The Event: It was a sweet 16th anniversary for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago’s D’Vine Affair on Jan. 29. More than 400 guests gathered at the Union League Club of Chicago to enjoy premium wines, liquors and craft brews and raise critical funds for Catholic Charities’ self-sufficiency programs.
Catholic Charities has 150 programs and locations across Cook and Lake Counties and annually assists nearly 1 million people on their paths to self-sufficiency. To date, D’Vine Affair has raised more than $1.4 million for the programs.
Cause célebre: “This is a time that we should all be helping each other out,” urged Rev. Michael M. Boland, president/CEO, Archdiocese of Chicago. “We have to be able to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes, regardless of any race or religion.”
“That’s what family self-sufficiency is,” explained Kathy Donahue of North Riverside, SVP program development. “It’s taking the strengths of families that maybe have had a hiccup in their life — maybe a healthcare problem — and we get them back on their feet.”
The difference between self-sufficiency and homelessness, according to Monsignor Boland, is often just one paycheck, or $400.
The program helps maintain a stable home environment during hardship to enable families to get back on their feet. “The parents might be going through a foreclosure or an eviction and often don’t clue the kids in to the disaster,” explained Donahue.
Through the program, participants are trained in finance, child care, paying taxes, “And can even obtain a GED,” said Teddi Scholz of Highland Park.
“If you strengthen families, they can take care of themselves,” said Donahue.
Bottom line: D’Vine raised $140,000. More at catholiccharities.net