Northwest suburban fundraisers

Events that raise money for some type of charity, including galas, golf outings, rummage sales, shopping events, fashion shows, picnics and sport nights. Deadline is two weeks before event date.

Palatine Jaycees Christmas tree sale: 6-9 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Sundays through Dec. 20, Aquatic Center parking lot, on Palatine Road, just west of Northwest Highway, behind Walgreens. Variety of fresh-cut, long and short needle trees, wreaths, and garland.

Holiday Cards:

• Leukemia Research Foundation. Dorothy, (708) 599-5778 or leukemia-research.org.

• Friends of the Home of the Sparrow. $11 for 10 cards, imprinting available at an extra charge. Judith, (847) 381-1337.

2010 Entertainment Books:

• Sisterhood of Congregation Beth Judea. $20. (847) 634-0777.

• St. Zachary Women's Club. $20. Call Joan, (847) 824-5613.

• Na'Amat USA Aviva Group. $20, supports social services for women and children in Israel. Call Susie, (847) 253-4085. • Trinity Lutheran Church, Des Plaines. $20. Books can be purchased after the 5:30 p.m. service on Saturdays, and after the 8 or 10:30 a.m. services on Sundays, or in the church office during the week. (847) 827-6656.

Calendars:

• Mount Prospect Historical Society. $10, available at Dietrich Friedrichs Museum, 101 S. Maple St.; Busse Car Wash, 113 E. Prospect Ave.; Mount Prospect Public Library, 10 S. Emerson St.; Busse Flowers, 100 E. Northwest Highway; ByteMe! Computer, 718 E. Northwest Highway; Elements, 106 S. Emerson St.; and Keffer's Pharmacy, 5 W. Prospect Ave., all in Mount Prospect.

Dec. 3

Garden Club of Inverness holiday luncheon: 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Medinah Country Club, Medina. Holiday luncheon with guest speaker floral designer Joyce Gratoni. Gratoni creates holiday floral pieces, which can be used during the holidays or to give as gifts. $50. Contact Diane, dgarcea@comcast.net.

Ladies Night Out: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Congregation B'nai Tikvah, 1558 Wilmot Road, Deerfield. Vendors and artists and, wine and appetizers, free spa consultations services. $10. Laura, (847) 374-9808 or Michelle, (847) 914-0308.

AIDS Foundation of Chicago: 6-10 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. World of Chocolate, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's holiday extravaganza. $75 in advance; $100 at the door. (312) 922-2322 or aidschicago.org.

Girls Night Out: 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, Moretti's Ristorante and Pizzeria, 1799 S. Busse Road, Mount Prospect. Evening of holiday shopping, raffles, hors d'oeuvres and music to benefit the Village of Mount Prospect Food Pantry. Call (847) 870-5680 or MountProspect.org.

Dec. 4

Spirit of Saint Nicholas Ball: Friday, Dec. 4, Chicago Hilton and Towers. Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago hosts its 20th annual black tie gala. $400 benefits the children served by Catholic Charities' programs in Cook and Lake counties. (312) 948-6864 or catholiccharities.net/stnick.

Dec. 5

Holiday open house: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Gifts of the World, 888 S. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Items from 38 countries from Ten Thousand Villages and Serrv International, fair trade organizations. Janice, (847) 895-3767.

Home for the Holidays: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5, Stonegate Banquet & Conference Center, Hoffman Estates. Families can enjoy a variety of activities including decorating Gingerbread cookies, storytelling and puppet shows, Santa visit, kid-friendly brunch. Benefits WINGS. Register at wingsprogram.com.

Dec. 6

Palatine Jaycees Best Pizza competition: 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, Durty Nellie's Bar & Grill, 120 N. Smith St., Palatine. For a $5 donation, residents can judge who makes the best pizza in the area. Proceeds benefit the Youth Center at Northwest Community Hospital. (847) 604-0288.

Chili Kickoff: Game time, Sunday, Dec. 6, Arlington Heights American Legion Post 208, 121 N. Douglas, Arlington Heights. Enjoy homemade chili while watching the Bears take on the Rams. $5, includes chili, corn muffins and dessert. Raffle prizes includes a framed Brian Urlacher football jersey. Benefits a local family. (847) 253-6632.

Dec. 9

Holiday Fling for WINGS: 6-9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, Stella Boutique, 2116 Central St., Evanston. Shop and received 10% off each purchase and 10% will be donated to WINGS. RSVP to (847) 519-7820, ext. 223.

Dec. 10

WACO Toys for Tots luncheon: 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, Chandler's 401 N. Roselle Road, Schaumburg. Raffles, silent and live auctions and live entertainment. $40 puls an unwrapped toy. Sandy, (847) 409-8431 or sandyhustedt@hotmail.com.

Sinatra and Pasta fundraiser: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. Food drive and benefit for Journeys from PADS to HOPE. $15 includes pasta dinner buffet, raffle prizes and an evening Tribute to Ol' Blue Eyes by performer Sam Magdal. (847) 217-1845.

Dec. 12

Children's Ball: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago. Black-tie fundraiser sponsored by the Medical Research Institute Council, which supports research initiatives at Children's Memorial Hospital, Chicago. $800. (773) 975-8760.

Cookie Walk/Living Nativity: Bethel Lutheran Church, 3839 W. Frontage Road, Palatine, will sponsor two events on Saturday Dec. 12. A Cookie Walk will be held from 9-11 a.m. The cost of cookies is $9/pound. The Living Nativity will be held at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. (847) 397-4372.

VIP Gold Party fundraiser: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Multiform Fitness, 1588 W. Algonquin Road, Hoffman Estates. Bring unwanted, broken, mismatched gold jewelry and get paid cash on the spot. Benefits Toys for Tots Foundation. RSVP to (847) 358-8700

Dec. 13

It's a Wonderful Life": 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Pickwick Theater, Park Ridge. Liberty Bank for Savings hosts holiday music, refreshments, raffles and showing of the holiday classic, "It's a Wonderful Life,' to benefit the Park Ridge Community Fund. Free. (773) 489-4471 or libertybank.com.

Hands of Hope bowling benefit: 1 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, Streamwood Bowl, 1232 E. Irving Park Road, Streamwood. $20 adults; $10 children, shoes included. Bowling, door prizes, more. Wendy, (630) 200-9585 or Debra, (224) 623-3515.

Dec. 22

'A Christmas Carol': 7 p.m. Dec. 22, Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights. Performance of "A Christmas Carol" to benefit Clearbrook. For all ages. $35; $20 for children under 12; VIP admission $45; $30 for children under 12. Register online at clearbrook.org, click "events." For information, call Gloria, (847) 385-5012 or gdrake@clearbrook.org.

Feb. 2

The Art of Giving: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, InterContinental Chicago O'Hare, 5300 N. River Road, Rosemont. Cocktails, dinner, auctions live entertainment to benefit The Cove School, an independent day school for children with learning disabilities. $160. (847) 562-2100, ext. 2104.

Feb. 27

Eric Elias Foundation dinner dance: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, Manzo's Banquets, 1571 S. Elmhurst Road, Des Plaines. Dinner dance, open bar, live entertainment to support people with Muscular Dystrophy. $60. Ann Gehrke, (815) 397-1055 or Kathy Borre, (847) 226-4924.

Cornhole games: Living Lord Lutheran Church, 1044 Congress Drive, Bartlett, will be selling Cornhole (bags) games to benefit church ministries. All proceeds from the sale of these high-quality, handcrafted games will benefit the church. Choose from four different designs, or unfinished, starting at $75. Check out the brochure and place your order online, at www.livinglordlutheran.org. Or call Sue in the church office, at (630) 830.3630, ext. 4610.