Naperville's service clubs living up to their names

Last week, from one service club to the next, I discovered hundreds of folks with big hearts. I've got to admit, I laughed until I cried - and I almost danced.

First, I attended the Naperville Evening Kiwanis meeting as the guest of Hank Verboomen. The service club with a history in Naperville dating to 1955 meets every Monday evening for fellowship, dinner and a program in the Education Building at Edward Hospital.

Verboomen is working on publicity for the 54th annual Pancake Festival, a family event scheduled from 6 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 21 at Naperville Central High School, 440 W. Aurora Ave.

At Monday's meeting, I met pancake festival co-chairmen John Kroening and Fred Graham. Kroening noted the junior high bands and other live entertainment, including magicians, clowns and jugglers, will accompany pancakes and sausage.

This 110-member club of men and women, also known for its Kiwanis Peanut Days and Holiday Fruit Baskets, is involved with 57 different service projects. Last year the club provided volunteers for nearly 11,000 community service hours.

The lively, friendly and joyful group even burst into a "welcome" song to me during introductions. I blushed, I'm sure of it.

After dinner and club updates led by President Steve Robillard, Jim O'Donnell introduced the guest speaker, Mark English, from the Naperville Police Department.

Naperville's liquor license officer gave the service club a taste of Bassett Training, a course required for everyone who serves alcoholic beverages to the public.

English used the example of the Exchange Club's Ribfest as a time when many volunteers receive his training, providing the perfect segue.

Exchange Club

On Friday the Exchange Club of Naperville sponsored its Annual Allocations Luncheon at the Lisle Hilton.

Club President Brett Flickinger noted that Ribfest 2008, under the leadership of Don Emery and the steering committee, had been "the most successful in the last 20 years," raising $922,000 to give back to community groups that provide services to help fight child abuse and promote Americanism.

During his opening remarks, Flickinger thanked the City of Naperville's SECA Fund, Naperville Park District, Ribfest sponsors and more than 3,700 volunteers for their support.

Flickinger said $50,000 went to nonprofit groups in 2008 for "hired manpower," volunteers who worked six-hour shifts at Ribfest for various agencies. He also mentioned $89,000 designated for youth and patriotic projects as well as $75,000 for the new Veterans Plaza along the Riverwalk.

The special focus of the luncheon, however, was to give grant recipients a few moments to highlight their work.

Beginning in October, Allocations Committee co-chairmen Diane Simmons and Barry Greenberg led a group of 25 members through a process to select the recipients of this year's 51 grants, requests that "always exceed the amount available," according to Simmons.

"We're blessed to live in a city where we can raise $602,000 in grants," Simmons said before turning the microphone over to individuals in attendance representing 44 projects. One-by-one the grant recipients - sometimes emotional and always appreciative - gave an overview of how the funds would impact their organization.

In addition, $110,000 will help support Exchange Club's Project HELP, the Parent Mentor Program administered at NCO Youth and Family Services.

When NCO Executive Director Ron Hume spoke, he used his time to pitch a new program that offers a variety of free counseling services called the "Tough Times Initiative." He encouraged folks to visit www.ncoyouth.org and to help spread the word.

I walked out of the luncheon stunned by the stories. I couldn't stop thinking about the outreach of the Exchange Club and how their four-day Ribfest fulfills many unmet needs in our community.

Naperpalooza

For some upbeat entertainment, Saturday night I headed over to Naperpalooza where creative Sunrise Rotarians had transformed Jackson Moving and Storage Warehouse into a 1970s disco featuring a sumptuous gourmet food court provided by many of Naperville's finest restaurants.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Turning Pointe School for Students with Autism; a school project in Tikondone Zambia, Africa; and needs-based college scholarships for Naperville students.

The casual dress code of colorful sparkles and platform white shoes were reminiscent of my young adult life in New York City when Saturday Night Fever and disco dancing in the Hamptons were the rage.

On the way home Saturday, I remembered that Studio 54 was two blocks from the Alvin Theatre where I'd seen the hit musical "Annie," also in the 1970s.

Then lyrics to two tunes began playing in my head, "Staying alive, staying alive," and "The sun will come out tomorrow!"

• Stephanie Penick writes about Naperville. Contact her at spennydh@aol.com.