Help club raise funds at carnival

The Antioch 885 Civic Club will once again be hosting its Annual Spring Fest over Mother's Day weekend -- Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday --in downtown Antioch, just off Route 83 and Orchard.

The Civic Club was registered as a non-profit organization and chartered by the state of Illinois on March 5, 1965. The name was selected because the club began meeting at 885 Main St., in Antioch , home of the Sequoit Masonic Lodge. Selling tickets at the carnival has become the organization's primary fundraiser since the early 1970s.

I attended the carnival many times since I was a child, and with my children as they were growing up. I never knew who sponsored it or helped with the event, or where the proceeds went once the weekend was over. I assumed it came to town strictly for amusement purposes, but I found out otherwise when I became a member of 885 Civic Club three years ago.

This organization of 30-some people is composed of singles and couples, in all age groups, from Antioch and surrounding towns. We meet once month to enjoy social time, and to decide where to donate the proceeds made from the four days of ticket sales. Four scholarships - two at Antioch High School, and two at Lakes High School, as well as donations to local, state, national and world organizations and charities are made over the course of the year following the event.

We hope people from all of the local communities will come to the carnival over Mother's Day weekend and help us make it a true success. They will know that in coming they are helping others, while having a great evening of fun and games.

To aide in our fundraising efforts, the village of Antioch and the owner of Windy City Amusements have given us permission to hold a raffle this year. Tickets will be sold on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with prizes awarded in the evenings of each of those days. Many Antioch merchants generously donated gifts or gift certificates to help make this raffle possible.

The carnival will be open from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, from 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday and from 1 p.m. to closing Sunday.

"Build today ...for a better tomorrow" is the motto of the 885 Civic Club, and we welcome anyone who would be interested in helping us make a difference. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month and they can call me at (847) 395-5490 or Diane Sala at (847) 395-7022 for further information.

Pat Forth

President,

Antioch 885 Civic Club