GIVING BACK THIS SPRING – I started raising money for one cause or another when I was in kindergarten. I still remember going door to door with my plastic cottage cheese container. I cut the perfect size hole in the lid for donations to be deposited and kept secure. It was always spare change. The size of the donation never mattered. I’m still raising money for one good cause or another but have ditched the plastic container.

Fox Valley Food for Health of Geneva provides nutrient rich organic meals for individuals and their families who are facing a health crisis such as cancer. What makes this organization so unique is the integral role played by local teens. I was surprised to find out that teenagers, alongside a mentor Chef are the hands who prepare and cook the meals! FVFFH not only is helping those who are in need, it is positively impacting lives of teenagers with leadership and culinary skills as well as planting the seed of the volunteerism that will continue to grow among this generation. In only its 3rd year of serving the community, FVFFH has prepared and delivered 12,000 meals free of charge to patients and their families, not just once, but for a period of 12 weeks per client.

Our fabulous business owners from all over the Tri Cities recognize the important service FVFFH provides and have come together to sponsor “Fashion at the Airport” a high-end NYC-style runway production to be held on April 23rd, in an airplane hangar at the DuPage airport, bordering St. Charles. Come eat, drink, be dazzled, and dance the night away after the show. Tickets may be purchased at exceptional-events.ticketleap.com.

Looking for way to give back to the community while having fun with the entire family? The Batavia Mother’s Club, which has little to do with playdates at the park and everything to do with “Improving the Lives of Children and Families in Fox Valley,” is the perfect place to start. Well, with the $50,000 they gave away last year alone, I’d say they made plenty of improvements! Their annual Fox Trot (5k, 10k, Kids events) will be held April 30th at the Batavia Riverwalk. This events attracts hundreds of families from all over the Tri Cities as well as race enthusiast! Sign up now: www.bataviamothersclub.org

Don’t forget, Arcedium Coffee, St. Charles. Open mic 4/15 @7pm. Stepping out of my comfort zone for charity! Giving back has never been more fun in and around the TriCities.

ABOUT THE WRITER Theoni Limouris is a graduate of of St. Cloud State University. She credits her degree in Education for setting her up to succeed in both the classroom and Corporate America. As a busy wife and mother of 2, you will find her buzzing around the Tri-Cities in her VW Beetle watching people slug each other all day long. Theoni’s chosen charity to receive complimentary promotion as part of our Modern Housewives program is CASA Kane County, an organization that advocates for the best interests of abused and neglected children within the Juvenile Court system. Learn more at www.casakanecounty.org.

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