The Event: More than 450 guests gathered at the Union League Club of Chicago to celebrate Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago 15th annual “d’Vine Affair” on Jan. 31. This major wine tasting event featured nearly 300 vintages from around the world, premium liquors and 10 craft brews.
“D’Vine Affair” benefits Catholic Charities’ self-sufficiency programs which aid low-income, single parents with dependent children to break the cycle of welfare, poverty and depression. The five-year program enables participants to receive education, job training and employment assistance in order to become contributing members of society. To date, “d’Vine” has raised more than $1.3 million.
Cause célebre: “It really helps people who have hit bottom,” said Joseph Glunz of Grayslake, event co-founder and wine donor. “It’s not just a quick fix (or) band-aid. It’s a five-year program that helps turn their life around (through) education, making goals, achieving those goals; and once a year there is a graduation. It’s spectacular,” said Glunz, father of 10.
Catholic Charities runs a multitude of social services throughout Chicago, in addition to this program.
“It’s getting harder and harder to…take care of the frail elderly, moms trying to get back to work through self-sufficiency, our food pantries and housing for homeless during these cold months,” explained Rev. Michael M. Boland, president/CEO of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Currently, the State of Illinois is $25 million in arrears on its commitment to the charity. “It’s the poorest of the poor and we’re trying not to make any cuts.”
“By Catholic Charities being there — in our regional offices, in our food pantries — we’re really trying to be on the front line to help people, to sustain them so they can move forward and break the cycle of poverty,” said Boland.
Bottom line: The event raised $130,000.
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