It was a banner year for Books & Brunch, the Assistance League of Chicagoland West fundraiser that has become a preferred event for authors who respect the organization’s mission of helping families and children in DuPage and western Cook counties.
With attendance topping the 370 mark for the first time in Books & Brunch's 15-year history, the Abbington in Glen Ellyn expanded the main ballroom to accommodate the crowd that filed in on a raw and rainy November day to meet and hear presentations by authors Melanie Benjamin, Marcus Sakey and Luis Urrea.
The ALCW signature event raised over $75,000 this year to benefit three main philanthropies. Operation School Bell gave coats, hats and gloves to over 1,600 children in 22 schools this fall. The Operation Early Reading backpack program is serving 700 Head Start and kindergarten students who take home ALCW-donated reading materials on a rotating basis throughout the school year. Operation New Start has delivered 28 kitchen kits valued at $400 since June to families moving from transitional housing to independent living.
Books & Brunch co-chairs were Maureen Hegarty of Hindale and Meg Cooper of Burr Ridge. NBC5 newscaster Dick Johnson once again served as master of ceremonies.
Hinsdale-based Assistance League of Chicagoland West is one of 122 chapters in the National Assistance League and the only one operating in Illinois. For more information, contact www.alcw.org or call (630) 321-2529.
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