It's January in Hinsdale! You know what that means - after the New Year's champagne glasses are washed and the holiday decorations come down, we inevitably start thinking about escaping to a warmer climate. Some of us are working on spring break plans and some of the snowbirds among us have already flown south for the winter. (Florida and Arizona, I'm lookin' at you!)
Well, if you're finding yourself dreaming of in-line skating on the beach like Barbie (and Ken), the Hinsdale Auxiliary of the Infant Welfare Society is hosting "Tablescapes, Ooh La La" just around the corner in early March. This year's benefit co-chairs, Linda Davis and Melissa Goebel, along with Hinsdale Auxiliary President, Kassandra Fisher, chose this year's theme to celebrate the energy and style of Los Angeles. (This year's date, March 10, even has a tie-in with LA's 310 area code.)
"Last year's event reflected on the history of art deco in Chicago. This year we wanted to bring back color and a more casual approach to glamour. What better inspiration than LA?" Davis and Goebel said.
The event at the Drake in Oak Brook will feature five themed tables, which will be raffled off, along with many other carefully curated experiences and luxury items.
Additionally, guests will have the chance to shop from some of the Western Suburbs' boutiques, enjoy live music, and dine on a three-course lunch.
Tablescapes is the Hinsdale Auxiliary's major fundraiser for the Infant Welfare Society. In addition to this event, the Hinsdale Auxiliary collects baby essentials for families in need, hosts an annual coat drive and provides holiday shopping givebacks and Mother's Day toiletry gift bags. They also have an active Junior Board that supports their fundraising and collection efforts. This year's proceeds benefit IWS's Angel Harvey Family Health Center in Chicago.
While the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago was initially formed to provide a safe supply of milk for newborns as the city combated spiraling infant mortality, today the Center provides far more – medical care, dentistry, optometry, child development and behavioral health services – to families in need. Having personally visited the center through my own volunteer work, I was astonished at the sheer number of people they serve.
For some families, this is their only resource for eye exams or dental care, which are both required for children to attend school in Illinois. It's also the main source for at-risk families of children with special needs who desperately require services like developmental and physical therapy. The Hinsdale Auxiliary is the largest donor year after year, with Tablescapes raising more than $130,000.
"For more than 20 years, the Hinsdale Auxiliary has been proud to raise money in support of health care services to the medically underserved and vulnerable families in the Chicagoland area," Fisher said. "We invite everyone to come shop, dine, participate in the raffles or bid on auction items, all for a great cause."
Tickets are available starting Jan. 24 at http://www.hinsdaleiws.com.
- Allison Peters of Hinsdale is the paper's society columnist.
Readers can email her at
