WINGS raises $955,000 to benefit women, children who experience domestic violence

Caption 1: Sweet Home Chicago 2014 Honorary Co-Chairs Anna and Greg Brown of Barrington Hills led the way in raising $955,000 for WINGS, the most successful ever in the benefit’s 11-year history, an increase of 15 percent over last year’s record-event. WINGS helps women and children who experience domestic violence.

Caption 2: Bill and Jean Shannon with Lauren, Will, Katherine (red), Mark. Bill Shannon serves on the WINGS Leadership Council and the Shannon family lives in Barrington.

Caption 3: Christie Schoemacher of Barrington with her child Riley holding a plush from K-9 Lutheran Charities.

Caption 4: The Bilton Family of Barrington. Anna Bilton served as co-chair for WINGS 2014 Sweet Home Chicago.

Led by Honorary Co-Chairs Greg and Anna Brown and event Co-Chairs Anna Bilton and Meghan Norton, volunteers for WINGS raised a record $955,000 at the not-for-profit organization’s 11th annual Sweet Home Chicago fundraiser on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2014, at The Four Seasons Hotel.

Since it started in 2004, Sweet Home Chicago has become Chicago’s most successful brunch fundraiser. This year’s benefit brings the total raised by this benefit to more than $6.9 million to help support WINGS’ Safe House in the northwest suburbs for 10 months of the year as well as fund WINGS Metro currently under construction on Chicago’s southwest side.

More than 480 people, approximately one-half children—who decorated gingerbread houses, visited with Santa and Mrs. Claus, visited with K-9 comfort dogs from Lutheran Church Charities, stopped for a family portrait by photographer Curtis Newborn and danced to a music performed by Ralph’s World—enjoyed a delicious brunch.

Proceeds support WINGS’ domestic violence shelters, programs and services for women and children in the Chicago area. WINGS’ operating budget is funded by corporations, foundations and individuals, as well as revenues from WINGS three northwest suburban resale shops. Government resources account for less than 20 percent of WINGS financial support. In 2014 construction began for WINGS Metro, Chicago’s first new domestic violence shelter in 10 years.

For more information, call 847-519-7820 ext. 233 or visit wingsprogram.com.

(Photo credit: Waldemar Reichert)