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• WSPN Welcome Gathering - Virtual

  • When
    Friday, August 14, 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

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  Join us for first WSPN Welcome Gathering of the year!

  Friday August 14, 2026, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM

  Welcome Gatherings are all about building community. Together, we’ll give our newest members a warm welcome while also creating space for all of us to connect, share experiences, and strengthen our professional network.

  Why attend?

  • Extend a warm welcome to our newest colleagues.
  • Strengthen connections with fellow WSPN members.
  • Share resources, ideas, and encouragement in a relaxed setting.

  Whether you’ve been a member for years or just joined recently, this is a chance to connect, recharge, and help make WSPN an even more welcoming community.   

  SAVE THE DATE!

  Upcoming Welcome Gathering Dates

  Friday, November 13, 2026

  Friday, February 12, 2027

  
  

  
  

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• 2026 WSPN Philanthropy Awards

  • When
    Thursday, August 27, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    College of DuPage, 425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
  • Spaces left
    95
  • Registered
    105 registrants

  Register

  
  

  Honorees Announced

  The 24th Annual WSPN Philanthropy Awards will take place on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. 

  At the heart of the philanthropic community are people-organizers, communicators, mentors, and innovators, all who are willing to inspire, enlighten, feed, heal, shelter, educate, and nurture the people in our community. Each year, West Suburban Philanthropic Network recognizes these outstanding individuals, businesses, foundations, and corporations and the skilled, fundraising professionals who serve alongside them through our Annual Philanthropy Awards. 

  We invite you to help us celebrate the people, groups, businesses, and organizations that will be recognized in these categories:

  • Philanthropist of the Year: Laurie McMahon, nominated by Child’s Voice

  • Humanitarian of the Year: Erica Nelson, nominated by Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center
  • Young Philanthropist of the Year: Kendall Tai Nghiem, nominated by Kulchitt Toy Vilaichitt
  • Grantmaker of the Year: Nanette Silva of Community Memorial Foundation, nominated by DuPage Health Coalition and many others 
  • Philanthropic Foundation of the Year: Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley, nominated by the City of Aurora
  • Philanthropic Service Club of the Year: The Clarendon Hills Lions Club, nominated by People's Resource Center
  • Philanthropic Business of the Year: Mesón Sabika, nominated by DuPagePads
  • Nonprofit Executive of the Year: Geri Kerger, CEO, NAMI DuPage nominated by NAMI DuPage and DuPagePads
  • Nonprofit Volunteer of the Year: Cindy Blaszak, nominated by Brookfield Zoo Chicago

  
  

  

  We are able to provide networking and growth opportunities all year long thanks to our generous sponsors of our annual awards program.

  We invite you to:

  • View SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION.
  • Download the SPONSORSHIP FORM.

  We appreciate your support! 

  
  

  Learn more about our sponsors by visiting their websites 

  Community Foundation of the Fox River Valley

  People's Resource Center

  Ronald L. McDaniel Foundation

  DuPage Foundation

  Child's Voice

  College of DuPage Foundation

  NAMI DuPage

  DuPagePads

  Glen Ellyn Children's Resource Center (GECRC)

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• WSPN 3rd Thursday Education: Defining Your Culture of Philanthropy: Shared Ownership for Greater Impact Through Curiosity, Purpose and Partnership

  • When
    Thursday, September 17, 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM - 10:00 AM
  • Location
    Virtual

  Register

  
  

  A culture of philanthropy is an environment where fundraising is viewed as a shared responsibility, donors are treated as trusted partners, and generosity is woven into the core mission rather than left to a single department.

  
  

  This interactive program will: 

  • Start by grounding your work in your values and your organization’s “why”

  • Explore strategies to lead with curiosity to deepen and strengthen your relationships with programs and funders

  • Identify spaces in your work to intentionally elevate shared ownership of the work

                         

  Participants will have an opportunity for personal reflection, shared learning and action planning to boost their working relationships with their program partners and donors.

   

  About Us Consulting Purposeful Facilitation 

  Is a practice driven model for guiding meaningful conversations to enhance engagement, shared ownership and positive outcomes and impact. Our model is grounded in extensive experience in systems change, coalition building, program development and professional development. As social workers, we are grounded in the vital partnership of people, their communities and the organizations supporting them. 

   

  Marjory Lewe-Brady, LCSW 

  Marjory has been in the field for over 40 years. She has clinical experience with families and systems of care. This foundation contributed to her recognition for successful collaboration development, which brings people together across sectors for effective system design work and program implementation. Fundraising and managing grant-based budgets were a key aspect of this work. She has a passion for coaching leaders to utilize their whole selves for rewarding careers. 

   

  Joie Frankovich, LCSW MPH

  Joie has a proven track record in collective impact frameworks. With extensive experience in systems change, coalition building, and program development, her strengths-based facilitation encourages diverse stakeholders to collaborate for meaningful outcomes. 

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