Group honors Sister at special movie night

With over 100 V.I.P. members and guests in attendance recently, Buffalo Grove resident Peggy Slove's mission to raise the funds for additional movie nights for Mount Prospect-based United Relief Foundation's UR a V.I.P. Club is more important than ever.

In August, at Maryville Academy's Stein Center Auditorium in Des Plaines, attendees enjoyed popcorn, pop, pizza, pastries and the wide screen showing of "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" and also took part in a surprise ceremony honoring Sister Catherine "Cathy" Ryan, at which the United Relief Foundation proclaimed, in honor of her lifelong dedication to children in their time of need and support of the Foundation, that "UR a V.I.P. Club Movie Night" will be "UR a V.I.P. Club Sister Cathy Movie Night."

Sister Ryan who has been a member of the religious community of the School Sisters of St. Francis for over 40 years and currently serves as executive director Maryville Academy, has proven to be a devotee of United Relief Foundation's Humanitarian Lifeline Initiatives which includes the UR a V.I.P. Club started this year to provide positive social and life experiences for children ages 10 to 16 suffering from major health-related and developmental delay issues.

"Our August movie night we made an exception to limiting attendance to 70, and although we have the facilities to accommodate 325, having almost 120 certainly showed again the need for more movie nights," Slove said. "An added pleasure for me was to be able to honor Sister Ryan for her dedication and service."

There is no admission fee or cost for children, parents or guardians to participate in UR a V.I.P. Movie Night with popcorn, pop, pizza and pastries. Water, natural fruit juices and sugar- and caffeine-free soft drinks are also served. Movie Night attendees get to vote on the movie to watch and participate in games with prizes afterward. Attendance capacity is 70 children and is on a first-reserve basis.

United Relief Foundation, an Illinois chartered and registered 501(c)(3) humanitarian aid organization, recently expanded its Humanitarian Lifeline Initiatives, with UR a V.I.P. Club (www.uravip.org ) and Stock the Selves (www.stocktheshelves.org) to address local area needs.

For details about the United Relief Foundation and their Initiatives, call (847) 345-2413 or visit www.unitedrelieffoundation.org.