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ICECF Back 2 School Kickoff Luncheon raises $100,000+
Exec. Dir. of the ICECF Matthew Kurtzman (from left) of Wilmette celebrates with parents Sandy and Allan Kurtzman of Wilmette. The Wilmette Kurtzman family originated the concept of purchasing school supplies for kids in need a number of years ago, which evolved into the Back2School program today led by the ICECF. | Photo courtesy of Steve Starr
EVENT: ICECF Back 2 School 2012 Kickoff Luncheon
BENEFITING: Illinois Currency Exchange Charitable Foundation
DATE: June 19
LOCATION: Maggiano’s Little Italy, Chicago
ATTENDED: 200
RAISED: $100,000+
Article Extras
Updated: July 6, 2012 3:41PM
Boosting education with its 8th annual fundraiser, the Illinois Currency Exchange Charitable Foundation (ICECF) hosted its “Back 2 School 2012” kickoff luncheon with 200 guestsat Maggiano’s Little Italy’s private banquet facility in Chicago on June 19. Guest emcees were Daniella Guzman and Stefan Holt of NBC 5 Chicago morning news. This special day raised over $100,000 that will go toward helping 19,000 Illinois children and families to receive needed school supplies.
Matthew Kurtzman, Executive Director, who lived many years in Winnetka, and Abby Hans, President, both of the Illinois Currency Exchange Foundation, served as hosts of the event.
ICECF recognized Golden Apple President and CEO Dominic Belmonte with an Education Award, plus awarded two $2500 college scholarships to high school seniors Nora Castrejon of Chicago and Joey Thompson of Sycamore. Public Service and Corporate Partner Awards were presented respectively to Richard Malone of Winnetka, representing YMCA of Metro Chicago, where he serves as President, and to MB Financial Bank.
A highlight of the event was the premiere of a Back 2 School documentary Kurtzman helped orchestrate about the education crisis facing many local families. The 400 Illinois Currency Exchange locations will continue fundraising this summer with canisters to further support the initiative. Donating just $11 funds a complete school supply kit.
Daniella Guzman of NBC 5 suggested that everyone consider skipping going out for lunch one day and instead “pack up a peanut butter sandwich and donate $11 to the Illinois Currency Exchange Charitable Foundation’s Back 2 School program.” A rousing applause nodded agreement. Stefan Holt shared that he was glad to back in his hometown Chicago because of the warmth and generosity of so many people as demonstrated at the Back 2 School kickoff event. Matthew Kurtzman of the Foundation fondly remembered that the distribution of school supplies all started one day, eight years ago, when he and his parents in Winnetka went to Target and filled up their cart with school supplies to try and help a few kids.
Sponsors of the event included the Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois, Western Union, MB Financial Bank, Kits for Kidz and Republic Bank. Raffle prizes to Cubs and Sox games, the Palmer House Hilton, Petterino’s and Maggiano’s restaurant were also enjoyed, among others.
Attendees included representation from The Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White’s office, the Chicago Public Schools, the Illinois Currency Exhange Charitable Foundation (ICECF), the Community Currency Exchange Association of Illinois (CCEA) and many Chicago companies and North Shore residents.
About the Illinois Currency Exchange Charitable Fund: The Illinois Currency Exchange Charitable Foundation (ICECF), a 501c3 organization, creates and supports educational opportunities that enrich the lives of Illinois children. Matthew Kurtzman is Executive Director; Abby Hans is Board President.
The ICECF, in partnership with the YMCA of Metro Chicago, provides thousands of deserving children with school supplies to help them succeed in the classroom. The Back 2 School program has distributed almost one million school supplies in the past seven years. This fall, 19,000 children in need will receive 500,000 school supplies from ICECF’s growing Back 2 School program. A recent survey found that 49.5 percent of families surveyed, who received school supplies from this program, had a household income of less than $10,500 (below the nation’s poverty line).
For more information, please see http://icecf.org.
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