Auction benefits group fighting drunk driving
It was 25 years ago that a drunken driver killed Carol Brierly Golin's daughter.
Ann just turned 18 and was about to begin college on an art scholarship when she, along with her friend, died in the Lake County crash.
Frustrated by society's casual response, the grieving mother teamed up with Lake Forest school teacher Glenn Kalin, whose brother also was died in an alcohol-related crash, to bring about change.
In April 1982, about 35 people met for the first time to talk about the problem. They soon were joined by police, prosecutors, lawmakers and others touched by the crime.
Some 25 years later, the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM) still is going strong.
Both Golin and Kalin will be among those attending AAIM's annual fundraiser and silent auction today at the Eaglewood Resort in Itasca.
The event has helped the Schaumburg-based advocacy group raise the more than $450,000 it has given to victims and their families. AAIM is the only such group that donates directly to victims.
"We shared a painful bond as drunk-driving victims," Golin said. "But we shared something else - a determination to stop the killing. It's very heartening to see what a group of 35 of us began with earnest in our hearts has shown such a staying power."
WLS-TV news anchor Alan Krashesky returns again to serve as the master of ceremonies. Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White is the guest speaker. The group also will honor several police officers and prosecutors, including Helen Kapas-Erdman, Michael Deno and Paul Chevlin, for their work. And the Daily Herald will receive an award for its coverage.
A silent auction will offer 130 packages, including dinner, golf and spa certificates to popular items such an Apple iPod Nano, an Apple iPhone and an autographed jersey from Chicago Bears' Brian Urlacher and autographed football from Brett Favre of the Green Bay Packers. And a rental property in Cabo San Lucas is up for grabs. A raffle promises cash prizes as well as a 42-inch television.
Besides financial help, AAIM provides grief counseling, courtroom advocacy, tougher laws, high school prevention programs, support groups and victim impact panels attended by more than 1,000 offenders a month.
In one of the benefit's many poignant moments, those who lost a loved one in a DUI crash are asked to stand. Many of them, such as Lorraine Wesolowski and Charlie Wooley, have gone from victim to advocate. Both have worked for AAIM.
"AAIM was my rock; my anchor," said Wesolowski, whose daughter, Candace, 18, was killed Dec. 26, 1999, in Downers Grove. "When I first came to court, I was so grief stricken and confused. I didn't know which way to turn. They were there for me. Now, I know I'm giving other families that same support. I'm their anchor."
Wooley agreed.
"I wanted to take something that was so negative in our lives and turn it into something positive," said Wooley, whose 17-year-old stepson, Aric, was killed in Wood Dale on June 16, 2000. "If I could just reach one person, and stop them from causing that pain for someone else's family, then that's something I can do in Aric's memory."
For more information about the event, or how you can help, contact the Schaumburg-based group toll free at (888) 240-0027. Tickets are $90.
If you go
What: Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists' fundraiser and silent auction
When: Today. Reception and silent auction at 11:30 a.m.; program at 12:30 p.m.; luncheon at 1 p.m.
Where:Eaglewood Resort, 1401 Nordic Road, Itasca.
Featuring:Master of ceremonies: ABC-TV's Alan Krashesky; Special guest speaker is Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White. Silent auction and raffle.
Cost: $90 per person
Details: (888) 240-0027 or www.aaim1.org