It's fall, y'all! With the gourds lining the farmers market stalls, the multicolored mums dotting perfectly manicured lawns and towering (sometimes terrifying) Halloween decorations peering at you from every corner, you can't miss it. While I'm a summer-iced-tea over pumpkin-spice kinda girl, there are definitely some autumn events that have me feeling a bit like Anne of Green Gables: "I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers."
Books & Brunch
Speaking of Anne, if you're a fellow bibliophile, you don't want to miss Assistance League's annual Books & Brunch event Nov. 12. Starting at 10 a.m. with boutique shopping, a silent auction and specialty raffles and going until 2 in the afternoon after lunch (more so than brunch), my personal favorite part of this event is hearing from the three guest authors. As in the past, this year, one of our own local writers, Andrea Thome, is returning to moderate the conversation with three authors: Jonathan Eig, Luis Alberto Urrea and Libby Fischer Hellmann. Eig's's new book, "King: A Life," has just won the 2024 Pulitzer Prize. Urrea's novel, "Good Night, Irene," was a finalist. And Hellmann's latest, "Max's War," is receiving accolades across the board.
And while books are definitely one of my biggest temptors in the category of "things I will always make room for in my house," knowing that a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of these books (and the other non-book-related, gift-worthy items from various vendors) benefits the Assistance League makes the purchase even sweeter. In the last fiscal year, Assistance League Chicagoland West served more 5,700 individuals in the community, and boasted over 12,000 volunteer hours by its members. Since 1996, ALCW has given back more than $2.5 million to communities through programs like Operation School Bell®, which improves attendance, self-esteem, and literacy for students in need.
This year's Books & Brunch co-chairs, JoAnn Barranco of Oak Brook and Susann Oakum of Hinsdale, agree that getting involved in the hands-on work was rewarding and invigorating in unexpected ways. Oakum joined ACLW after Books & Brunch last year with her mother, who was missing philanthropic work after moving back to Hinsdale during the pandemic. When Oakum and her mother arrived at their first meeting, they were delighted at the mentors who met them. "These women are vibrant and have such a passion for their work," Oakum said. The programs that Assistance League funds are amazing. It's the perfect combination of hands-on volunteering and fundraising for a nonprofit. There truly is something for everyone."
Barranco agrees, adding that the program for high-school-age students, Assisteens, is a great way for younger people to get involved..
"Our Assisteens are go-getters," she said. "They're organizing book fairs for kids and handing out winter coats with us. It's so wonderful to see members of multiple generations jumping in to help a great cause."
To learn more and for tickets, visit http://www.alcw.org. I'll see you there (likely with a stack of freshly-signed books)!
Scoreboard Charities: Uncorked
Just a few days after Books & Brunch, Scoreboard Charities is hosting its annual event, Uncorked. Guests will gather from 6 to 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, at Ruth Lake Country Club in Hinsdale for an evening of sipping, shopping, entertainment by the Keithen Banks Band and a fashion show by Sweet William of Hinsdale. A limited number of "Keys to the Closet" will be sold in a raffle for a $10,000 wardrobe refresh by Kristi Smith of Sweet William.
In the past seven years, Scoreboard Charities has raised $1.7 million in the fight against cancer. A portion of these proceeds has supported innovative research by funding clinical trials at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, as well as Camp One Step, an organization that provides children battling cancer a chance to attend summer camp with peers who are facing similar challenges.
Find out more at http://www.scoreboardcharities.com.
- Allison Peters of Hinsdale is the paper's society columnist. Readers can email her at [email protected].
