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On a milestone night celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Greater Joliet Area YMCA Giving Gala raised more than $140,000 in support of the Y’s scholarship fund—the most in event history. Held Feb. 25 at the elegant Bolingbrook Golf Club, the annual fundraising event featured dinner, live entertainment and opportunities to bid on an assortment of silent and live auction 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 more than $740,000 to benefit families within those communities, helping to ensure that that no one is turned away from the Y due to the inability to pay.

In an auction-style format, guests were asked to “Raise the Paddle” in support of the Y’s scholarship program. A short video was shown featuring three stories of scholarship recipients whose lives were transformed by their YMCA experience. Following the moving presentation, individuals featured in the video—a struggling single mother from Joliet, a Plainfield father who lost 140 pounds and clients of Illinois Valley Industries in Grundy County—were asked to stand and be recognized. Their inspirational stories inspired Gala attendees to make contributions ranging from $5,000 down to $50, totaling more than $38,000 in YMCA scholarships.

Six exciting packages were sold during the live auction, including a dream Disney vacation for four and a two-week getaway to a condo in Hawaii. The latter was so popular that the package’s donors, Fred and Mara Bliznick, offered an additional two-week stay up for bid. Together, the two Hawaii packages raised $7,200 in scholarship funds. To round out the live auction bidding, baseball fans repping both the North and South Sides of Chicago had opportunities to bid on Cubs and White Sox packages with game tickets and signed memorabilia, among other amenities.

The exquisitely decorated Bolingbrook Golf Club, accentuated by the sounds of the Connie and Johnny Jazz Combo, provided a perfect setting for the evening’s festivities. Prior to dinner, guests reveled in a sea of more than 120 silent auction items, placing bids while enjoying complimentary cocktails and appetizers. The night was capped off by the Gold Coast Orchestra, who took the stage and treated guests to their dance-inspiring tunes.

This year’s Giving Gala volunteer committee was co-chaired by Margie Bonuchi (Plainfield) and Greg Schaefer (Minooka). Committee members included: Fiona Alston (Oswego), Judy Avery (Plainfield), Kathy Blessent (Plainfield), Rob Epley (Plainfield), MaryKay Hrdina (Plainfield), Kathy Kazmar (Plainfield), Maria Macris (Joliet), Nick Macris (Joliet), Dawn Marsaglia (Plainfield), Victoria Matway (Plainfield), Mary Olson (Morris), Ryan Peterson (Plainfield), Laurie Rambo (Crest Hill), Karen Rouse (Plainfield), Adam Underhill (Minooka), Mike Wickkiser (Morris), Barb Ziegner (Joliet) and Kristin Ziegner (Joliet). Staff leadership was provided by Senior Development Director Julie Wilkinson and Annual Giving Manager Brittney Halliday.

Sponsors of the 2017 Giving Gala included:

PREMIUM SPONSOR
DIAGEO

PLATINUM SPONSOR
Ron and Kathy Kazmar
WeatherTech

BAR/COCKTAIL SPONSOR
DIAEGO

CASH RAFFLE SPONSOR
First Community Financial Bank

MOBILE BIDDING SPONSOR
CITGO Lemont Refinery

DIAMOND SPONSORS
Continental Audi of Naperville
Edward Jones
First Midwest Bank
Plainfield Area Chamber of Commerce
Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center
BMO Harris Bank
Caterpillar, Inc.
D’Arcy Buick GMC
ExxonMobil
Friedrich-Jones & Overman-Jones Funeral Homes & Cremation Services
Grundy Bank
Hometown National Bank
Law Offices of Samuel J. Erkonen, P.C.
Midland States Bank
Morris Hospital and Healthcare Centers
Springbank of Plainfield

PHOTOGRAPHY SPONSOR
Heartland Bank and Trust

BID PADDLE SPONSOR
Rathbun, Cservenyak & Kozol Law Firm 

ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR
Edward – Elmhurst Health

APPETIZER SPONSOR
DeGeus & Associates, Inc

GOLD SPONSORS
Coilplus Illinois
Mahoney, Silverman & Cross Law Firm
Mr. and Mrs. Maloney

SILVER SPONSORS
Hamilton & Antonsen
Rod Baker Ford

IN-KIND SPONSORS
Alpha Media- WJOL AM
Graphic Promotions
Grundy County Chamber of Commerce
Herald News
Impact Outdoors
Joliet Region Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Morris Herald News
New Lenox Chamber of Commerce
Shorewood Chamber of Commerce

The 11th annual Giving Gala will be held on Saturday, February 24, 2018. For more information about the Giving Gala or if you’re interested in joining the Giving Gala Planning Committee, please contact the Y at (815) 729-9638.