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Community Corner

North Suburban YMCA Hosts First Annual "Moves Like Tori" Event

For drivers traveling down Techny Road on July 20, the crowds at the North Suburban YMCA could be seen from blocks away as community families gathered for the first annual “Moves Like Tori” fundraising event.  The family fun fest, with over 700 people in attendance, was organized by the Tori Wilensky Foundation, a foundation created by the Wilensky family of Northbrook after the unexplained death of their young daughter Tori in August 2012. The purpose of the event was to honor Tori’s life and to raise funds for Sudden Unexplained Death in Children programs and other charities.

The facilities, which were donated by the NSYMCA for this community-based event, overflowed with activities indoors and out.  Under the YMCA’s outdoor tent, the Glenbrook North Junior Varsity and Varsity Poms Squads ran carnival games and face painting booths, along with performing dance routines. Young visitors also enjoyed three bounce houses from Jiggle and Giggle, balloon animals from Parky the clown, an airbrush tattoo artist, and a DJ along with four dancers from Bizar Entertainment. While their kids played, parents browsed a wide selection of silent auction items, including 10 box seats to a Cubs-Cardinals game and a week’s hotel stay in Cabo San Lucas. Indoors, guests enjoyed a casual buffet with pizza, hot dogs, chips, and cookies provided by Marcello’s, Josh’s, and Go Roma restaurants. While guests ate their food, they listened to upbeat music and watched a beautiful montage of Tori’s life playing on a projector screen.

The turnout was much better than the Tori Wilensky Foundation Committee could have expected. “We expected around 200 or 300, so when 700 people showed up we were beyond excited. It was a good feeling to know that the community cared so much about our cause,” exclaimed Heather Wilensky, Tori’s mother. She notes that the event raised over $30,000 for SUDC programs, which include family support, community education, and research. “This really inspires us to keep up our efforts. We would love to continue having these events in the future.”

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“We’re so glad that we could be part of this very special and important event,” noted Sari Glazebrook, NSYMCA Membership Director. “The Wilensky family has gone through so much, and they’ve found a way to channel positive energy into helping many other families struggling through similar losses. This event was a great celebration of family and community.”

About the North Suburban YMCA

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The North Suburban YMCA is a not-for-profit entity and relies on donations to fund capital improvements and transform the facility. All board members are community volunteers, who donate their time, talents and financial resources.  Located at 2705 Techny Road in Northbrook, the YMCA has served area families in its twelve-city region for over 40 years.  The Y is about youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, providing programs and services that meet the needs of our community and are accessible to all.  For more information or to make a donation, call Barb Flanagin at 847-272-7250, bflanagin@nsymca.org, or visit www.nsymca.org.

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