Local HIV/AIDS agency Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care, a division of Heartland Health Outreach, held its 22nd annual holiday brunch, "Celebrate the Spirit," Dec. 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel.
About 300 attendees chatted with each other and browsed and bid on silent auction items, bought raffle tickets and looked over the live auction items before the program began.
This year's event was co-chaired by Dorey Carvalho and Bill Lasche who welcomed the attendees. Debbie Hinde, chief healthcare strategist for Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care, thanked the co-chairs and sponsors before brunch was served.
Three luminaries were also thanked for their continued support: Illinois State Representatives Greg Harris, Kelly Cassidy and Harry Osterman.
Entertainment was provided by Eleventh Avenue for the seventh year in a row. Billy Shelton, Eleventh Avenue frontman, said "This is such a worthy cause and we are happy to help out in this way ( by singing ) ."
Each year Vital Bridges gives out their Food for Life Award. This year's recipients were MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger and former Vital Bridges CEO Ron Nunziato.
MAZON was given the award for providing grants to community organizations who respond to nutrition issues ( Vital Bridges has been helped by MAZON for more than a decade ) and for their advocacy work at all levels of government to increase resources and improve policies on nutrition. Accepting their award was Rabbi Michael Siegel.
Nunziato, a Vital Bridges volunteer for the past 14 years in a variety of capacities including as chairman of the board, accepted his award for the work he did to sustain services for Vital Bridges clients and his role as a key player during their merger with Heartland Health Outreach.
Following the awards presentation a video was shown highlighting the work that Vital Bridges does on a daily basis. It included testimonials from those who have received assistance from the organization.
Vital Bridges, which merged with Heartland Health Outreach on July 1, 2011 to become Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care, provides food, housing and counseling services to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Around 2,000 clients currently receive services from the organization.
See www.vitalbridges.org/ .