Woman puts her creativity to good use for several worthy causes

Sharon Cuttone has some extraordinary talents. Best of all, she uses her gifts to help others.

For eight years, Cuttone was active at her son Mario's school, Quest Academy in Palatine. From 1998 through 2000, she served on the Parent School Association as both a board member and president.

"I chaired events such as Market Day, a fundraising program where a portion of groceries goes to the school," said the Arlington Heights resident. "I also ran a magazine drive."

One of the largest fundraisers Cuttone oversaw was Quick Assets. Cuttone ran a booth in the school's lobby over three years selling more than three million dollars of gift certificates which netted the school $70,000 in the portion return program.

"It was wonderful when she ran Quick Assets," said Donna Halverson, assistant to that head of school. "She spent a lot of time and effort on the program. She was a non-stop volunteer."

Halverson noted that Cuttone not only worked on fundraising but also on "fun raising" activities like the school's Pumpkin Fest. She also pointed out Cuttone's promotional skills.

"When we were breaking ground for our new gym, drama and music area, she was very active in getting publicity for the ceremony," Halverson said.

Cuttone took her varied skills to Catholic Charities in 2006. For the past two years, she's designed the invitation and catalog for the group's annual "Hearts for the Homeless Families" dinner and auction.

"I started last May thinking of a theme for this year's event, which takes place March 15 at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre," Cuttone said. "I came up with a passport cruise theme. The invitation has a nautical look and I named the ship the S.S. Hope. That was after the New Hope Apartments program, which is what the fundraiser is about.

"All monies raised at the dinner auction go to support the New Hope apartments which house, feed, clothe and train self-sufficiency to homeless families in the Northwest suburbs," she said.

Paying attention to every detail, Cuttone continued the same font of the invitation into the auction catalog. She also designed several ads in the reference program. With no formal graphic design training or programs, she faced many challenges.

"When I presented the document in Microsoft Word to the printer, he looked at me sideways," Cuttone said. "It was not in the best format."

Another obstacle Cuttone faces with the catalog is deadline. Because she finished just prior to a trip, the dedicated volunteer, who spent more than 40 hours creating the catalog, found herself checking in from her vacation spot.

"Sharon is a firm believer in immediately tackling whatever work needs to be accomplished," said Paul Grabowski, chairman of the group's Northwest regional advisory board. "That, coupled with her attention to detail, assures each deadline is well met."

For the past two years, Cuttone has created a PowerPoint presentation for the Hearts fundraiser. The moving pictorial includes the stories and photographs of the homeless families that are served by the New Hope apartments.

"Our dinner auction host for last and this year, Lou Manfredini, 'Mister Fix It,' really gets the crowd going," Cuttone said. "Last year he made my PowerPoint come alive. He had the room electrified."

Cuttone spent countless months on the PowerPoint. She even anguished over the music bed before choosing the music of Christian artist, Kirk Franklin's "Lean on Me."

"The PowerPoint presentation that Sharon constructed was a new addition to the Hearts event, telling the stories of several of our New Hope families," said Grabowski. "It was compelling and informative, and served to open the eyes of our attendees regarding how the funds raised support real people in need."

As if the invitation, catalog, and PowerPoint presentation weren't enough, Cuttone also got involved gathering items for the auction.

"I was able to bring in several golf related auction items," she said. "This year's event will have many unique live and silent auction offerings. They will include everything from travel, entertainment and self-care packages to rare items such as, DJ for a day stint, private movie theater showing and personal cooking lessons."

As a benefit's account executive for J. Krug and Associates, Inc., Cuttone has also volunteered her time at a golf outing through the company. The outing served as a fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

"I've been very blessed and want to give back to people in need," Cuttone said. "We can't lose sight of our blessings and we must try to help others."