It’s a Wrap

ItsWrap

Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club

By Mike Ellis

Several dozen Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club (HJWC) members celebrated the conclusion of a record breaking fundraising year at the club’s annual “It’s a Wrap” party at the new Compass Arena in Willowbrook on May 20. The HJWC benefit committee announced that it raised more than $305,000 through its “Platinum Unplugged” benefit in late April, breaking the previous mark set in 2019 by more than $25,000. Outgoing HJWC president Lauren Kavanaugh said membership topped the 200 plateau for the first time in several years, and the record fundraising total enabled the HJWC to award nearly $296,000 in grants to 27 regional non-profit organizations. Grant recipients included Lutheran Child & Family Services, Wellness House, The Home 2 Home Project, Center for Independence, All Our Children’s Advocacy Center, Reclaim13, Share Our Spare and Simply from the Heart. Michelle Riley of Hinsdale is succeeding Kavanaugh as president, and will be followed by incoming vice president Jaclyn McNamara, also of Hinsdale, who will serve as president in 2022-23. For more information about the Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club, visit www.hjwc.us

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Kristina and Matthew Bailey began reading books to their son, Owen when he was six months old— they haven’t stopped.
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The library’s 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge is one of a few reading challenge programs offered in Clarendon Hills, where the Bailey family has lived for the past 2 1/2 years.
Kristin Bailey said she saw an ad about the 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge and decided it was a good fit for Owen.

“He’s always been really into books,” Bailey said. “He had a natural interest in books at nine months old. That’s when COVID started, and he didn’t get out much, so reading books to him worked out very well. He’s a naturally curious kid, and imagination-building is important. The reading allows him to learn and explore new things, and he really wants to learn to read now.”

Krista Devlin, the Clarendon Hills library’s youth services librarian, said there’s a specific reason The Friends of the Library-sponsored 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten Challenge was started in 2022.

“Reading aloud to a child is one of the best ways to help develop important early literacy skills, which will prepare them for kindergarten,” Devlin said. “It is also a great way to bond with your child and to encourage a love of reading.”

Devlin said Owen was the second child to reach the challenge of having 1,000 books read to him before starting kindergarten. He was awarded a certificate, a crown, and his picture was taken to recognize his accomplishment.

Bailey, who said she is “a big reader,” said her family usually goes to the library once a week. Reading three books each night to Owen, along with a book before nap time, is the household normal.

“Consistency in our routine has been good and is important,” she said, adding that Owen’s two sisters, ages 2 1/2 and 1

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