The event: It was a home run for the 250 guests that got to mix it up with celebrity ball players at Aging Care Connections’ annual Sports Ball at Pinstripes in Oakbrook Sept. 25.
The evening’s more prominent guests included Chicago Bears scout Ken Geiger; former Chicago Bears player Brian Glasgow; former Chicago White Sox player Ron Kittle; 1953 Heisman Trophy winner John “Johnny” Lattner; and 2013 Stanley Cup champion and former Chicago Blackhawks player Jamal Mayers.
Cause célebre: Aging Care Connections is a La Grange-based nonprofit that offers hot meals, benefits assistance, transportation assistance and comprehensive care coordination to 8,000 adults aged 60 or over and their family members annually throughout 38 southern and western suburbs of Cook County.
“When people don’t know where to turn or they’re feeling overwhelmed, Aging Care Connections is basically a one-stop-shop,” explained executive director Debra Verschelde.
Board member Anne Shannon, whose husband had vascular dementia, came to Aging Care Connections for guidance.
“They’re very responsive—no such thing as a stupid question,” Shannon said. “For anybody who is caring for somebody who is aging, this is just a great resource.”
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Illinois’ current budget impasse has meant that community care providers like Aging Care Connections have not been paid since July. Many smaller agencies throughout the state have had to close. And despite recent court rulings forcing the Department on Aging to pay service providers, it’s too late for some.
“Court rulings don’t help us that much. It is still up to the comptroller whether they will pay those bills or not. We are hoping that it’s going to help, but we don’t know for sure,” Verschelde said.
Which is why fundraisers, like the annual Sports Ball, are so important to the organization’s operations.
Bottom line: The event raised nearly $85,000 dollars.