Seeds of good deeds at LCFS Harvest Gala

A lot can happen in a quarter-century, and sometimes the positive things can get overlooked. The 25th anniversary celebration of Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois' Harvest Gala on Nov. 8 made sure to accentuate the positive.

This year's theme was taken from Proverbs 11:30: "The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life." As Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois President and CEO Gene Svebakken noted, "The gala provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate that support and a legacy of service that goes back more than 140 years."

The evening was high energy from start to finish, as the nearly 200 attendees partnered to help raise funds for LCFS' work to nurture and protect children, empower families and transform communities.

A special initiative fundraiser was held during the evening to help meet the expenses related to helping Lutherbrook Child and Adolescent Center (an LCFS program in Addison, Illinois) provide youth with opportunities to develop connections with their families and the community and to build their own strengths. Generosity was in the air as attendees contributed $23,500 for this special initiative, easily surpassing the goal of $20,000.

The good deeds of the past 25 years were also remembered in a moving way through the presentation of the inaugural Marian E. Fick Seeds of Good Deeds Excellence in Volunteerism Award. And appropriately this year's recipient was Marian Fick herself. Gene Svebakken shared her legacy. "Marian served on the Harvest Gala committee for 23 years as well as being chairwoman or co-chair for nearly 20 of those years. She has served on the LCFS Foundation Board for 14 years and served on the LCFS board of trustees for 10 years. But Marian is perhaps best known for her love for Lutherbrook and her efforts to help ensure quality care for the youth served there and their healthy return to their families and communities."

Thanks to the generosity freely exhibited at this year's Harvest Gala, seeds will continue to be planted, and the impact of the resulting good deeds will help LCFS achieve its goal of bettering the lives of those it serves.

Lutheran Child and Family Services of Illinois is a nonprofit social ministry organization that annually improves the well-being of more than 40,000 people statewide by nurturing and protecting children, empowering families and transforming communities. For more information on LCFS programs and services, visit www.lcfs.org or www.facebook.com/LCFSIL or call (800) 363-LFCS.