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KidsMatter leadership will be honored with performing arts April 14

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Above / Naperville’s KidsMatter Board Executive Director IdaLynn Wenhold performed with Cloud 9 to introduce Mayor Steve Chirico during the annual State of the City address hosted by the Naperville Area Chamber of Commerce in March.

Naperville’s KidsMatter Board Chairman Kristen Refness and outgoing Executive Director IdaLynn Wenhold announced that their next Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director will be Kamala Martinez. Refness and Wenhold are pictured earlier this year when KidsMatter was recognized with a Mayor’s proclamation for “State of the Kids Day” on January 30, 2018.

UPDATE, April 5, 2018 / The Ignite the Nite gala will be held on Saturday, April 14 at Hotel Arista in Naperville. Cocktails, music and dinner will be followed by a cabaret performance titled “Tapestry” including an array of songs and stories illuminating KidsMatter’s mission and IdaLynn’s passion to bring together community resources to help kids and families overcome the stressors that lead to depression and anxiety, bullying, cutting, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide.

Featuring an evening of stories and song performed by community leaders and student performers from Naperville’s School of Performing Arts, this special event will salute KidsMatter Executive Director IdaLynn Wenhold as she retires after 17 years at the helm of the Naperville organization dedicated to empowering kids to say no to destructive choices and yes to endless possibilities.

Reservations for the benefit are $175 per person. To reserve a spot, visit kidsmatter2us.ejoinme.org/2018Ignite.

KidsMatter announced new leadership will assume duties this spring

Original Post, Feb. 27, 2018 / KidsMatter, the Naperville nonprofit dedicated to empowering kids to say no to destructive choices and yes to endless possibilities, has announced that  Kamala L. Martinez of Naperville will be the organization’s next Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director.

Martinez will succeed IdaLynn Wenhold, who is retiring later this spring. 

KidsMatter Board of Asset Trustees Chairman Kristen Refness announced the appointment saying “the board searched for someone with the same passion for kids that IdaLynn has demonstrated, and who could continue to grow KidsMatter.  We believe we found that special person to lead KidsMatter. Kamala has been a supporter of KidsMatter and has worked closely with IdaLynn as a member of our Advisory Board.  We are excited to have her join the KidsMatter team in this capacity and continue to develop important programs that will empower kids and families in our community.”

Kamala Martinez

Kamala Martinez (PN Photo)

Martinez was formerly Executive Director of the RR Donnelley Foundation and has more than 25 years of business development and management experience. She has held a number of board positions for not-for-profit organizations including Naperville Cable Television 17, Indian Prairie Education Foundation, the Art Institute of Chicago Corporate Committee, and the KidsMatter Advisory Board. Currently, she is Chairman of the City of Naperville Planning and Zoning Commission.

A graduate of the University of Iowa, Martinez has been a resident of Naperville since 1996, with her husband of 27 years and their 21 year-old son.

“Developing future leaders early on has always been my passion and I am energized to lead KidsMatter and build on the phenomenal work that IdaLynn has begun. I look forward to using my skills to take the organization to the next level, maximizing efficiency and developing programming that will support our mission in the future.”

Wenhold, who leaves the organization after 17 years, plans to pursue other journeys with her husband, Greg, including expanding their work with orphanages in Kenya and Guatemala. 

“My greatest joy throughout the last 17 years has been the opportunity I have had to collaborate with incredible people who care deeply about kids – and to create programming that prioritizes their deepest needs,” said Wenhold in a written statement. “This Collaboration has enabled us to tackle the tough issues facing our kids today by promoting the fact that ‘ParentsMatterToo.’  I’m excited that Kamala will bring our organization a fresh perspective and an innovative approach to fulfilling KidsMatter’s commitment to building resilient kids.” 

So long and hello planned at Ignite the Nite, April 14 

Wenhold will be honored and Martinez welcomed at the organization’s 7th annual Ignite the Nite Benefit Concert and Dinner to be held Saturday, April 14, at The Hotel Arista in CityGate Centre on Naperville’s northwest side.

Cocktails, music and dinner will be followed by a cabaret performance titled “Tapestry,” including an array of songs and stories illuminating KidsMatter’s mission and Wenhold’s passion to bring together all community resources to help kids and families overcome the stressors that lead to depression and anxiety, bullying, cutting, drug and alcohol abuse and suicide.

Reservations for the benefit are $175 per person, a table of 10 is $1,700, and a table of 12 is $2,040.

A Fund-A-Need Silent Auction highlighting KidsMatter’s Suicide Prevention Initiative, Anti-Bullying Programs, Student Empowerment Programs and ParentsMatterToo Support will be available throughout the evening.  For donations, individual tickets or tables of 10 or 12, visit www.kidsmatter2us.org/ignite.  Reservations must be made by April 1.

For more information about KidsMatter, visit www.kidsmatter2us.org.

Editor’s Note / Meanwhile, save the date for the KidsMatter Annual Student Job Fair on the first day of spring. The free event will run from 5 to 7:30PM on Tues., March 20, 2018, at the Residence Hall/Recreation Center at North Central College, 440 South Brainard Street. More than 60 local employers are expected to participate offering some 2,000 jobs available for local teens to apply.

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PN Editor
PN Editor
An editor is someone who prepares content for publishing. It entered English, the American Language, via French. Its modern sense for newspapers has been around since about 1800.

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