WINGS honors contributors

Michael Bischof of Barrington never sought the political limelight. But with the murder of his sister, Cindy, in March by her ex-boyfriend, he has become the catalyst for change in Illinois state law to protect domestic abuse victims.

At the "Celebration of Courage" luncheon Tuesday in Schaumburg for Women in Need Growing Stronger, or WINGS, Bischof described the bipartisan efforts it took to pass legislation named for his sister that Gov. Rod Blagojevich signed into Illinois law in August.

"It truly is, I believe, a lifesaving measure for many women," said Rebecca Darr, WINGS executive director.

The Cindy Bischof Act allows a judge to order a person charged with violating a protective order to wear a satellite tracking device that alerts police and the protected person when a court-imposed boundary is breached.

"Cindy herself asked a judge to order this, but the judge felt it wasn't within his jurisdiction," Bischof said, of his sister who lived in Arlington Heights and was gunned down at her job in Elmhurst. "I feel like we're carrying on the torch for her."

Bischof and members of the Cynthia L. Bischof Foundation then presented WINGS officials with a check for $11,100 to continue their work in supporting domestic abuse victims.

Then Darr and WINGS Board President Rita Canning of Inverness honored businesses and individuals who have supported the organization.

Hoffman Estates Village President Bill McLeod and his wife, Joane, directed proceeds from their recent Mayor's Ball to the agency. Barnes & Noble Booksellers managers in Arlington Heights Jim Lucas and Suzanne Ladle dealt especially well with a victim of domestic violence. Roseanne DePaoli and the Citi Technology Leadership program from Citicard in Elk Grove Village donated computer equipment and training. Interior decorators Dawn Brown of Inverness and Linda Meyer of Kildeer, who run DesignWise, lent expertise to converting a Rolling Meadows home into a WINGS' emergency shelter. Victor Pacini of Algonquin donated proceeds from an annual fundraiser named for his sister Renee, who died from domestic violence.

Canning pointed to WINGS' purchase of the former Palatine house run by Home of the Sparrow to expand services for women and children and a new partnership with Northwest Community Hospital to train physicians and staff members on how to spot and treat domestic abuse as major accomplishments for the year. Agency officials raised more than $200,000 last year, she said, and more than $2 million toward a $5 million endowment plan.