Dear Friends, Staff, and Families of Orchard Village,
This spring and summer have been packed with plenty of activity and growth for Orchard Village. We are grateful for all your gifts of time, treasure, and talent.
In April, we held the 36th Annual Blossom Gala, with the theme of Blue Skies. More than 170 people took part in an elegant evening of fine food, entertainment, and dancing to help us raise more than $170,000. Thank you to the chair of the event, Doug Miller, and the silent auction chair, Mary Robbins, for all their hard work and dedication. Also, thank you to all the guests, donors, and volunteers who contributed their time, talents and treasure to Orchard Village. A special thank you to our sponsors – Fifth Third Bank, Woodward, Bank Financial, JMB Insurance, Advance Electrical Supply Co., Powering Chicago, Laner Muchin, and the Witz Family Foundation.
We kicked off the season with a Summer Bash in our Activity Center for clients and their families. Despite the rain, more than 100 people enjoyed tacos, games, and music. Thank you to all the staff and volunteers who helped make this an outstanding event for our families and program participants.
We planted another spectacular garden this year with help from the Talking Farm. Thank you to all the people who became Garden Members and supported the program by subscribing to the Community Supported Agriculture boxes. Staff and clients also sold lots of veggies and flowers to customers at the Skokie Farmers’ Markets. Thank you also to Jewel-Osco for providing a grant to help support the program.
We would also like to thank Paul Sievert and his family for their gift to dedicate the garden in memory of Ilene B. Sievert. Ilene was a devoted volunteer and served on the Orchard Village Auxiliary Board for many years. You can read more about Ilene and her dedication in this newsletter.
In August, we held our 31st Annual Golf Classic at the Westmoreland Country Club in Wilmette. More than 70 golfers helped to raise nearly $89,000 to support programs at Orchard Village. Thank you to the event co-chairs, Jake Goldstein and Corey Noland, and the committee members for their leadership in this successful event.
We’re proud to be opening our newest building at 7620 Gross Point Rd in Skokie. This building will house our new Behavioral Health Clinic, as well as our expanding day programs, with a dedicated art space, where participants can continue to be active and engaged in creating wonderful works of art.
Thank you to all the Orchard Village families, board members, and public donors who contributed to the “Here we Grow Campaign,” helping us to raise more than $2.2 million in outright and planned gifts to renovate our new building, purchase new homes, and address our future needs by naming Orchard Village as a beneficiary of their wills, trusts, or insurance policies.
Thank you to all of you who help support us and enhance the lives of the people and families we serve. We truly appreciate you!
Susan Kaufman
CEO & President
Please save these dates on your calendars:
- November 28 – join us for Giving Tuesday, one day of raising support for Orchard Village programs.
- December Holiday Gift Drive for clients – become a Santa for our clients and help purchase holiday gifts. Look for our wishlist on Amazon.
- February, date TBD – join the Associate Board for an evening of fun at Cocktails for A Cause.
- April 27, 2024 – save the for the 37th Annual Blossom Gala at the Loews Chicago O’Hare Hotel.