Abby Foundation raises money to help women, children

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It was a day of celebrating at the Tinley Park Convention Center on Friday as the Abby Foundation held its 26th annual Women Together Luncheon.

And foundation president Susan Gowen said there was a reason to celebrate.

“The 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote, a voice that has helped bring us to where we are today,” she said.

The Abby Foundation, founded to help women and children in need, presented several academic scholarships and grants to local agencies that help women and children and honored its Woman of the Year.

That woman was Valerie Nowinski, of Palos Park. Nowinski was honored for her work with children in the neuropsychology field. 

Drina Madden, who nominated Nowinski, said she is “a woman of deep compassion and an accepting spirit who supports women and their families in many ways.”

Nowinski founded the Neuropsychology CHILD Foundation, which is dedicated to children and their development and helps heighten the awareness of autism and head injuries.

“I’m so very proud and honored today,” Nowinski said. “We women are part of a very powerful clan — it’s in our genes (to help).  I’m just touched every day to be around such wonderful children and their parents.”

Nowinski said she was up against some tough competition. Also nominated were Linda Samson, of Frankfort, Frima Margolin, of Homewood, and Barbara Politano, of Palos Heights.

“Just the energy from the women who come here — it’s wonderful,” Gowen said. “We’re all here to help women reach their goals. We’re all here because we were taught how to volunteer.”

Serving as guest speaker for the event was Suzanne Zaccone, a breath cancer survivor and author of “A Random Interruption,” a book documenting her cancer fight.

“When I was diagnosed with cancer, there was no manual or book available to tell me exactly and in detail what was going to happen,” Zaccone said. “So I wrote one.”

Zaccone shared her struggles and lessons learned with the audience and took questions — one asking, “What do you say to someone who has cancer?”

Zaccone laughed and said, “You say, ‘I’m coming to your house at 10 to do your laundry, have it ready for me,” Zaccone said. “They have enough to think about. Don’t ask them ‘can’ I do something for you — just do it.”

The Abby Foundation presented grants to six local nonprofit organizations, including the Sertoma Center in Alsip, the South Suburban Family Shelter in Homewood, Restoration Ministries in Harvey, The Crisis Center for South Suburbia, Hope Community Services in Markham and Respond Now in Chicago Heights.  Also awarded were academic scholarships ranging from $500 to $2,500.

A spokeswoman for the foundation said the annual August luncheon raises about $50,000 for its services.