Event Raises $242,000 for Local Mental Health and Social Services

Submitted by Pillars.

At the start of a two-day blizzard that brought 18 inches of snow to Lombard, guests of the 2015 Pillars Ball put the mounting snowfall at the back of their minds and made their way to the Westin Hotel. Dressed in tuxedos and gowns, 519 people showed up on Saturday, January 31, 2015, to support area mental health and social services. As a nonprofit, Pillars relies on grants and fundraising to meet the needs of residents in Chicago’s western and southwestern suburbs. The 2015 Pillars Ball, the agency’s largest fundraising event, offers a way for individuals to provide that much-needed financial support, while also enjoying a night out and a chance to learn more about the organization.

In addition to attendees, 21 area businesses and community leaders stepped up to sponsor the event and another 93 people served as volunteers. The gala brought in more than $242,000 to support Pillars’ “Anytime a community comes together around its most vulnerable, that’s the kind of community that one wants to be part of,” says Ann C. Schreiner, AM, LCSW, president and CEO of Pillars. “This year we had the largest attendance we’ve ever had, and we exceeded our fundraising goals. Our guests really showed a dedication to helping Pillars meet the needs of the community.”

This year’s theme was “Live from the Red Carpet.” Guests enjoyed dinner, dancing, blackjack, and craps. A live auction and raffle offered opportunities to give back and win something to take home. But it was the paddle raise that brought the most excitement. After a video of two clients (a woman who came to Pillars for help with grief and a local teenager who sought help for anxiety), both of whom were in attendance, guests rallied around the fundraising goal. One by one, they raised their paddles to offer a donation.

To view all photos from the Ball and to watch the client video, visit www.PillarsRedCarpet.com. Pillars is the largest mental health and social service agency in the western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago. Serving 12,000 people across suburban Cook County, eastern DuPage County, and Chicago last year, Pillars works to build healthier communities by providing quality mental health services, social services, and education to people of all ages. Learn more at pillarscommunity.org.

Photo captions:

1. Ann C. Schreiner, AM, LCSW, president and CEO of Pillars, with Zada Clarke, chair of the Pillars Board of Directors
2. Cheryl Cannistra and Michelle Halm, chairs of the 2015 Pillars Ball Committee
3. The 2015 Pillars Ball included gaming, dinner, dancing, and a variety of ways to give back to Pillars.
4. Angela Curran, CEO of Community Nurse, and Carolyn Kline, Director of Community Outreach at Helping Hand Center, raise their paddles in support of Pillars.
5. Guests from Ingredion, a Ball sponsor, grab a moment together at dinner.
6. Guests from Lyons Township Mental Health, a Ball sponsor, enjoy the event.
7. Pat and Louise Hillegass, sponsors of the 2015 Pillars Ball, attended the event. Louise is also a member of Pillars’ Board of Directors.
8. Pillars Board Treasurer Len Farrell (right) enjoys an evening out with wife Mari Cantorna, a member of the 2015 Pillars Ball Committee.
9. The Honorable Russell W. Hartigan, a Pillars Board member and Cook County judge, enjoys an evening out with wife Sue.