A BIG THANK YOU!
To everyone who donated their time, sold tickets, purchased raffle ticket(s), donated a raffle prize(s), or called to offer your time to help the Cleveland Family. All of these combined efforts resulted in a very successful event which could not have done without the help of so many. From the elderly lady who called to offer her furniture to the Cleveland family, to Thom’s roofing in Riverside offering to send a crew over to finish off the roof, many thanks! There are so many stories I could tell but I think the message is clear. We have caring people all around us that came together to help out a family in need.

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty.
Ghandi

Ticket Sales
To the following friends, teachers, neighbors, and organizations that donated their time to help sell tickets for this event: Peg Aldape, Lisa Buffo, Gina Demitro, Kathy Dudek, Fran Guerrieri, Bonnie Powell, Christina Menchaca, Nancy Guelfi, Nancy Hawes, Rose Grezscowiak, Mary Lescher, Dawn Arnold, Susan Sicotte, Yvonne & Vince (Station Rest.), Joy Brabec, Annette Paulumbo, and the Hearth Group (Karen Bry, Michael Healy, John Coughlin, and John Richards).

Special thanks to the children of Ascension Church of Riverside for coordinating a bake sale and selling tickets after their service. They raised over $500 dollars to help the Cleveland Family.

Getting the Word Out
Thank you to all the schools in District 96 that allowed the use of their Feedblitz service to help promote this event. (Hauser, Hollywood, Blythe, Ames, and Central Schools). Also thanks to Riverside Brookfield High School, St. Mary’s of Riverside, St. Barbara of Brookfield, Ascension Lutheran Church of Riverside, Riverside Presbyterian Church, United Church of Christ – Forest Park, Hollywood Community Newsletter, Coffee House Newsletter, and the Suburban Life. Thank you all for promoting this event–without your help we could not have been successful!

The Event
The event started at 2:00 p.m. and by 3:00 pm. a constant flow of people were in and out of “The Station” Restaurant. Some stayed to socialize and enjoy the additional raffles and great appetizers. Others stopped in to say hello and wish Laura and her family well. The Station of Brookfield had a charming atmosphere along with great food, drinks and excellent service! We certainly do appreciate their generosity and hope you will consider them when planning a party, a lunch or dinner.

Raffle Winners
The Grand Prize Winner – The Meindl Family of Riverside won $2,500 and donated this back to the Cleveland Family. Other winners included Barbra Roppo of LaGrange who won $250; Rudy Schade of LaGrange, a $50 winner; Kevin Duffy of Brookfield, a $50 winner; Burt Bullnow of Brookfield, a $50 winner; and the Spirios Family of Brookfield, a $25 winner. All of these families donated back their winnings to support the Cleveland Family!

I believe almost everyone in attendance walked away with a gift or two from the great selection of gift certificates donated by local businesses in Brookfield, Riverside, Berwyn, LaGrange and LaGrange Park. To those of you who put together individual gifts, such as (2) Tickets for a Blackhawk’s game, an Avon Basket, and a hand-crafted keepsake Box: everything was extremely appreciated.

Over $8,000 was raised!
Laura Cleveland and her family are overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from our community and neighboring communities. She is very grateful and wishes to thank everyone for their support during this difficult time.

Wishing all of you a Very Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Sincerely,

MaryBeth Demitro
Event Organizer
Cleveland Family Event

I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work the more I live.
George Bernard Shaw