The Event: The Oak Brook Chapter of the Auxiliary of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago hosted its signature fundraisers, “Cocktails in Candyland” on Nov. 28, and “Mistletoe Medley” on Nov. 29, both at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook Terrace.
During the events, nearly 1000 attendees got to browse glittering displays of some 40 vendors, just in time for the holidays.
Cause Célebre: “This is a wonderful fundraiser that helps 11,000 children and their parents get needed childcare services,” explained Cynthia Scholl of Oak Brook, president of the Auxiliary.
Founded in 1913, Chicago’s Infant Welfare Society is comprised of more than 700 women in 12 chapters throughout the city and suburbs. The IWS funds an array of services, from prenatal care and delivery, to general health, vision, dental and psychiatric care for growing kids. Now it also supports programs for children on the autism spectrum,
“We’re giving back to the working poor the gift of health and medical care in a safe and wonderful facility (where) no one is turned away,” said Liz Berglund of Palos Heights, Oak Brook chapter president.
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The Oak Brook chapter was founded in 1973 and currently has 70 active and emeritus members who together volunteered more than 5,623 hours during 2016. Annually, the chapter raises more than $600,000 for the Angel Harvey Community Health Center in Chicago.
“The Infant Welfare Society does things the really old-fashioned way in that it is groups of suburban women who give back to the community in their individual suburbs,” said Berglund.
“We’ve been around for 107 years and we have a sliding scale so if you can afford to pay, awesome,” said Scholl. “But if not, that’s ok; no one is ever turned away.”
Bottom Line: The benefits raised more than $120,000 for the Angel Harvey Center. See www.oakbrookchapterinfantwelfare.org