Help celebrate Hoffman Estates' b-day

Guests at a $150-a-plate fundraiser for the Children's Advocacy Center of North and Northwest Cook County were delighted recently to hear the agency will be the recipient of funds from an unexpected source.

Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod and his wife, Joane McLeod, chair of the village's 50th anniversary commission, issued the news that the advocacy center would benefit from a promotion similar to Chicago's "Cows on Parade."

As guests inside the Stonegate Banquet and Conference Center loudly applauded, Joane McLeod related that her commission members had been searching for novel ideas for the 50th when village liaison Deputy Village Manager Dan O'Malley suggested benches instead of cows.

"None of us is artistically gifted," McLeod said, "so we asked Joe Pompa and Carpenters Union Local 839 to lend a hand.

"What we didn't expect is that the carpenters would donate both the wood and manpower. That means there will be no cost to the village or commission and every single penny will go to the CAC."

Pompa is the Local's financial secretary.

McLeod said "raising funds in this economy is really hard" so the commission decided to pledge the entire profit to the Hoffman Estates-based charity that advocates for abused children.

Mayor McLeod said he appreciates the generosity of the carpenters and their continued dedication to CAC.

Twenty years ago the carpenters worked with other unions to prepare the 100-year-old Arthur Hammerstein farmhouse for occupancy by the center.

Advocacy center spokeswoman Susan Reedquist said the $25,000 raised by the dinner are slated for expanding and upgrading the center at 640 Illinois Blvd.

"Considering the economic climate we are grateful for that amount," Reedquist said.

The ultimate goal is $750,000.

Mayor McLeod said he hopes the "solid and sturdy" six-foot-long benches will be purchased for $100 and decorated by local businesses, Scouts, sports teams, homeowners' associations and residents to follow a theme of "Visions of Our Forefathers: Celebrating 50 Years."

"We expect much interest in this project and foresee it as annual event," Joane McLeod said. "We've already sold seven benches."

To buy a bench, contact Sue Lessen at the village of Hoffman Estates, (847) 781-2606.