FIDELITER CLUB

FIDELITER CLUB OF ELGIN MAKING A DIFFERENCE FOR AREA’S CHILDREN

By Pat Szpekowski

The Boys and Girls Club Elgin recently held a groundbreaking for its new facility in South Elgin. The kitchen will be designated in honor of the Fideliter Club of Elgin due to its strong monetary support over the years. Shown, from left, Bonnie Henn-Pritchard, vice president of fundraising; Kay Loeloff, past president; and Judy Hanlon, president.

Feeding children is the heartbeat and focus of the Fideliter Club of Elgin, Elgin’s oldest philanthropic organization founded in 1882. Its nine founders at that time were dedicated to gathering food and clothing to distribute to the needy. In 1885, the idea of a charity “ball” was born to help philanthropic needs. Their mission has endured, grown and continued through three centuries. Spearheaded by its membership of more than 40 women from the Fox Valley area, the Fideliter Club’s sole purpose is to raise funds for local charitable projects to feed Fox Valley area children. “Through proceeds obtained by supporters of our annual charity gala and generous sponsors,” says Judy Hanlon, Fideliter Club president, “we are able to continue our mission of making a substantial impact on feeding children in the greater Fox Valley area.” “The devastating pandemic drastically affected children and families in our communities,” adds Hanlon, “and although we weren’t able to hold our charity gala for two years, the absolute generosity of our donors still enabled us to donate close to $100,000 to our nonprofit partners during this time.” Because of the wide range of donations the Fideliter Club receives, the club is able to partner with the Northern Illinois Food Bank, the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, Food For Greater Elgin and the Batavia Food Panty. It provides nourishing meals, milk, food backpacks and more to comfort hungry children. Members regularly provide hands-on volunteer time and assist in food distribution at the Northern Illinois Food Bank facility in Geneva and the Batavia Food Pantry. There are six important supportive projects funded by the club that help feed children. Project Produce provides nutritious snacks to 150 members of the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin each day during the school year and summer session. The Summer Breakfast Program feeds children at the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin during the summer session. The very popular and innovative Birthday Party in a Bag is provided for Food for Greater Elgin children and the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, which reaches 2,000 children, ranging in age from 4-7. The monthly Birthday Pack is full of surprises for their birthday. The kit includes a box of cake mix and frosting, birthday candles, balloons and other items to make their day special. Funds are distributed to the Northern Illinois Food Bank; the Backpack Program for the St. Charles school district, which provides food for children over the weekend; the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin; and Food for Greater Elgin. Providing milk for children has been a special project for the Fideliter Club for many years. The club supports the Milk2MyPlate program for Food for Greater Elgin, which provides 13,104 gallons of milk to families annually; and the Milk2MyPlate program for the Batavia Food Pantry, which provides 3,016 gallons of milk to families annually. The Fideliter Club takes pride in making a difference and it will with the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin’s new South Elgin location, which recently held a successful groundbreaking. The Fideliter Club has Children from the Boys and Girls Club of Elgin, ranging in age from 4-7, receive a monthly “Birthday Pack” full of surprises for their birthday, supplied by the Fideliter Club of Elgin. The kit includes a box of cake mix and frosting, birthday candles, balloons and other items.

pledged a significant donation ranging the next three to four years. The kitchen in the new facility will be named in honor of the Fideliter Club. The Charity Gala will once again be held next year after a two-year drought. The gala, Hot Havana Nights, includes dinner and dancing. It will be held at 6 p.m. Aug. 26 at Eagle Brook Country Club in Geneva.