Early Childhood Education Celebrated at DuPage Gala
Strong families make strong communities, and 400 DuPage County leaders will celebrate an evening of “Mpowering” children and families through early learning at the 17th annual DuPage Gala, taking place from 6 – 11 p.m. on Friday, May 11, 2018 at Bobak’s Signature Events, 6440 Double Eagle Dr., Woodridge, Ill. Proceeds will benefit Metropolitan Family Services DuPage Center’s programs and services, which reach more than 13,000 DuPage clients yearly. Tracy Butler, meteorologist for “ABC 7 News This Morning” and “Windy City LIVE,” will emcee.
Evening highlights will include silent and live auctions – including vacations in Sonoma and Cancun including hotel stays and round-trip airfare, as well as a wine raffle, cocktails and dinner, music and more. The 2018 DuPage Gala is chaired by Metropolitan DuPage Board Members Maryellen Klang and Jeff Platt.
Event proceeds will benefit Metropolitan’s Early Childhood Education services, including its Head Start and Early Head Start program, which serves children aged 0-5 and their families; the Early Childhood Collaborative, unifying supporters to improve school readiness in under-resourced areas; and preschool expansion, which provides full-day preschool for 4-year-olds. School-Based services include individual and group counseling, and workshops for students, teachers and parents to enhance skills such as conflict resolution, violence prevention and communication.
Tickets to the DuPage Gala are $175, and sponsorships are available. For details visit metrofamily.org/dupagegala or call 630-784-4834.
Event Honoree
Kim Stapleton served on the Metropolitan Family Services DuPage Board for many years and is currently a member of the Alumni Board. Kim and her husband, Jon, and their three daughters, live in Downers Grove, Ill. where he has been a teacher and coach for twenty-one years at the local High School. In her spare time she competes in marathons and triathlons, as well as coaching her oldest daughter’s softball team, leading her middle daughter’s Girl Scout troop, and running a “Blessings In a Backpack” program for their elementary school (a nonprofit which sends home food on the weekends with children in need.)
Since 2014, Kim has owned consulting firm The Network Effect, and currently services four clients, including Ice Miller, a law firm; Crowe Horwath Accounting; Norm Bobins, the Chairman of CIBC Bank; and The Illinois Chamber of Commerce. She has thoroughly enjoyed being a business owner, as it has allowed her to stay active with her three daughters’ busy lives and to join other boards. She is nearing the end of a four-year term on her church’s Governing Board and recently became a Trustee with a six-year term for her local library. Despite being actively involved in numerous community initiatives, Kim remains committed to the mission of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage Board.
About Metropolitan Family Services DuPage Center
Metropolitan Family Services DuPage, started more than 80 years ago, is a family service/mental health agency serving some of DuPage County’s most vulnerable children and families. Whether through early childhood education, parent education, family therapy, youth mentoring, psychiatric and mental health services for all ages, or services for older adults and their caregivers, Metropolitan “mpowers” individuals and families to learn, to earn, to heal and to thrive.