Bid on Casablanca-themed items, help Little Friends

Have you ever wondered what life was like for characters in the 1942 film "Casablanca?"

On Saturday, guests at the 32nd annual Bids for Kids Benefit Auction may find out.

The theme of this year's auction is -- you guessed it -- "Casablanca."

Participants will feel like carousers at Rick Blain's Cafe Americain in Morocco while they consider bidding for hundreds of auction items at the Hilton Lisle-Naperville, 3003 Corporate West Drive.

All proceeds from Bids for Kids -- which brought in more than $125,000 last year -- will go to Little Friends of Naperville.

Little Friends provides group homes, therapy sessions and other programs for the developmentally disabled of all ages.

"Our goal is to help our clients, young and old, live and participate actively in their community," said Carolyn Hamilton, director of marketing and public relations.

Hamilton said many of the auctioned items will be Casablanca-themed, including a trip to the Casablanca Winery Inn in Grimsby, Ontario.

"We also have a ton of original client artwork," Hamilton said. "And this year, our clients created the centerpieces for the event."

As part of the auction's decor, each round dinner table will be adorned by a Casablanca-style center lamp, with shades hand-painted by Little Friends clients.

Last year, Bids for Kids sold out of tickets for the first time in five years. This year, the event sold out two weeks ago.

"Little Friends has been in Naperville for more than 40 years," Hamilton said, explaining the recent boost in sales. "I think people are recognizing the importance of what we're doing."

The event opens at 5 p.m., with dinner at 6 p.m. Bidding will be continuous until the end of the evening, which will conclude with entertainment and dancing.

Though tickets are sold out, those interested in supporting Little Friends still can contribute by buying raffle tickets for cash prizes of up to $5,000.

To purchase raffle tickets, call Little Friends at (630) 355-6533 or visit littlefriendsinc.org.

How to help

Even if you missed out on getting tickets to this year's Bids for Kids auction, you still can support Little Friends by buying raffle tickets for cash prizes of up to $5,000.

Raffle tickets may be purchased by calling Little Friends at (630) 355-6533 or visiting littlefriendsinc.org.