LSSI’s Women’s Network raises $51,000 for literacy program

Thanks to the 27th annual Forget-Me-Not Brunch and Fashion Show in May, preschool students at Lutheran Social Services of Illinois’ (LSSI) five Head Start sites in Chicago will continue to enjoy the Bonding with Books program.

More than 300 people attended the event at The Meadows Club in Rolling Meadows. The brunch and fashion show, hosted by The Women’s Network of LSSI, raised approximately $51,000 for the Head Start literacy program.

This is the seventh year the brunch has helped fund Bonding with Books, which provides one free book a month from October to May for approximately 280 preschool children. Classroom activities are linked to the theme of each month’s book, and the program encourages families to read together and to use the books to build a home library.

“Bonding with Books is a very special program to me as a retired teacher,” said organizer Sandy Doran of Prospect Heights, who taught first and fifth grades, as well as special education and reading classes. “I really believe this program is an excellent way to get kids going with reading. I know how important reading is to a child’s success in school. So, anything we can do to help children to learn to love reading at a young age will only benefit them.”

LSSI’s five Head Start sites are located in Humboldt Park, North Austin, Rogers Park, Uptown and West Englewood. They offer programs for children ages 3-5 with or without disabilities. Programming is designed to develop students’ social skills and school readiness.

“We are grateful to The Women’s Network for hosting this wonderful event,” says Maryann Aimone, executive director of LSSI’s Advancement department. “It brings so many of us together all to raise funds for this vital literacy program at our Head Start centers.”

Founded in October 1867, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois is a statewide, nonprofit social service agency of the three Illinois synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. For information about the agency, visit LSSI.org and LSSI’s Facebook page.

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