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	Current Auxiliary Members FY 06-07

	Officers Ms. Valeri Vanourek - President Ms. Jannine S. Givray - President-Elect Ms. Jennifer Few - Membership Chair Ms. Toni Hanrahan - 2007 Gala-Co-Chair Mrs. Richard Gordon - 2007 Gala Co-Chair

	Mrs. Robert Angell Mrs. Paula Brady Mrs. John Bruning Mrs. Marvin Brustin* Ms. Michelle Burton Ms. Kathleen Casey Dr. Terry Clarbour Ms. Sarah Crewe Ms. Lori Daniels* Ms. Vickie Fair Mrs. Robert B. Fitzpatrick Mrs. Edward Franczek Dr. Algean Garner Ms. Kim M. Gillespie Ms. Lillie Grisko Ms. Susan Kroeger Ms. Colleen Lowmiller Mrs. James H. Lowry Ms. Alexis MacDowall Ms. Jennifer Martay		Mrs. William H. Martay* Ms. Dale M. McBride Mrs. Peter F. Meder Ms. Helen Hall Melchior Ms. Michele Moffa Ms. Janet Myers Mr. Tim Nickerson Ms. Shannon Nordlinger Ms. Kathleen Nowlin* Ms. Courtney Nzeribe Mrs. James O'Brien* Ms. Christine Ott-Shaw* Ms. Julie Pedraza Ms. Liz Prior Dr. Robin Stafford Ms. Sara Swift Ms. Jann Avant Tyler Ms. Kristen Uniowski Mrs. John R. Walter*

	Sustaining Auxiliary Members

	Mrs. J. Stephen Baine Mrs. James Berkenfield Mrs. James J. Blum Ms. Elizabeth Byrnes Mrs. Bruce E. Creger Mrs. Richard Joutras Mrs. Richard Karger		Mrs. Michael Le Tourneau Mrs. Jeffrey C. McClusky Mrs. Armen S. Minasian* Ms. Pamela G. Phillips Ms. Kim Shepherd Mrs. Michael Silverstein* Mrs. Scott Swank

	* Indicates Past President



	2006 Gala Co-Chair Jannine Givray enjoys the sunshine on the playground at the Family Center.

	Jannine Givray was appointed as a 2006 Gala Co-Chair of The Children's Place Association’s annual “Once Upon a Time” Benefit Gala during the summer of 2005. Prior to her post as Gala Co-Chair, Jannine held the position of Membership Chair of The Auxiliary of The Children’s Place Association during the 2004-2005 fiscal year. She became involved with The Children's Place when she attended the 2003 "Once Upon a Time" Benefit Gala with her husband, Henry. Mr. Givray purchased a table at the benefit gala for his company, SmithBucklin, of which he is President and CEO. "I was impressed by the dedication of the volunteers and the Auxiliary to The Children's Place Association and the benefit gala," said Jannine. "After attending the benefit and learning about the mission of the agency, it motivated me to become involved." Jannine earned her Bachelors Degree in Physical Education and her Masters of Science in Exercise Physiology. She was a teacher in the Naperville area before embarking on a career in promotional product sales. Jannine currently resides in the West Loop area near downtown Chicago with her husband, pet parrots, Louie and Jordy, and three canaries. She has two daughters who both live and work in the Chicago area. She is a Board Member of The Gabriel Foundation, a parrot welfare organization in Aspen, Colorado, and is an active supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation as well as the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Jannine will co-chair the 2006 gala with Board Member Brian Greenblatt.



	Auxiliary President Lori Daniels
	In 1997 Lori was introduced to Children's Place through community team works. With a strong love for children and the desire to help such a vulnerable population of children, she was introduced to Children's Place CEO Cathy Krieger by Board Member and former Board President, Jill Krueger. “Charity sees the need not the cause.” Lori found many ways in which to involve herself in the development as well as some of the daily activities at The Children's Place: serving on the housing board for the family center, serving a summer internship for her Masters Degree in Public Administration; assisting in grant writing; teaching dance to preschoolers in the day care program, and joining the Auxiliary in1999. Lori subsequently co-chaired the agency's annual “Once Upon A Time…” gala in 2002. Since relocating to Chicago from the east coast, Lori has found the work of The Children's Place Association vital to the Chicago community at large. “It has been very exciting for me to have been involved in laying the ground work for something very special. The innovative programs and services the agency continues to offer not only make a very real difference in the everyday lives of some of Chicago's most vulnerable children, but serves as a model for the rest of the world.” Lori and her husband Bo, a partner with Loop Capitol Markets, are the proud parents of a beautiful 2 year old son, Lucas. “We have been so blessed with a healthy, happy child. As a family, we believe ‘To love is to place our happiness in the happiness in others.' And if we can make a difference in the life of at least one child, our work has been accomplished.” Lori assumed the role as President of The Auxiliary of The Children's Place Association in June of 2004.


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	Toni Hanrahan Auxiliary Membership Chair
	Toni Hanrahan has been involved with The Children’s Place Association since 1993 when she worked on the decorations committee for the first annual “Once Upon a Time” Benefit Gala. She was then invited to join the Auxiliary by co-founding member Eileen Minasian, and has been an integral part of the group for many years. During Toni’s tenure on the Auxiliary she has been involved with the gala, the old “Run for the Kids”, and Adopt-a-Family. Toni will lead the Auxiliary’s efforts in recruiting new members as the Membership Chair for the 2005-2006 year. “As a long-time member of the Auxiliary, I felt like I have a unique perspective on the long-term life of the group,” said Toni. “The Auxiliary is at a real crossroads in its evolution and its commitment to the children. The time was right for me personally to get more involved and make changes without jeopardizing the strengths the group has had from the beginning.” Toni, an Oregon native, lives in Evanston with her husband, Patrick, and their children Kellan and Kathleen. She and Patrick own Joseph Leigh Designs, a full-scale event production company, which has produced events for some of Chicago’s most prestigious organizations including the Joffrey Ballet, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, The Field Museum, Exelon Corporation, the Boston Consulting Group, Baxter International, and Price Waterhouse Cooper in addition to weddings and other social events. Toni is a member of the Auxiliary Board of The Chicago Architecture Foundation, she is heavily involved with her children’s schools, and also currently serves on the 2005 benefit committee for the America Nepal Medical Foundation with Auxiliary President Allison Brustin. “My husband and I have two healthy children. My involvement with Children’s Place helps me honor that precious gift, and helps my family ‘give back’ in appreciation for the blessings we have.”


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	Valeri Vanourek Auxiliary President-Elect
	Valeri Vanourek, President-Elect of The Auxiliary of The Children’s Place Association, became involved with the Auxiliary in 2003. She was introduced to the agency through her work at Mesirow Financial, one of The Children’s Place Association’s most loyal corporate donors, where she is a Vice President in Marketing and Strategic Sales. “I initially became involved with Children’s Place through my work on Mesirow Financial’s Community Affairs Committee. In 2000 I began coordinating our employees’ participation in Adopt-a-Family and each year I am inspired by how generous people are during the holidays,” Valeri explained. “Mesirow Financial employees truly go above and beyond - donating hundreds of gifts - to make sure that the children and families at Children’s Place have a brighter holiday season. It’s the greatest feeling to be part of that effort and I’m fortunate to be part of a company that puts such an emphasis on community service.” Valeri’s experience in coordinating Mesirow Financial’s employee gift drive every year motivated her to formalize her involvement with Children’s Place. Since she’s been a member she has championed several important volunteer activities for Children’s Place including the Auxiliary’s participation at the annual summer carnival and co-chairing the annual “Once Upon a Time” benefit gala’s silent auction which alone raises more than $50,000 each year to support HIV/AIDS-affected children and families. “I find it rewarding to work on the silent auction committee because it enables me to directly contribute to the success of the gala,” said Valeri. “And the Children’s Place annual summer carnival gives me the opportunity to interact with the kids. It’s such a treat to see how much fun they have, and it’s rewarding to know that the Auxiliary helps make that possible.” Valeri also volunteers her time with an organization called HighSight where she has been tutoring a grade school student for several years. She also actively participates in the Chicago Cares Serve-a-thon every year with other Mesirow Financial employees, and she serves as treasurer for the Museum of Contemporary Photography’s Museum Council. Valeri grew up in Chicago’s West Rogers Park neighborhood and now resides in Lincoln Park. She is a graduate of Northern Illinois University. Valeri will hold the position of President-Elect from June 2005 through May 2006. She will assume the role of President of the Auxiliary in June 2006.


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