SPREADING THEIR WINGS

“Being a mother, I love that I have the chance to stand up and protect other mothers and children,” says Winnetka’s Katherine Banich, who is co-chairing the WINGS Purple Tie Ball with Shanna Nikolic of Inverness on Saturday, October 26. “Shanna and I are hoping that guests will come and celebrate our survivors and help ensure that we can continue to provide victims of domestic violence a better future.”

Established in 1985, WINGS provides a pathway to independence for people whose lives have been disrupted by domestic violence. WINGS provides emergency safe shelter and transitional housing. WINGS also helps families who are in crisis meet basic needs for items such as food and clothing.

Escaping the cycle of violence, however, requires more than just a safe place to live. WINGS continues to expand so that they can address the specific needs of the individuals and families they serve. Many different kinds of support are needed to help victims move away from violence and towards safety and self-sufficiency. WINGS is able to connect clients with a wide range of services such as counseling, legal assistance, mentoring, life skills support, and career services. Last year, WINGS provided 92,960 nights of safe shelter to adults and their children and more than 10,000 hours of children’s services. WINGS is currently serving more than 400 survivors.

“The WINGS programming is so powerful that those who graduate from it, less than 1 percent of them return to their abuser,” Nikolic explains. “It takes time, but it works.”

The Purple Tie Ball will be held in a new venue this year—the Marriott Lincolnshire Resort.

“Last year, our event sold out,” Banich says. “The Marriott Lincolnshire allows us to have more guests. It’s a great venue in a central location that will help us draw from the Barrington community, the city, North Shore, and more. We hope to top the $1 million that was raised at the 2023 ball co-chaired by Melissa Canning and Debby Jackson.”

Thanks to Canning and Jackson’s leadership, last year’s event was a sold-out success, raising the record amount of $1 million, an amazing milestone. “I have been so honored to have been a co-chair for the WINGS Purple Tie Ball for the past five years and see it continuously grow,” says Canning. “The funds raised from Purple Tie Ball help so many escape domestic violence.”

“Winter Wonderland” is the theme for the 2024 Purple Tie Ball. The evening will offer a sit-down dinner, live auction and raffles, winter wonderland surprise, and the Blue Water Kings as the headliner for the unforgettable musical entertainment.

“We have the most amazing décor chair, Lori Paris,” adds Nikolic. “She goes above and beyond with her breathtaking tablescapes—many of them handmade— and creates the most beautiful setting for our event. We’re also celebrating the 25th anniversary of the WINGS President and CEO, Rebecca Darr. We’ll be commemorating the accomplishments of WINGS over the course of her time with the organization.”

While Nikolic and Banich wish that everyone will attend the Purple Tie Ball, they also encourage the public to support WINGS in other ways.

“WINGS has the most incredible resale stores,” Banich says. “You can donate clothes and furniture that are in good condition to these shops. This is a very easy way to give back and an easy entry way into the work WINGS does. WINGS clients have a chance to shop at these stores and all proceeds go right back to WINGS. Last year, the resale stores earned more than $2.7 million.”

While the need at WINGS is perpetual, Nikolic and Banich continue to be hopeful about the strides the organization is making towards making the world a safer place for victims of domestic violence.

“The world needs helpers,” Nikolic says. “It needs earthly angels to do good things. I love championing for families. We should all be supporting one another and looking for ways to raise each other up.”

To learn more about WINGS or to find more information about the Purple Tie Ball, visit wingsprogram.com.