On Saturday, February 22, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA hosted its seventh annual Giving Gala at the Bolingbrook Golf Club, where hundreds gathered to raise an all-time high of $96,000 for the Y’s scholarship fund. At the largest turnout in the event’s history, 432 guests had opportunities to bid on silent and live auction items that included premiere golf packages, signed sports memorabilia and unique weekend getaways, among a slew of other items.
The Greater Joliet Area YMCA has been serving families, regardless of age, income or background, from throughout Will County and its surrounding areas for more than 85 years. Since its inception, the Giving Gala has raised over $300,000 to benefit families within our community, helping to ensure that that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.
New to this year’s Giving Gala was the Best of Live Raffle, where, for only $50 a ticket, guests could win a live auction item of their choice without even lifting their bid paddles. Thanks to a generous donation by Bill Jacobs and Cynthia and Christopher Thrall, the winner took home a destination package that included accommodations for 10 people to stay seven nights in an exclusive five bedroom home in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.
This year’s live auction featured 12 other items including One Direction concert tickets and a game-used hockey stick signed by the 2013-14 Chicago Blackhawks. The evening’s top grossing package— courtside tickets to a Chicago Bulls game—was sold for $2,300.
An elegantly decorated ballroom set the stage for the evening’s festivities, which included complimentary cocktails and a bountiful dinner. Throughout the evening, live entertainment was provided by the Connie and Johnny Jazz Combo as well as the Gold Coast Orchestra.
This year’s Giving Gala volunteer committee was co-chaired by Margie Bonuchi (Plainfield) and Tim Stetenfeld (Plainfield). Committee members included: Fiona Alston (Oswego), Judy Avery (Plainfield), Kathy Blessent (Plainfield), Rob Epley (Plainfield), Mark Griglione (Shorewood), Kathy Kazmar (Plainfield), Steve Leclair (Naperville), Maria Macris (Joliet), Nick Macris (Joliet), Victoria Matway (Plainfield), Diane Racich (Plainfield), Greg Schaefer (Minooka) and Marge Watts (Plainfield).
Elite Sponsors of the 2014 Giving Gala included:
PREMIUM SPONSORS
Central Steel & Wire Company and Ron & Kathy Kazmar
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Caterpillar Inc.
DIAMOND SPONSORS
Bill Jacobs Auto
CITGO Petroleum Corporation – Lemont Refinery
Edward Hospital & Health Services
Edward Jones – Office of Tim Stetenfeld
First Community Financial Bank
First Midwest Bank
Heartland Bank and Trust Company
Hometown National Bank
Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Rousonelos Lean Pork Producer LLC
GOLD SPONSORS
Adventist Plainfield Medical Campus
Ahoyt Family Dental
Bart Homes, Inc.
Roger and Margie Bonuchi
Continental Audi of Naperville
D’Arcy Buick GMC
Friedrich-Jones & Overman-Jones Funeral Homes & Cremation Services
Brent Hassert Consulting, LLC
L. DeGeus & Associates Inc
Northern Insurance Service, Ltd.
Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol, LLC
