Maureen Grinnell of Lake-Forest, Author Allison Pataki, and Allison Derr of Lake Forest
LAKE FOREST – The 4th Annual Books Lovers’ Lunch North Shore was Bernie’s Book Bank biggest and most successful yet. The lunch took place Friday, May 1, 2015, at Exmoor Country Club in Highland Park. Nearly 250 guests attended this SOLD OUT event, featuring Allison Pataki, bestselling author of The Traitor’s Wife and her latest work, The Accidental Empress.
After guests enjoyed conversation and lunch, Allison delivered a keynote presentation about her life, her writing and her love of books. In this presentation, Pataki explained her feeling of connection to the mission of Bernie’s Book Bank. She told a story of how she was read to every night growing up in her home and how she still reads before bed every night. Allison Pataki commented during her keynote, “The work Bernie’s Book Bank does is so important—and impactful. We simply cannot turn the page on children without books.”
Following the presentation was a heartfelt message from Bernie’s Book Bank Founder and Executive Director, Brian Floriani, as well as a video presentation of a book distribution at Whittier Elementary School in Waukegan. A challenge match was offered, sponsored by ThePrivateBank, Walgreen’s, Illinois Bone & Joint Institute and Webb Financial Group. There was an exciting drawing for seven raffle prizes, including a personal appearance by Allison Pataki at your event, High Tea at The Drake Hotel, hors d’oeuvres party for 25 from Longitud315, tickets behind home plate to a Cubs game and an exquisite one-of-a-kind necklace designed by Cindy Broten of CRS Designs.
The event concluded with a book signing of Pataki’s books, provided for purchase through the Lake Forest Book Store, with a portion of every book sold during the event donated to Bernie’s Book Bank.
The Book Lovers’ Lunch raised enough money to collect, process and distribute almost 150,000 books, serving more than 12,000 at-risk children. “We are so grateful for the support of so many old and new members of the Bernie’s Book Bank family,” said Floriani. “Allison Pataki was absolutely delightful and we are so grateful for her commitment to the work we are doing throughout Chicagoland. The support this event created means a lot to us as an organization and will play a tremendous role in our continued growth!”
The event was co-chaired by Allison Derr and Maureen Grinnell, both of Lake Forest.
Founded as a 501(c)3 in December of 2009, Bernie’s Book Bank collects, processes and distributes quality new and gently used children’s books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children throughout Chicagoland. Bernie’s Book Bank delivers twelve quality new or gently used books per year to at-risk children because book ownership enables and empowers them in their pursuit of a better life through reading.
