Dear Members:
Following a nine-month “silent” phase initiated last January, our one-of-a-kind $250,000 Centennial Celebration Capital Campaign is at 61 percent of goal and growing thanks to $3,450 in gifts as part of September’s Chamber of Commerce Month activities.
Part of ECCI’s 100th Anniversary in 2018, the Capital Campaign features the Ralph P. Pechanio Student Internship Endowment Fund at Elmhurst College and Second Century Fund special projects, including development of a public Civic Hall of Fame memorial.
With some $112,670 in gifts and pledges, the Pechanio Endowment Fund is at 75 percent of its $150,000 goal.
September donors to the Pechanio Endowment Fund included new member New Age Services and long-time member Sally Sotos. Gifts made directly to Elmhurst College will be reported to our Chamber on a monthly basis.
With some $39,945 in gifts and pledges, the Second Century Fund is at 40 percent of its $100,000 goal, including 71 percent (or $35,695) of the $50,000 unrestricted goal and nine percent (or $4,250) of the $50,000 Civic Hall of Fame goal.
The Second Century Fund received unrestricted gifts from Director Mike Hauert of Hauert Law Office and Past Chair Tim Gurrie of Pampered Chef TLG, while 2012 Civic Hall of Fame inductee Pete Cruger of The Elmhurst Independent, 2016 A.J. “Toche” Terrones Business of the Year Roberto’s Ristorante & Pizzeria, Lexington Square of Elmhurst and Mike Hauert.
Your tax-deductible financial support, as a business and/or individually, in cash or as a gift-in-kind donation at any level is both wanted and needed—and much appreciated.
Clang, Clang, Clang
By all accounts, the third summer of the City of Elmhurst’s Explore Elmhurst Express Trolley program clanged the victory bell with residents and visitors alike.
Running Fridays and Saturdays from June 2 through September 16, the FREE ride program connecting Elmhurst City Centre and the Spring Road and York and Vallette Business districts drew record ridership overall and on most of the 16 weekends.
Handicapped accessible and compliant with the American Disabilities Act (ADA), the brightly-colored yellow and green trolley made stops at York and Schiller streets, Second Street and Addison Avenue, Cottage Hill and Virginia Street (Wilder Park), Spring Road and the Illinois Prairie Path, and then York and Vallette in five-minute intervals.
New for this year, a GPS “Trolley Tracker,” linked to the Explore Elmhurst website, allowed riders to find the trolley’s exact location along the route. Riders also entered to win weekly prizes donated by Elmhurst businesses and organizations.
The trolley experience featured a recorded narrative educating riders about highlighted areas of our City and music from the world renowned Elmhurst College Jazz Band under the direction of 2013 ECCI Civic Hall of Fame inductee Doug Beach.
Each Saturday afternoon, starting at the York and Park stop, the Elmhurst Public Library staged its signature “Storytime” event.
Through our Chamber partnership with the City, Elmhurst businesses and organizations purchased display advertising inside the trolley, including: Berkshire Hathaway Prairie Path (Mickey Muisenga), Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage (Eva Sanchez), Community Bank of Elmhurst, Edward-Elmhurst Health, Elmhurst College, Elmhurst Dentistry For Kids, Elmhurst History Museum, Elmhurst Park District, Fitz’s Pub/Fitz’s Spare Keys, Home Discovery Berkshire Hathaway KoenigRubloff (Bob Mills), IC Catholic Prep, Illinois Spinal Care of Elmhurst, NEXT Yoga, Spring Road Business Association, State Farm Insurance – Sharon Sullivan, Total Window Treatments, York and Vallette Business Association and York Theatre – Classic Cinemas.
Happy Anniversaries
One member is celebrating a Chamber anniversary in October, as follows: 5 years—Special Kids Day.
New Members
The Chamber welcomed seven new members in September, as follows: Baird & Warner Real Estate Sales, Currito, Magnolia Lane Media, Project 180 Consulting, Prosite Content, THG Financial Strategies and The Trolley Car & Bus Co.
No Longer Members
The Chamber said goodbye to the following six members in September: Chicago Pain and Wellness Institute, Guin Financial – Jeffrey Herter, Kramer + Olson Architecture, Little Medical School, Technology Center of DuPage and Yoga by Degrees.