For the third year in a row, “Cocktails for a Cause” provided an evening of food, dancing, cocktails, and amazing auction and raffle items.
“Magical Woodland” was this year’s theme and included a festive display of lights and decorations that surrounded the many tables of attendees. The event was held at Midland Country Club, with DJ Hucks providing musical entertainment and club staff serving a large variety of hors d’oeuvres and pastries.
According to committee chair Jamie Rieker, over 100 women attended the “girls only” night, with proceeds going to support Freedom House.
“This is our biggest night yet,” said Rieker. “An initial count indicates that we raised over $16,000.”
Giving much credit to her committee members, Kaleigh Good, Alison Dana-Ensley, Jodie Klein, Kristen Granell, Jenna Doty, RaeAnne Braasch, Heather Hansen, Lexi Strandberg, Kayla Whitmer and Chelsea Hart, she noted how their hard work and dedication to raising money for Freedom House was incredible.
“This group of women made certain tonight would be a success – and it certainly is.”
Trisha Schafer, manager of Outreach & Facilities/Community Relations with Freedom House, thanked the crowd for their support and the countless items they brought for those housed in the shelter.
She spoke on the agency’s services and provided statistics on the number and types of survivors Freedom House serves. Board President Diana Whitney gave a brief history of the agency, noting that Founder Nedda Simon had recently died.
“Her legacy will go on,” said Whitney, adding that the agency hopes to have a shelter up and running in Kewanee within a couple of years. “This is something that’s greatly needed here.”
Rounding out the remarks for the evening was a surprise speaker who spoke about her experiences as a survivor of domestic abuse almost 20 years ago, and how Freedom House helped her and her young child find safety and a new life, free of fear and intimidation.
“It’s very hard for me to talk about this,” she said. “But I can’t thank Freedom House enough for their help.”
Her comments were followed by a standing ovation.
Rieker says that plans are already in motion for next year, with a date of Saturday, Nov. 1 for the event.
Freedom House is a domestic and sexual violence prevention agency that serves Henry, Stark, Bureau, Putnam and Marshall counties. The shelter and administrative offices are housed in Princeton, Illinois, with outreach centers in Lacon, Geneseo, Kewanee and Cambridge.
Last year the agency began providing drug abuse and alcohol counseling by licensed professionals. All services are provided free of charge.
For more information on Freedom House services, check their website at www.freedomhouseillinois.org. A 24-hour crisis line is available by calling 1-800-474-6031
