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Lutheran Women’s event raises over $45,000 for Head Start

On May 11, 330 guests attended the 29th annual Forget-Me-Not Brunch and Fashion Show, hosted by The Women’s Network of Lutheran Social Services of Illinois.

More than $45,000 was raised at the event, which will fund Bonding with Books, a literacy program at LSSI’s five Head Start sites in Chicago.

The Women’s Network is a group of volunteers that promotes and supports LSSI programs, with members from throughout Metropolitan Chicago and beyond. Co-chairs of the event were Teri Colmar (Northbrook), Marianne King (Downers Grove) and Gail Price (Northbrook). See event photo album at www.LSSI.org.

From October to May, Bonding with Books provides one book a month free for more than 230 preschool children at LSSI’s five Chicago Head Start sites in Humboldt Park, North Austin, Rogers Park, Uptown and West Englewood. Each month, classroom activities are linked to the theme of the book. The program encourages families to read together, and the books build a foundation for a home library.

“Bonding with Books is a dynamic program that makes an enormous contribution to early literacy,” says Marcia Welfen, senior associate executive director of LSSI’s Children’s Community Services. “It provides an excellent way for our Head Start students to become involved with reading now, which is so important to their success in school later. And because it encourages parents and children to read together, it strengthens their relationship.”

“The Boutique and Fashion Show luncheon is a lovely way to spend the afternoon in support of LSSI,” says Colmar, who also serves as president of The Women’s Network. “We are tremendously grateful for the generous outpouring for the Bonding with Books program that this event generates each year.”

The fashion show featured clothing from local designers, department stores and specialty shops. It also offered guests the opportunity to shop at special gift boutiques that feature designer and handcrafted accessories and jewelry. The event took place at The Stonegate Banquet Centre in Hoffman Estates. On Oct. 26, the Women’s Network will host its other annual event, the Amicus Certus (“True Friend”) Celebration, at the Union League Club in Chicago. Each year, LSSI presents the Amicus Certus Award to an individual or organization that has made significant contributions to the human community.

Founded in October 1867, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is a statewide, nonprofit social service agency of the three Illinois synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For more information, visit www.LSSI.org and LSSI’s Facebook page.

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Pictured from left, Maryann Aimone, LSSI vice president of advancement; Teri Colmar (Northbrook), president, Women’s Network of LSSI and fashion show co-chair; David Jensen, LSSI interim president and COO; and Marianne King (Downers Grove) fashion show co-chair. Not pictured is Gail Price, fashion show co-chair. Courtesy of Allen Bourgeois
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