The Women’s Auxiliary of The Danish Home held a delightful Spring Luncheon and Fundraiser on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at a new location: Manzo’s Banquets, 1571 Elmhurst Road, Des Plaines, Illinois. About 70 guests, including Danish Home residents, Auxiliary board members and members, family and friends, enjoyed the 65th Annual Benefit Luncheon on a beautiful, sunny day. Many Danish Association and The Danish Home Foundation board members were also in attendance. The new banquet location was easy to find with good parking, and the food was excellent (family-style).
The event started at 11 a.m. with cocktails and punch. Women’s Auxiliary President Karen Peterson bid welcome, sang the Danish and American national anthems, and gave the opening prayer before the meal. The Noon lunch featured fresh rolls, a cup of soup, and wonderful shared dishes of salad, chicken, pork, mashed potatoes and green beans. Jack Myles warmed the audience up with some jokes, and then Women’s Auxiliary Spring Luncheon Chairperson Karen Nylen-Swidergal introduced the headline entertainment for the afternoon, namely singer Casey Myles, featuring the stylings of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra. Dessert followed with vanilla ice cream topped with chocolate sauce, coffee and tea.
Throughout the afternoon, participants had the chance to win stylish and creative Gift Baskets, most arranged and donated by the Women’s Auxiliary board members, and some fantastic Silent Auction items. The Gift Baskets ranged from a “Garden of Gift Cards” to a Liquor & Lottery Basket, a crisp $100 Bill, Radio Flyer Wagon filled with prizes, Nature Basket, Breakfast Basket, Amazon Echo Dot Basket, Sweden Shop/Tre Kronor Gift Card Basket, plus a $100 “Lettuce Entertain You” Gift Card donated by IVY Marketing Group, Inc. Silent Auction items included a Vintage 1960’s Flora Danica Gold Vermeil Brooch, a Baccarat Crystal Ruler, Waterford “Book of Kells” Bowl, and a Dooney and Burke Collectible Disney Christmas Purse. Three lucky winners also took home prizes in the Cash Drawing: 1st place: $500, 2nd place: $250, and 3rd Place: $100. Special thanks to everyone for supporting the Women’s Auxiliary’s 65th Annual Spring Luncheon and for making it an extraordinary afternoon. For information about future Women’s Auxiliary events or to join as a new member, please visit: https://danishhomeofchicago.org/dh-new/womens-auxiliary/
To view photos from the event, please click here!