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For immediate release

Contact: Maria Garino

312-952-7489 communications@alcw.org

Assistance League of Chicagoland West celebrated 20 years of community service with a gala at Ruth

Lake Country Club on April 30th. Guests enjoyed dinner, dancing, and many memories.

As long time member Linda Legner stated in her remarks to the crowd, “Over our two decades, we’ve gone from big aspirations with tiny budgets to successfully raising more than a million dollars when everything is added up. Programs have come and gone to match community needs as well as the interests and skills of our membership. All this accomplished by volunteers!! But there is one thing that remains unchanged after 20 years: The dedicated, creative, organized, generous and passionate spirit of the women who are Assistance League. We are still motivated to make a difference in the lives of our less fortunate neighbors because we still believe that need exists even here in the midst of privilege…and that sometimes a small gesture can influence a life.”

Assistance League of Chicagoland West serves more than 3,500 people each year through five philanthropies which include brand new winter coats and school appropriate clothing to elementary students, essential kitchen items to persons transitioning from homelessness to independent living, a pre- literacy program for at-risk early education students, and scholarships to College of Dupage students.

Assistance League’s 20th annual Books & Brunch event will be held on Tuesday, November 15th at The Abbington in Glen Ellyn. As the primary fundraiser for the organization, Books & Brunch has attracted more than 400 ladies in recent years; it raised more than $162,000 in 2015. Guests are treated to an afternoon with three local authors, lunch, silent auction, boutique shopping, and raffle prizes. This year’s authors include Christine Sneed, Ted Sanders, and Ronald Balson. Learn more about Assistance League of Chicagoland West at www.alcw.org and Facebook.

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Assistance League of Chicagoland West was formed in 1996 and is part of a national organization over 80 years old with 120+ chapters. Last year, members of this local chapter volunteered more than 8,000 hours and touched the lives of more than 3,500 people across the western suburbs of Chicago. Philanthropic programs include: Operation School Bell® New winter coats, hats and gloves for local school kids in need, encouraging school attendance and increasing self-esteem; New Start All new kitchen essentials for families leaving homelessness, encouraging nutritious, home-cooked meals while maximizing limited budget resources; Early Reading Literacy backpacks for local Head Start sites and targeted low-income schools, encouraging a life-long love of reading; Scholars Support Scholarships for at-risk students at College of DuPage, encouraging graduation; Project Stepping Stone Meets special needs on a one-time basis.

Learn more about Assistance League of Chicagoland West by at  www.alcw.org and Facebook.

120 E. OGDEN AVENUE, SUITE 100, HINSDALE, IL 60521

630.321.2529 www.alcw.org

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization Tax ID 36-4053184

Pat and Don Mrozek

Pat and Don Mrozek

Founding members Jan McGivern and Linda Gonnella

Founding members Jan McGivern and Linda Gonnella

(l to r): Betty Cronin, Marianne Cortopassi, Jeff Cortopassi, Chris Cronin

(l to r): Betty Cronin, Marianne Cortopassi, Jeff Cortopassi, Chris Cronin

Assistance League President Rickeia Lessig with Don Lessig, and Anne and George Retzlaff

Assistance League President Rickeia Lessig with Don Lessig, and Anne and George Retzlaff

Linda Legner speaks about Assistance League and its history

Linda Legner speaks about Assistance League and its history

Meg Cooper and original member Carla Feinkind

Meg Cooper and original member Carla Feinkind

– See more at: https://www.assistanceleague.org/chicagoland-west-press-release/#sthash.ctqAIBeg.dpuf