NEWS & PRESS RELEASES

Record-breaking party raises $250,000 for Catholic Charities

The Women's Board of Catholic Charities, Lake County Services, held a record-breaking black-tie benefit at the Knollwood Club in Lake Forest the evening of May 19. The party, which is the board's 18th annual fund-raiser, was attended by about 250 guests and included more than 80 silent auction items.

The highlight of the event was the spectacular live auction, conducted by professional auctioneer David Goodman. His skillful work, combined with lively banter, maximized the bidding process and raised $97,000, nearly five times the 2006 live auction amount of $22,000.

Top bid was $10,000 for a day in Chicago, which included a limousine ride to the city, spa service at the Midtown Athletic Club, two tickets to the Oprah Show, and a meal at LaSardine.

Other premiums included tickets for four for the Notre Dame vs. Air Force game in South Bend; a skybox party for 15 at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs vs. the Colorado Rockies; a home for a week in Lake Tahoe and another home in the Rocky Mountains,; prime low-row seats for the Chicago Bears pre-season game against the San Francisco 49ers; and the use of a Maserati Quattroporte for the weekend, plus a 90 minute air tour of Chicago for four in a private plane, followed by a two hour cruise on Lake Michigan.

The first Women's Board benefits were exhibits and sales of fine art works. In keeping with that tradition, a number of art works were offered for sale at this year's event. Donating art works were Mark and Carolyn McMahon, Daniel Kerrigan, Tom DeMint, Laurie Reynolds, John Kennedy, and Joe Lynch, all Lake Forest artists. John Reilly Photography donated a studio portrait sitting and his wife Myra Reilly of Lake Forest donated a photograph taken in Southeast Asia by John Reilly.

Since 2001 the Women's Board has presented a service award to a member of the Women's Board member for her commitment to Catholic Charities. Named to honor the memory of the much-beloved founding board member Irene Leahy McMahon of Lake Forest, the award was given this year to Dorothy Andries of Deerfield, editor of the TREND section of Pioneer Press.

Past winners have been Minnie Hall of Lake Forest in 2001, Nancy Pasquesi of Highland Park in 2002, Ellie Clarke of Lake Forest in 2003, Susy Hoch of Lake Forest in 2004, Diane Clark of Highland Park in 2005, and Terry Swarthout of Lake Forest in 2006.

This year's "Art of Caring" raised $250,000 for Catholic Charities services in Lake County. Programs are based at the Joseph Cardinal Bernardin Center on South Lewis Avenue in Waukegan, with 10 smaller satellite locations to serve the ever-growing population of the county.