Service Club of Chicago to honor Myra Reilly at gala

In 1890, 14 young women from privileged Chicago families were committed to giving back to their community.

The small group formed The Service Club of Chicago, adopting the motto: "No one is greater than the service she renders the world." The women were inspired by Jane Addams, who, the year before, had opened the Hull-House to service recently-arrived immigrants.

Today, Hull-House is no longer active, but The Service Club of Chicago is still going strong and is more active than ever in "standing straight to comfort others."

The group of 14 ladies from privileged families has morphed into an organization of 175 active members, including wives, mothers, and women of diverse career types and ethnicities, all with the common belief that "sooner or later every deed that you do will return to you."

Longtime Lake Forest resident Myra Reilly, who has been an active member of the Service Club for more than 38 years, will be honored at the 2017 Service Club Ball in October.

"I had two friends who were members and I went to events with them," Reilly said. "I was impressed with the mission of the organization, so when I was asked to join, I accepted.

"I love the philanthropic aspect of the Service Club. There are so many not-for-profit organizations with active boards of directors, but sometimes they need help. They need items that are not in their budget ... so we go visit to see how we can help.

"We never write a check to the charity - in order to make sure the funds are used as intended, we purchase the items and write the checks to the vendors. The Happiness Club bus has the Service Club name on it, as does the Traveling Lincoln Park Zoo Bus, and as these busses travel around, one can easily see the impact our organization has on inner city children.

"The Service Club is unique because we fill the gaps ... like supplying freezers to the Chicago Food Depository. I have served in all job descriptions at the SCC. It is rewarding to see how our funding helps in the areas of education, social services, cultural and arts organizations, as well as health care.

"I am happy to say that the Service Club footprint is all over. We have funded the Robert Crown Center in Hinsdale, Bernie's Book Bank in Lake Bluff, and Shirley Ryan's Pathways in Evanston; we gave a van to the Lighthouse for the Blind, who, in turn, let us use the van to make site visits to other organizations.

"To the Midwest Palliative & Hospice Center in Glenview, we gave much-needed motorized beds. The Infant Welfare Society and the Service Club share a special history dating back more than a century. Both groups originated from the altruism and philanthropy of women, each equally focused on service to Chicagoland's less fortunate.

"The Service Club generously provided the Infant Welfare Society with a fetal monitor, enabling Infant Welfare's Angel Harvey Family Health Center's medical staff to perform non-stress tests on pregnant women. The Infant Welfare staff and patients remain eternally gratefully for the generous support and partnership that the Service Club of Chicago has offered.

"My volunteerism has proved incredibly rewarding. Our members are proud to be associated with Chicago's oldest all-women philanthropic organization."

Why does fundraising work for the Service Club?

"The secret is our events," Reilly said. "We make it a point to do fun, unique events that people like to come to, and our board attracts friends who want to help once they learn our mission."

What a modest Reilly will not say is that, so far this year, two friends have donated $50,000 each in her name and multiple have donated $10,000 each to help realize the dream of raising $400,000 from the 2017 Gala for distribution to local charities.

None of the funds raised by the Service Club of Chicago are spent on staff, making it truly a volunteer organization. All the profits from fundraising activities are given to deserving not-for-profit organizations such as social welfare organizations and business leagues, which make application for funding of items needed, but not included in budgets. In the last five years alone, the SCC has awarded $1,648,075.40 to community service organizations.

According to Reilly, who has served as chairman of the Philanthropic Committee, "When evaluating applications, we evaluate the communities served and the significance of our gift … we really wish to make an impact with our giving."

Celebrating 127 years of service, the Service Club of Chicago is hosting its annual gala charity event this October with the theme "Do You Believe in Magic?" The black-tie event features cocktails, dancing, live and silent auctions, and an extra special touch of magic by mentalist Sidney Friedman, all raising money for a great cause.

More details about the event and information about joining the organization can be found at www.serviceclubofchicago.org.

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