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Color for a cause in Hinsdale
Arlene Simunek, (from left), Lisa Harvey, Donna DeCaigny and other members of the Hinsdale Chapter of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago Auxiliary assembled eight tablescapes to be raffled. | Steve Johnston~for Sun-Times Media
Project Color: Tablescapes and more
What: Luncheon, fashion show and vendors, raffles and silent auction with prizes, such as a Hawaii vacation and theater and sports tickets.
When: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Sunday, March 3
Where: The Westin Lombard hotel, at 70 Yorktown Center, in Lombard
Tickets: cost $85 per person; Tablescape raffles $10 a ticket, or six for $50.
Benefits: The Infant Welfare Society of Chicago
For reservations: Visit www.hinsdaletablescapes.com, or contact the Gail Daly at (630) 209-5962 or gaildaly@aol.com, Pam Rudin at (630) 325-4822 or pamrudin@aol.com, or Arlene Simunek at (630) 794-9914 or asimunek@sbcglobal.net.
Article Extras
Updated: March 22, 2013 6:04AM
HINSDALE — Members of the Hinsdale chapter of the Auxiliary of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago hit the stores with one thing in mind: place settings and centerpieces in brilliant blues, or sparkling silver or whatever their designated color.
Auxiliary members in teams of four or five have assembled eight different tablescapes to be raffled off at the group’s annual fundraiser March 3. The winner of each tablescape takes home almost everything on the table, from centerpieces to silverware to dishes.
The teams begin shopping for the tableware in September, but it’s not finished with one trip to Crate & Barrel or Char Crews.
“It’s a work in progress from September to now,” said Dee Koffron, president of the Hinsdale Auxiliary Chapter.
Typically, the women shop individually for something beautiful or eye-catching that ties in with that year’s tablescape theme. They come together with their finds and decide which pieces they want to keep and which should be returned.
“Usually what happens is there’s one really cool element and then they build on that element,” Koffron said.
Koffron, whose team is designing a purple or amethyst tablescape, said their focal point is a crystal candelabra. But Lisa Harvey, who is on the same team as Koffron, said the plates, with a purple and gray floral pattern, are the key element.
Regardless, finding the violet wine glasses and water goblets and purple-speckled candles to complement the candelabra and dishes, is soemthing they all enjoy.
“This is fun,” said Pam Rudin, who is volunteering for her sixth tablescape. “The rest is work, getting the invitations, the programs, organizing the silent auction.”
Besides the table arrangements, the event includes a luncheon, fashion show, and vendors selling jewelry, apparel and home accessories.
The auxiliary raises funds for the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago, which provides health services, including family planning, immunizations, and counseling for domestic violence and depression, for women and children in a clinic, at 3600 W. Fullerton in Chicago.
Koffron said she and her mother, Rudin, joined the auxiliary, after attending several tablescape fundraisers, “because we fell in love with the cause. It’s all about mothers, and the mother is the center of every family. She has to be healthy to raise healthy children.”
