Assistance League Chicagoland West

Books-Brunch-7-e1736470683942

Photos by Michelle James

The Assistance League Chicagoland West hosted its annual Books & Brunch in early November at The Abbington in Glen Ellyn. Close to 500 attendees joined the lively conversation with Pulitzer Prize Winner Jonathan Eig as well as authors Luis Urrea and Libby Fischer Hellmann, and moderator Andrea Thome.

The Assistance League Chicagoland West supports DuPage and western Cook Counties through programs like Operation School Bell, aiding students with clothing, literacy, and necessities.

Other initiatives include New Start for housing essentials, Scholars Support scholarships, Community Outreach crisis aid, and Assisteens, where teens develop community service projects, fostering education, stability, and self-sufficiency. Visit ALCW.org for more information.

Assistance League charter members Marilyn Krafthefer and Jan McGivern

Assistance League members Laura Morse and Patricia St. Cyr

Guest Gina Bucciarelli and Assistance League member Inga Haveric

Assistance League members Gopi Ahuja and Bijal Bhuva-Doshi

Books & Brunch Emcee Andrea Thome, Books & Brunch Co-Chairs JoAnn Barranco and Susann Oakum, Assistance League President Yvonne Mayer

Jewelry Raffle Winner Mridu Garg, Michelle Kovach and Amy Malfese from Bella Cosa Jewelers

Author

Gena Fite started her career at York in 2001.

Watch the Birdie

EM W 2 Lilacia

Lombard’s Lilac Legacy

The Titanic departed Southampton on April 10, 1912.

Titanic – 40 Years After Discovery

Bella Potempa had a huge volleyball career at Timothy Christian High School.

Potempa’s Potential

Chicago Marriott Oak Brook After

Redefining Guest Experiences

DG W Philanthropy

More Reasons to Give

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

First Audience

Local women learn
mahjong at a class
Colleen Loftus hosted
at Alter Brewing in
Downers Grove.

Mahjong Madness

StudentComposite_2026-FNL-scaled-1

The Avery Coonley School

IMG_1886

Downers Grove Christian School

IC-Catholic-prep-1

IC Catholic Prep

Immaculate-Conception-Grade-School-1

Immaculate Conception Grade School