Open Door Clinic to host fundraiser
We all know that chocolate is good for you -- now here's another reason to indulge.
Open Door Clinic will have its eighth annual fundraiser, "All Things Chocolate," at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Heritage Ballroom at The Centre of Elgin, 100 Symphony Way.
Tickets are $50 per person. For tickets, call the Elgin clinic at (847) 695-1093 or the Aurora location at (630) 264-1819.
The inaugural Open Door Clinic Recognition Awards honor the civic leadership of Elgin Mayor Edward Schock and outstanding friendship and support from sponsor Alan Amberg and donor Rich Hadjuk.
A champagne reception kicks off the evening at 7 p.m. p.m., followed by the awards ceremony at 7:30 p.m. Light •hors d'oeuvres, an open bar and live entertainment lead up to the main event -- the chocolate. The area's finest chocolate makers will showcase their creations.
Raffle tickets are available for $5 or three for $10. Prizes include a 42-inch HD plasma television, $1,000 travel certificates, Sony PlayStation 3 with Blue Ray, Wii system and dining certificates. The winner does not have to be present to win. There also will be a silent auction.
In order to continue to be a leader in HIV/AIDS treatment, prevention and education in the Fox Valley area, Open Door Clinic needs your help.
Due to changes in funding, the clinic must raise even more support in 2008 to continue to provide treatment, medications and counseling to those in need, while raising awareness.• The clinic treats patients from every county surrounding the Fox Valley area, as well as some traveling from as far away as Kankakee, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Women represent nearly 40 percent of the patients, and a majority of patients are minorities, representing nearly every ethnicity. The ages of the patients range from children to great-grandmothers.
Most Open Door patients could not keep their insurance after becoming infected or never had it to start. They need proper treatment and medication.
All proceeds go directly to Open Door Clinic's two locations in Elgin and Aurora, the only nonprofit HIV/AIDS clinics in the Fox Valley area. Contributions are tax-deductible. For details, visit www.opendoorclinic.org.