Wonder Women
LOCAL LADIES GOING BEYOND CALL OF DUTY By STEPHANIE KOHL
W
hether it’s getting to know your community, supporting a special cause or simply using your time to do something positive, volunteering can be a great outlet. Kane County is full of people who volunteer their time, but these three women often go above-andbeyond the call of duty.
THEONI LIMOURIS In September, Batavia resident Theoni Limouris launched the 100+ Women Who Care Movement Fox Valley Chapter with co-founders Karen Hollis of K. Hollis Jewelers and Lea Ann Skogsberg of Dollars and Sense. The concept of 100+ Women Who Care is to demonstrate the philanthropic power of 100 or more women who come together just four times a year to make a gift of significance. The plan is for at least 100 women to donate $100 and provide a minimum gift of $10,000 to a single nonprofit. “I like to help others,” Limouris says. “My heart doesn’t have a soft spot for those in need, it gets consumed when something touches it.” In its first quarter, 40 women in the greater Fox Valley came together and donated $4,000 to Mutual Ground, a safe place in Aurora where people can come together to break the cycle of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Limouris’ goal is to recruit even more women to participate in next quarter’s donation, the recipient of which is chosen by those who contribute. This quarter’s women joined mostly through word-of-mouth, as the organization has virtually no marketing budget. All funds raised go directly to 100+ Women Who Care’s chosen non-profit each quarter.
Theoni Limouris on left with co-founders Karen Hollis and Lea Ann Skogsber. Photo provided
“100 Women Who Care Fox Valley gives me the opportunity to facilitate impact giving and get people excited about being part of something really big, something that, without each other, could not be possible for our local [nonprofits],” Limouris says. For more information, email 100womenwhocarefoxvalley@gmail.com.
16 | NOVEMBER 2015 | KANE COUNTY MAGAZINE
BUSINESS & CIVIC
NIKKI SPITZER Geneva resident Nikki Spitzer is a former president of the Geneva Women’s Club (2013-14) and current volunteer with the organization. The Geneva Women’s Club raises money to help other local charities. During Spitzer’s tenure, the organization changed its name from the Geneva Mother’s Club to the Geneva Women’s Club to open it up to more women. “I think it’s important to be involved in the community and get to know these organizations because you never know when you’re going to need help,” Spitzer says. “… I love the idea that we’re giving back to the community.” Although Spitzer has had to cut down on her volunteer hours since she started teaching preschool, she still helps as much as possible and feels it is important to stay involved. She is currently supporting the current president of the organization, as well as helping out the new chairs of the Fall Craft Show, which she ran last year. This year’s craft show is slated for Nov. 7 at Geneva High School. “It’s a great group of women,” Spitzer says. “They work really hard and are really supportive of each other.” Spitzer says the organization is always looking for new members, no matter how much – or how little – time they can contribute. “Any time they have and any talents they have that can help us out, that's priceless,” Spitzer says. www.kcchronicle.com/magazine