TEAMWORK MAKES THE DREAM WORK!

CONGRATULATIONS go out to the Lake Forest High School Girls Tennis team and Head Coach Denise Murphy for tying for second place at the Illinois State Finals Tournament along with Stevenson High School and New Trier Township High School. Hinsdale Central finished in the top spot. The tournament was held October 21 to 23 at Buffalo Grove High School and surrounding Courts.

Sophomore Isabelle Chong and Junior Lainey O’Neil fought through six rounds of tough matches to become State Champions in doubles, while junior Autumn Rabjohns, younger sister of two-time State Champion Kiley Rabjohns, finished second in singles, a very competitive field.

This is big news for the community of Lake Forest and the Lake Forest Girls Tennis Team, perennial regulars at the State Tournament under Coach Murphy. Since 2001, the team has won six state titles and, including this year, has finished runner up four times.

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THE POWER OF THE PURSE

WOMEN United of Lake County sold out its signature fundraising event, Power of the Purse. It included an auction bidding on items such as designer bags, purses, and baskets.

The sold-out event is the organization’s signature fundraising event and was held on November 7, at Royal Melbourne Country Club in Long Grove. Power of the Purse celebrates women, friendship, and philanthropy.

“Women United is a powerful network of more than 120 women who enable each other to leverage our passions, ideas, expertise, and resources to ensure children living in Lake County’s most vulnerable communities are prepared for kindergarten and ready to succeed,” says Judy Kotsiopoulos, chairperson of the fundraiser.

Attendees also had the opportunity to send underserved children to the United Way of Lake County’s Kindergarten Countdown Camp and buy books and toys for preschool learning centers in Lake County’s low-income communities. One hundred percent of all event proceeds and items purchased support early learning programs through the organization’s Little Kids, Big Futures Fund. The fund has raised and made grants of $850,00 since 2014.

Among the sponsors of the in-person event are Proctor & Gamble, Great Lakes Credit Union, Law Offices of Judy Maldonado, and Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital Nurses. Raffle sponsors include Frances Simons, Baird & Warner; Aon; Austin’s Saloon & Eatery; and Sysmex.

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SWING IN 2022

STILL LOOKING for a fun, last minute way to ring in New Year’s Eve? We’re excited about Ritz-Carlton Chicago’s annual holiday soiree, “Swingin’ The New Year,” held in the Five-Star hotel’s luxurious Atrium from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Featuring live entertainment from jazz swing band The Flatt Cats, hors d’oeuvres, dessert bars, and plenty of champagne to toast in 2022, this year’s party will be more glam than ever as the Ritz Chicago shows off its recent remodel by award-winning, San Francisco design firm BAMO. In addition to opportunities to dance in the new year downstairs, the hotel’s 12th floor Italian steakhouse, Torali, is offering a 4-course prix fixe menu that includes braised berkshire pork belly, pan seared scallop, roasted wagyu beef tenderloin, and truffle anglonoti (paired with a complimentary glass of champers, of course). Tickets to the New Year’s Eve party are $200 per person. For more information, visit exploretock.com/the-ritzcarlton-chicago/event/308617. To find out more about Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, visit ritzcarlton.com.