outreach is preparing to open a new, modern shelter designed to serve our guests with dignity and care. At the heart of this space will be a dining and community area, a place where individuals can gather, share a meal, and begin to rebuild.
You can help us honor Fr. Ed by enabling the space to carry his name. The Fr. Ed Shea Gathering Room will serve as a living tribute to everything he has modeled across his ministry. Welcome. Presence. The sacred dignity of every person who walks through the door.
Together, we can honor Fr. Ed in a way that reflects the depth of his impact and carries his legacy forward for years to come.
More Information
A life of service
For decades, Father Ed Shea has given himself to this community. As a pastor, educator, and spiritual leader, he has shaped parish life, strengthened Franciscan Outreach, and walked alongside countless people in moments that mattered. His commitment to service, lived out every day, has left its mark on so many of us.
His decades of service are a gift, and they deserve to be honored in a way that carries his example forward.
A new location and a new approach
This summer, Franciscan Outreach is opening a new shelter at 2508 W. 21st Street in Chicago. The building is being designed around the people it will serve, a place where guests can rest, stabilize, and receive wraparound support.
2508 is designed as a non-congregate shelter, an approach being tested and refined in the field, where each guest has their own private room rather than a shared sleeping space. This is a new type of welcome for guests, one that aligns with Father Ed and the personal approach he takes with everyone he meets.
At the heart of the building is a gathering space where residents will share meals, where staff and guests will build relationships, and where community will be created. It will be the center point of the shelter.
Naming the Gathering Room in Father Ed's honor
This community space will reflect everything Father Ed has taught us about welcome, presence, and the dignity of every person. Naming it the Father Ed Shea Gathering Room honors a life of service with a space that will carry his spirit for years to come, a place where meals will be shared, conversations held, and neighbors welcomed, all in his name.
The campaign
We are raising $500,000 to name the Father Ed Shea Gathering Room. An anonymous donor has pledged $250,000 in matching gifts, strengthening every contribution. The campaign closes on June 6, 2026, the anniversary of Father Ed's ordination, a day we will be honored to mark with the completion of this work in his name.
Gifts of every size are welcomed. Contributions of $1,000 or more will be recognized through membership in the Father Ed Shea Giving Society, with names inscribed on a donor wall in the Gathering Room. The Giving Society will recognize gifts at four levels, Supporter at $1,000, Friend at $2,500, Advocate at $5,000, and Partner at $10,000 and above.
Join us in honoring Father Ed.
Double Your Impact: $250,000 Match
Thanks to a generous anonymous donor, every gift is matched dollar-for-dollar up to $250,000.
This means your support will go twice as far in helping us reach our goal and bring this tribute to life.
Our Goal, $500,000 by June 6
Stock Donation
A stock, bond, mutual fund, or annuity donation to Franciscan Outreach can make a big impact in achieving our mission and reaching our goal to honor Fr. Ed. This type of giving allows you a tax deduction on the full market value of your gift and may also allow you to reduce the capital gains tax on your investment. We encourage you to speak with your financial advisor or stockbroker.
To make a stock donation, please share our information with your stockbroker:
Charles Schwab
DTC # 0164
Account # 3044-0658
Please contact Sally@franoutreach.org with any questions.
Mailing
If you would like to send a check via mail, please see our address below:
Franciscan Outreach
Administrative Office
1101 W Adams St, Suite A
Chicago, IL 60607