Palatine Salon Owner, Local Non-Profit Two-Time Charity Challenge Winners
Palatine-based charity C.A.T.I.F. [Celebrating All That Is Feminine] teamed up for a second year with Salon Lorrene owner, Lorrene Conino, in the Wella Hairdressers at Heart Charity Challenge and was awarded a $1,000-third place prize. In the 2013 inaugural year of the challenge, the team won 2nd place and $5,000.
Conino wears two hats; in addition to owning and operating Salon Lorrene for the last 15 years, she also is vice president of C.A.T.I.F.- whose mission is to encourage and empower women and children in the greater Chicagoland area who are experiencing crisis.
The non-profit raises funds each year by hosting multiple fundraisers, and donates money to a variety of non-profits throughout the Chicagoland area that serve their target demographic.
C.A.T.I.F. recently started a fund with $15,000 in seed money to assist female veterans served at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago. Donated funds have been earmarked to help women veterans who are re-assimilating back into society after being on active-duty in the armed forces.
The prize money received this year will go directly to grow the fund for the VA medical center, Conino said.
The Wella Hairdressers at Heart Charity Challenge awards cash prizes to individuals in the salon and spa industry based on their volunteer work. Videos that depict philanthropic efforts are judged, along with an in-depth application. The funds awarded are meant to further charitable causes the applicants are dedicated to.
The application from Conino and C.A.T.I.F. was among 104 total entries in the challenge, and only the top 20 received cash prizes - ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
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About C.A.T.I.F.: C.A.T.I.F. [Celebrating All That Is Feminine] is made up of a group of professional women who informally began fundraising in 2007. The not-for-profit public charity achieved 501(c)(3)status in 2012 and has donated nearly $100,000 to other charities throughout Chicagoland that serve women and children experiencing crisis. To learn more, visit www.catifcharity.com
The organization will be hosting a fundraiser on September 14 in downtown Palatine, the 4th annual Family Picnic-Rib and Chicken Cook-Off. To learn more, visit www.catifycharity.com.