Sights of the Season

By
January 2025 View more

Featuring 22 restaurants, the 10th annual Fill the Bowls event raised more than $50,000 for the Marie Wilkinson Food Pantry. Nearly 400 attendees sampled savory and sweet bites on Nov. 3 at Two Brothers Roundhouse in Aurora.
KidsMatter’s 2024 Youth Service Award recognized 23 teens for their outstanding volunteer contributions to local nonprofits. This year’s ceremony was held Nov. 18 in Council Chambers at the Naperville Municipal Center.
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra warms up for its Nov. 22 concert at Wheaton College’s Edman Chapel.
Batavia Park District is a winner of the 2024 Top Workplace Award, which recognizes organizations that create and sustain a positive and productive culture for employees. Given by the Chicago Tribune, the award is a result of an employee engagement survey conducted by Energage.
Actor Jim O’Heir (a.k.a. Garry Gergich from Parks and Recreation) was in town Nov. 24 to chat about his new book (Welcome to Pawnee), TV wife Christy Brinkley, and the time a naked Chris Pratt prank flustered the studio lawyers.
The Cheers For Veterans gala honored those who served, raising more than $180,000 to help local veterans with essential home repairs and renovations. Hosted by Naperville Responds For Veterans, the 14th annual event took place Nov. 15 at Bobak’s Signature Events in Woodridge.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Loaves & Fishes Community Services hosted an open house Nov. 15 at its Naperville Grocery Market. The event honored volunteers, donors, and community partners who have worked with the nonprofit over the years to address food insecurity.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Loaves & Fishes Community Services hosted an open house Nov. 15 at its Naperville Grocery Market. The event honored volunteers, donors, and community partners who have worked with the nonprofit over the years to address food insecurity.
To celebrate its 40th anniversary, Loaves & Fishes Community Services hosted an open house Nov. 15 at its Naperville Grocery Market. The event honored volunteers, donors, and community partners who have worked with the nonprofit over the years to address food insecurity.
This past holiday season, shoppers at the Fox Valley Mall could make donations to global and local charities via Giving Machines. Sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the machines were operated in 108 cities around the world in 2024 and have raised more than $32 million in donations since the program started in 2017.
This past holiday season, shoppers at the Fox Valley Mall could make donations to global and local charities via Giving Machines. Sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the machines were operated in 108 cities around the world in 2024 and have raised more than $32 million in donations since the program started in 2017.
In November Hesed House opened its newly renovated 680 Adult Shelter (680 S. River St. in Aurora), which can serve 280 guests, nearly double the capacity of its former space. Within 48 hours of the ribbon cutting, the shelter was up and running; staff and their families served the first dinner from the new kitchen, where thousands of volunteers will help care for neighbors in need each year.
In November Hesed House opened its newly renovated 680 Adult Shelter (680 S. River St. in Aurora), which can serve 280 guests, nearly double the capacity of its former space. Within 48 hours of the ribbon cutting, the shelter was up and running; staff and their families served the first dinner from the new kitchen, where thousands of volunteers will help care for neighbors in need each year.
The host committee (above) and more than 425 guests attended the DuPage Foundations annual benefit Nov. 9 at the Westin Chicago Lombard. The event grossed nearly $700,000, which will fund the foundation’s operations and programs. The foundation also announced a $1 million gift from Trustee Emerita Carole Cline (sitting center in the right photo) of Wheaton to establish the Richard G. and Carole J. Cline Community Impact Fund, a permanently endowed fund to support annual community grant-making.
The host committee (above) and more than 425 guests attended the DuPage Foundations annual benefit Nov. 9 at the Westin Chicago Lombard. The event grossed nearly $700,000, which will fund the foundation’s operations and programs. The foundation also announced a $1 million gift from Trustee Emerita Carole Cline (sitting center in the right photo) of Wheaton to establish the Richard G. and Carole J. Cline Community Impact Fund, a permanently endowed fund to support annual community grant-making.

People, places, and scenes around the area

 

Photos: Gary Bahnick Photography (Fill the Bowls); Batavia Park District; Hailey Carmody (KidsMatter); James Hoch (Cheers For Veterans); Jen Banowetz (James Heir, CSO); Joni Wiltz (Loaves & Fishes Community Services); Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints; Hesed House; DuPage Foundation