Holy Family Villa Nursing Home in Palos Park will host its Inaugural Dinner to benefit the residence on Sunday, March 21, 2010 at Gaelic Park, 6119 W. 147^th Street in Oak Forest.  A highlight of the event will be the bestowal of the Inaugural “Caritas Sanctae Familiae” (Love of Holy Family) Award on Father John A. Kuzinskas, resident Chaplain of Holy Family Villa, and a priest of the Archdiocese of Chicago for 57 years.   

400 guests attended the 9^th annual d’Vine Affair Wine Tasting at the elegant Union League Club in Chicago on Sunday, January 31. The event raised over $90,000 for Catholic Charities Self-Sufficiency Programs in Cook and Lake counties.

WHO:  Catholic Charities West Regional Advisory Board

WHAT:  Seventh Annual St. Patrick’s Day Party Fundraiser

WHERE:  FitzGerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt Road in Berwyn (Roosevelt just west of East Avenue)

WHEN:  Thursday, March 11, 2010 from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

WHY:  Benefiting the Transitional Housing Program, making permanent housing and self-sufficiency a reality for homeless families.

COST:  Tickets are $45 per person in advance ($50 at the door) and include:  hearty Irish fare; imported and domestic beer, wine and pop; great entertainment by the McNulty dancers,  the Shannon Rovers, and the Chancey Brothers; a silent auction and a raffle with prizes sponsored by local retailers and restaurants.

To order tickets, please call Dalia Bagdonas Rocotello, West Regional Representative at (708) 329-4022 or go on line at: http://www.catholiccharities.net/stpats.

Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago is sponsoring the first-ever Have a Heart and Help Your Neighbor drive for nonperishable food and financial donations. The month-long effort to support 10 Catholic Charities food pantries will take place March 1 through 31, 2010.

 Last year, our 10 food pantries in Cook and Lake counties served an extra 70,866 people. That’s a 46% increase.  Many of those helped have said to us, “I’ve never had to ask for help before. I’ve worked all my life to take care of myself and my family.”

To help increasing numbers of families and individuals in crisis, Catholic Charities is asking the public to collect donations and non-perishable food items to bring to their emergency assistance sites. The donations will be given out daily to those in the greatest need who come to the pantries for food.