Above / Dan Casey and Ray Kinney duke it out to promote shaking up good cheers for Little Friends’ Annual Giving Tree Program. (Little Friends Photo 2016)
Little Friends is kicking off its annual Giving Tree Program with a very special event from 5:30PM until 7:30PM on Wed., Nov. 16, at The Third Floor by Two Brothers in downtown Naperville.
The Celebrity Bartending Showdown will engage two community leaders – Dan Casey and Ray Kinney – and their hand-selected teams of celebrity bartenders in a fierce competition to benefit Little Friends’ Giving Tree program. Proceeds will provide assistance to families in crisis this holiday season.
“The harsh reality for families that support a loved one with autism or another developmental disability is that they will spend $17,000 more per child every year than they would if they had a typical child,” said Kristi Athas Landorf, President and CEO in a news release. “The lifetime cost for a child with autism is between $1.4 and 2.4 million. Our families are often emotionally and financially exhausted.”
Landorf continued that when asked what help they need, their requests are not grand or complicated.
“They would like to have a holiday meal for their family; they would like to put some presents under the tree. In a typical year, we have six or seven families that need more-than-usual assistance. This year we have 19 families in crisis,” Landorf said.
5:30-7:30PM Wed., Nov. 16, on The Third Floor above Craftsman
Team Casey will be shaking with Ray McGury, Lisa Gangi and Jim Ebel. Team Kinney will pour it on with Pam Davis, Steve Chirico, Adam Stachowiak and Danielle Tufano.
The Third Floor by Two Brothers is located at 16 W. Jefferson Avenue in downtown Naperville.
Enjoy punch and other libation all around. Tips are welcome. Cheers!
Needs for Giving Tree program have doubled
“When we realized the number of families needing additional assistance more than doubled, we knew we needed to expand the Giving Tree program. And phase one, so to speak, is to ensure that these 19 families have food for the Thanksgiving holiday and the long weekend it’s accompanied by,” added Renee Miklosik, Director of Special Events and Volunteers. “We hope our friends and supporters will join us for this unique event. Dan and Ray have been such great advocates of our mission, and they were excited to have the opportunity to ‘best’ the other, especially when their efforts will benefit our clients and their families.”
Adds Landorf, “We are so grateful to Dan and Ray for leading the charge for our Giving Tree Program, and we can’t thank Jim Ebel and Two Brothers enough for their graciousness in hosting this event. Their longtime support is appreciated.”
There is no admission charge to attend this event, though Little Friends will benefit from tips collected by the celebrity bartenders.
Little Friends also will collect donations of gift cards to local grocery stores and superstores (Casey’s Foods, Jewel, Meijer, Walmart and Target) to be distributed to clients and families. Online donations can also be made, specifically for this event, by visiting www.littlefriendsgivingtree.com/giving-tree/. To learn more, please visit Little Friends’ website, www.littlefriendsinc.org.
Again, The Third Floor, a recently opened establishment above Craftsman, is located upstairs at 16 W. Jefferson Avenue in downtown Naperville. An elevator is available.
Little Friends since 1965
Fulfilling Lives – Regardless of Challenge. Every one of our clients has a right to a fulfilling life of dignity, independence and respect. So do their families. That right is universal, regardless of challenge. At Little Friends, we empower clients with autism and other developmental disabilities to thrive in our community. Our groundbreaking programs and nationally-renowned staff provide lifelong opportunities for growth, so our clients can work, learn, play and experience the joy of life’s everyday moments.
For more info, visit www.littlefriendsinc.org.
News submitted by Tom Zimmerman, Director of Development Operations, for Little Friends, Inc. PN update Nov. 11, 2016.
