St. Coletta’s of Illinois is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Crossing Drive campus, marking a significant milestone in the organization’s ongoing commitment to serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In 2001, St. Coletta’s relocated from its Palos Park campus to the 75,000-square-foot facility at 18350 Crossing Drive in Tinley Park. The move unified administration, school services, vocational training and Community Day Services (CDS) programming under one roof, strengthening collaboration and expanding opportunities for those served.

The transition also included relocating individuals who had lived in on-site “cottages” at Palos Park to group homes throughout the south and southwest suburbs -- a shift that promoted greater independence and meaningful community integration.

Teachers and staff moved into the Crossing Drive building in March 2001, with the facility officially opening on April 1. Designed to meet growing needs, the campus provided vocational training for more than 250 teens and adults with developmental disabilities, offering hands-on experience in skills such as sorting, packaging and labeling -- pathways to meaningful employment.

The building featured nursing facilities, accessible restrooms, specialized classrooms for individuals with significant disabilities, and a fully equipped kitchen donated by McDonald’s Corporation. The campus was later expanded to accommodate increasing demand for services.

More than 300 community members attended the campus dedication on July 19, 2001. Cardinal Francis George presided over the ceremony, calling the building “a resource for the entire community.”

“The important thing for all of us is the recognition that every single human being has infinite value,” Cardinal George said. “This is a way to see people training to do the things they can do with the gifts they have.”

Reflecting on the milestone, St. Coletta’s of Illinois CEO Heather Benedick emphasized both the campus’s impact and the organization’s future.

“For 25 years, our Crossing Drive campus has been a place where individuals discover their strengths, build skills and contribute meaningfully to their communities,” she said. “This anniversary honors the vision that brought us here and reinforces our commitment to expanding opportunity for the people we serve.”

As St. Coletta’s of Illinois marks 25 years at Crossing Drive, the organization continues a mission that began more than seven decades ago.

Founded in 1949 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Coletta’s of Illinois has provided compassionate care, education and support to children and adults with developmental disabilities for more than 75 years.