Description
Thanksgiving is an ideal occasion to join to give thanks for our bountiful blessings. One of the longstanding traditions in our community is the Annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon where we reach out in true gratitude and friendship.
We invite you and your colleagues to join us on Tuesday, November 20 for our 39th Annual luncheon to reaffirm our combined commitment to family, neighbors, and community. Our program will weave "thanks" and "giving" through storytelling and we do hope that you are able to join us as we begin the holiday season through this longstanding tradition. Thank you to our sponsor Shales McNutt Construction, Advocate Sherman Hospital and Northwestern Medicine.
We will also sing the praises of five unsung heroes in our community. These special volunteers are the very fabric of our community, providing guidance and leadership to organizations in Elgin and South Elgin. Local service clubs and non-profit organizations will also be recognized at this non-denominational luncheon as they provide critical programs and services to our neighbors.
The following five award-winning volunteers, who were nominated by local non-profit agencies, will be recognized for their achievements by the group’s Enhancing Elgin committee:
• Dick Meier, nominated by Habitat for Humanity ReStore
• Rise Jones, nominated by the Enhancing Elgin Committee
• Mark Gibson, nominated by Renz Addiction Counseling Center
• Carla Sattler, nominated by Centro de Informacion
• Pat Hayden, nominated by Habitat for Humanity Build Sites
Our featured speaker is Ken Franzese, Principal with Lee & Associates of Illinois and volunteer with our Elgin Development Group. He will share his story of surviving a plane crash on May 6, 2018 as a passenger in a recently restored World War II single-engine torpedo bomber airplane. Franzese and the pilot were bringing the TBM Avenger plane home to Illinois from California when it experienced engine failure over the mountainous terrains of the Gila National Forest about 45 miles from Whiteriver, Arizona. You'll hear Ken's harrowing story of survival, his gratitude and the power of prayer in his rescue.
We will also sing the praises of unsung heroes in our community. These special volunteers are the very fabric of our community, providing guidance and leadership to organizations in Elgin and South Elgin and it is our pleasure to say, "thank you" to them for all they have contributed. We will also recognize local service clubs and non-profit organizations at this non-denominational luncheon as they provide critical programs and services to our neighbors.
The Community Thanksgiving Luncheon will feature networking and music from 11:30 to noon followed by a buffet luncheon and program until 1:15 pm. Table centerpieces will be provided by School District U-46 students. The day's program will be emceed by Elgin Area Chamber board chair Mike Warren of ROI and president Carol Gieske.