September 29 marks the 62nd early fall day on which groups of friends will gather together to see some of the area’s most beautiful residences. This proud and delightful tradition is a labor of love for the Hinsdale-Oak Brook Area Branch of the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Ticket sales benefit the AAUW Educational Foundation and Local Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to young women who are seniors at either Hinsdale Central or Hinsdale South High Schools, as well as to adult women returning to school to earn or complete an undergraduate degree program.
For graduating students interested in an AAUW scholarship, applications are available to download at hinsdaleoakbrookarea-il.aauw.net. While adult women recipients can be harder to find, it is here that the need is great and the impact can be enormous. Home Tour co-chair Gloria Hollister plays a large part in finding women who are experiencing changing circumstances in their lives. During her career, Gloria worked with women who needed to go back to school. When she transitioned to a volunteer career with the AAUW, she knew the need existed in the community, so she reached out to the social service agencies. Now she keeps in contact with these agencies to learn when someone may need help.
Publicity Chair Gail Hahn explains that with the high cost of textbooks and other expenses, an AAUW scholarship can make the difference between completing a program and not being able to reach an educational goal.
This is a day that allows house aficionados from all over the region to peek into some spectacular homes while also paving the way for a new generation of success stories. The mission of the AAUW is advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research. Money raised by the Home Tour supports this mission through the scholarships granted.
Scouting homes for the tour is an ongoing process and one of the keys to the longevity of the event. Co-chair Nancy Rosenberg says that members are always on the lookout for a great home when attending dinners and events around town. When homeowners are approached to participate, it may not be the right time for them, but many times their homes are featured a year or two later, maybe after a remodel or refresh.
Nancy also tells us that the group strives for a pleasing variety of homes so that attendees are able to see many styles of architecture and interior design.
Five homes have been chosen for the 2013 Home Tour, including two that feature variations of French styles, a classic American Cape Cod, an American shingle style, and one of the few remaining homes in the Hinsdale area that was designed by R. Harold Zook.
With so many interesting homes around town on this year’s AAUW Home Tour, the regulars who attend every year, whether from a neighboring town, the North Shore, or Indiana, are sure to be delighted. For those who have never experienced the area’s original Home Tour, there is no time like the present.
The 2013 Hinsdale-Oak Brook Area Branch of the American Association of University Women Home Tour is Sunday, September 29 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To learn more or purchase tickets, visit hinsdaleoakbrookarea-il.aauw.net.
-Michelle Crowe // Photography by Joel Lerner
