Get tickets for Arlington Heights Mayor's Prayer Breakfast
Bill Kmiecik, Rotary International District 6440 Governor, will give the keynote address at the 36th annual Arlington Heights Mayor's Prayer Breakfast.
Tickets are now on sale for the event, which will be held from 7-9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 2, at the Doubletree Hotel, 75 Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights (just west of Arlington Heights Road).
The event features a breakfast buffet, scripture readings, music and the keynote address. The theme of Kmiecik's remarks will be "Imagine."
Kmiecik is the founder and retired president of Wisdom Investments, a boutique, fee only, financial planning, investment management and tax firm.
His career also traversed corporate America as a tax and finance professional, an Internal Revenue agent and an adjunct professor of accounting and finance classes at Harper College and in the MBA program at Northern Illinois University.
Bill Kmiecik is married to Betsy, who worked for Paddock Publications for many years. They wed at First Presbyterian Church of Arlington Heights in May 1980, and subsequently moved to Arlington Heights in October 1985.
Along with their two children, Brian and Emily, they lived in Arlington Heights until September 2019, when they downsized to a townhouse in Rolling Meadows.
The Kmieciks attended Willow Creek Community Church for more than 30 years, where Bill was active in the Stewardship Ministry, developing and teaching budgeting and investment classes as well as participating on the "Good Sense" leadership team.
He also led the Willow Creek Northwest Men's Breakfast for many years before COVID effectively ended group meetings. The Kmieciks currently attend The Bridge Randhurst Campus in Mount Prospect.
Bill Kmiecik has been active in Rotary for over 16 years and currently serves as the district governor of Rotary District 6440. District 6440 is part of Rotary International, serving northeast Illinois.
Those attending the prayer breakfast will be welcomed by Arlington Heights Mayor Tom Hayes. The invocation will be led by Deacon Pete LeTourneau, Our Lady of the Wayside. Tammy Motin, who has been a longtime member of Congregation Etz Chaim and has served as a volunteer in various humanitarian and social service capacities, such as PADS and Feed My Starving Children, will do the Old Testament reading.
The New Testament reading will be done by Karen Baker, executive director of Community Services and Advocacy at Northwest Community Healthcare. She has served in this role, which oversees programs for under-resourced and vulnerable members of the community, for over 15 years, and has regularly attended the prayer breakfast.
Rick Kobernick will say the closing prayer. Music will be performed by The Orchard Blue Grass Praise Band, including members Tim Patterson (lead vocals and guitar), Donny Wells (vocals and bass guitar), Mark Jacobs (vocals and banjo), Ken Siok (acoustic guitar), and Tim Meyer (fiddle). Jon Ridler of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce will be the emcee.
The prayer breakfast, which helps to bring the community together, is organized by a committee of community volunteers. This year's leader is Krystle Seifert King, a local Realtor.
Lutheran Life Communities is the main sponsor for the prayer breakfast. Additional sponsors are Jim Bertucci and Tom and Sue Hayes.
Tickets are $25 per person and may be ordered and paid for online at business.arlingtonhcc.com.
Individuals and organizations may also book tables of 10 for $250.
For information, contact the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce at (847) 253-1703 or info@arlingtonhcc.com.