Clearbrook gets $15,000 from young professionals

A wine-tasting event held on Saturday by the Friends of Clearbrook drew more than 470 people to the Stonegate Conference & Banquet Center in Hoffman Estates.

They sampled from an assortment of 60 types of wine, provided by 15 vendors on hand from Whole Food Market in Palatine, then visited the exotic "Blue Martini Room," to try the evening's customized drink.

However, the popular event also drew a key constituency, desired by every nonprofit organization looking to grow their support base: a group of young Northwest suburban professionals.

Members of Buzz -- described as a philanthropic organization of dedicated professionals -- turned out in force.

They also made a significant contribution during the evening, when their executive board members presented Clearbrook officials with a check for $15,000.

Their donation was the result of fundraising efforts held last year -- from their regular networking events, to a pub crawl, to their car rally -- all dedicated to raising money for Clearbrook's Employment Services program, which the Friends of Clearbrook also work to support.

Michael Mulder, a Buzz executive board member and Harris Bank vice president of business banking in Rolling Meadows, said his group selects a different charity to fund each year.

Since they formed in 2005, the group has chosen WINGS, Shelter, Inc., and now Clearbrook to concentrate their efforts.

They selected Clearbrook and its Employment Services program, he said, because of its efforts to help clients live productively in their community.

"It fits with our mission of helping people in need," Mulder says, "and we especially liked the work aspect of it. It was just a good fit."

Clearbrook's Employment Services program currently serves nearly 170 adults with disabilities, says spokesman Chrissy Raddi. Programs include everything from job counseling and competitive job placement to occupational skills training and work opportunities in its sheltered workshop.