North Suburban YMCA announces fundraising dinner

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The North Suburban YMCA's 6th Annual Ken and Alta Thiel Strong Kids Fundraising Dinner will be held on May 16 at Allgauer’s Hilton in Northbrook. The Y’s Strong Kids fund enables families in financial need to participate in the Y’s many programs and services. Shown here: Y child care staff member Kathy Jahn with Evelyn, a happy H.A.W.K.S. ("Helping All Wonderful Kids Succeed") participant.

Updated: March 24, 2012 8:07AM

The North Suburban YMCA will welcome guests to the Sixth Annual Ken and Alta Thiel Strong Kids Fundraising Dinner on Wednesday, May 16 at Allgauer’s Hilton in Northbrook. This community event, which attracted more than 400 people last year, supports the YMCA’s Strong Kids Fund, enabling families in financial need to participate in the YMCA’s many programs and services.

This year’s dinner will give special recognition to First Bank of Highland Park, the recipient for this year’s Thiel Award for Leadership and Social Responsibility. FBHP was selected as this year’s honoree because of its long history of leadership and commitment to the YMCA as well as other vital community organizations within Lake and Cook counties. The bank joins a list of distinguished past recipients, which include Ken and Alta Thiel, Allstate Insurance, Ron Bernardi, Northbrook Rotary and the Northbrook Woman’s Club.

Through the support raised by the Strong Kids Fund, the YMCA reaches out to children and families throughout its 12 town service area to provide opportunities they might not otherwise have. The need for support has never been greater: one out of five individuals using the YMCA receives some level of financial assistance, and this past year the YMCA provided more than $460,000 worth of fee abatements.

Financial assistance helps families access childcare, summer camp, membership, special needs, wellness, and all other programs offered by the YMCA, which is located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook.

The 2011 Strong Kids Dinner raised $238,000, the single largest source of funding for the financial aid the YMCA provides.

The Y’s commitment to the community attracted the attention of First Bank of Highland Park several years ago when Patricia Widmar, bank vice president and now YMCA board secretary, first joined the YMCA’s board. First Bank of Highland Park has served the community and its surrounding neighbors for more than 55 years.

The bank has made significant contributions to both the Strong Kids Fund as well as the YMCA’s capital campaign, participating in the creation of a new, fully-accessible playground and family park area.

The Ken and Alta Thiel Strong Kids Fundraising Dinner on May 16 begins with cocktails at 5:30 p.m., and will feature delicious food, live music, live and silent auctions, games and surprises. Tickets for the event are $125. A wide variety of sponsorship opportunities are available. For ticket, sponsorship, or donation information, contact Tara Bilby, tbilby@nsymca.org, visit www.nsymca.org, or stop in the YMCA located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook.