50th Anniversary Gala Is Opportunity to Celebrate Pathlights

Palos Heights - Fifty years is a long time.

It spans five generations, from Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z to Generation Alpha and Generation Beta. Only 6-8% of marriages celebrate their golden anniversary and just 5% of companies can add a fiftieth anniversary to their resume. Entire countries, including Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia and East Germany, have disappeared in the last half-century.

But Pathlights has gone the distance. Founded in 1975 with a handful of employees and a few volunteers, Pathlights now has over 60 employees and nearly 70 volunteers, all working together to assist and empower older adults in the Chicago Southwest and South suburbs.

“Fifty is big,” says Vicky Smith, Board Director at Pathlights. “When the idea of a Gala for our anniversary was first floated, I said, ‘Oh, my gosh, this needs to be big and grand and amazing,’ because celebrating fifty years is just amazing.”

Pathlight’s Resource Development Manager Alison Parker was completely on board. “Because our fiftieth is such an important milestone, we knew we had to do something big and special.”

The organization has held annual luncheons in year’s past, spotlighting area older adults and celebrating their volunteerism and commitment to our community, but this year, something else was called for.

Smith says, “I’ve worked on other galas, but this one is different. The mission of Pathlights is amazing, what they do for our older adults is remarkable. They treat every person with such compassion and respect. Pathlights helps people to lower their cost of living, helps them in cases of abuse, delivers meals – whatever it may be, Pathlights is there to advocate for their clients.”

Also the Executive Director of the Southwest Conference of Mayors, Smith has heard first hand from mayors who commend Pathlights as a valuable partner to their villages and to their police and fire departments. “When a village can identify a senior who needs help for whatever reason, they call Pathlights. The staff really cares about the people they are called in to help and they really do help.”

Celebrating the mission of Pathlights, the staff and the volunteers were the driving force behind planning the extraordinary 50th Anniversary Gala on Friday May 2. For Parker, Smith and the others on the Gala committee, that meant starting to plan in early 2024.

Orland Chateau in Orland Park is hosting the event, which begins at 6:00 pm. “The evening features an open bar, dinner choices of filet mignon, stuffed chicken breast and a vegetarian option,” says Parker. “It’s exciting to have a new and different opportunity to gather supporters of Pathlights, to create an experience in a more formal setting. We’ve never done that before. We hope guests get in the true spirit of this celebration and enjoy getting dressed up in formal attire. We want the entire evening to sparkle and shine.”

The Gala is also a fundraiser. “We hope to raise the critical funds we need to continue the work we do. We expanded our service area in the fall, now caring for older adults in Bremen and Rich townships,” Parker says, “We never want to have to turn anyone away.”

All evening long, guests will be able to bid on exciting silent auction items such as staycations, vacations, fine dining, and sports and theatre events. There are also raffle baskets including spa packages, restaurant gifts, wine tasting packages, food and much more.

The evening will premiere a new video featuring two people whose families have been profoundly impacted by Pathlights’ services and staff member Carletta Gatling, Pathlights’ Senior Caregiver Specialist. The powerful message will help guests understand how Pathlights is truly life-changing for families, some facing insurmountable crises.

Smith is looking forward to the live band, the Bluewater Kings. “I’ve heard them play and they are excellent. We’ll enjoy dinner, listen to a few words and then we’ll celebrate and dance!”

Along with celebration, Smith wants the Gala to increase awareness of Pathlights and its mission. “This is really important to me. I’m such a believer of their mission. Not enough people know Pathlights or understand what Pathlights really can do for them. The community at large really needs to be aware of all Pathlights does. I want this Gala to educate people about all the resources that are readily available, to know to use Pathlights when they need help.”

Pathlights supports older adults in the region through a wide variety of ever-evolving programs. The organization coordinates in-home services such as light housekeeping and laundry help, options counseling for long term care plans, Memory Cafe , caregiver support groups and respite, housing resources and assistance, and their Grandparents Raising Grandchildren programs, which provides emotional and financial support for older adults raising minor children.

Smith adds, “They help older adults access financial benefit programs, they provide a daily check-in through the home delivered meals program, they help people out of abuse and they provide education about estate planning, computer training. Today, that’s so important, because now it’s a way of communicating, too.”

Parker encourages everyone in the region to be a part of the Gala. “Everyone is invited to join us! We never know when we are the ones that will need the supports Pathlights offers.”

For those who cannot attend, there are also sponsorship opportunities available, in a wide range of investment levels. For $75, well-wishers can have their congratulatory message and name included in a digital display. Donations are being gratefully accepted for auction items.

The Pathlights Gala will be held at the Orland Chateau at 14500 LaGrange Road in Orland Park on Friday, May 2. Cocktails begin at 6:00 pm. More information, tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available at pathlights.org/50th-anniversary.

Parker says, “To live a successful and happy life in later years, you’re going to need supports and services, or you’re going to care for someone who needs these supports. We have seen the struggles of older adults all around us, and we will all be there at some point. Supporting our Gala will help Pathlights continue to guide older adults along a healthy, empowered and compassionate path through aging.”

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