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Arts & Entertainment

Jazz in the Afternoon Benefit

Normal Moments hosts a fundraiser at Millrose Restaurant, 45 South Barrington Rd in South Barrington with great food, live jazz music by The Chicago Jazz Outfit, dancing, cash bar, and a silent auction, including a lithograph from renowned comic book artist, Alex Ross.  Funds raised at this event help provide a diversity of supportive services for parents with critically ill and/or medically fragile children in order to give children the greatest gift of all: more quality time with their parents when the children are scared or in pain.

Normal Moments was founded in 2007 by Patricia Fragen and her sixteen year old daughter, Melissa, only month before Melissa died after battling an osteosarcoma, a bone cancer.  This legacy of Melissa's life is based on the understanding that while organizations that provide wishes and miracles for families in medical crisis are absolutely wonderful, the reality is that when children (and even many adults) are feeling badly, they don't want to go to Disney World or meet a superstar; they just want their mommy or their daddy by their side.  By sending a combination of paid professional service providers and dedicated volunteers to take care of day-to-day tasks like housework and lawn maintenance, parents are given more time to spend by their children's sides.  Pet care and house sitting services allow families to stay together during extended hospital visits and to thoroughly enjoy those wonderful wish-trips without concern about what's happening at home.  Snow removal service (always provided by professional snow plow companies) alleviates delay getting to the hospital in emergency situations, thereby relieving stress and potential guilt for parents. Additional services include home massage therapy visits and emotional support to combat tension, consultations with marriage and family counselors, meal assistance, and other special requests with the ultimate goal of providing more quality family time for families in need.

While many services are provided by compassionate volunteers, often times the location of families and the location of available volunteers do not correspond, so paid services providers are used to fill the needs for many families.  In addition, for the protection of all volunteers, professional cleaning companies are always sent to the family home for at least the first visit.  All Normal Moments volunteers undergo a fingerprinted background check and a personal training session before being matched to a family in need. 

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The minimum donation for the Normal Moments Afternoon of Jazz event is $75 per individual or $200 per foursome, with $25 per person non-tax deductible to cover the cost of the meal.  Reservations are requested and can be made by visiting www.normalmoments.org and selecting "Jazz" from the Events drop-down menu.  Anyone interested in donating items or services to the silent auction, interested in volunteering, or seeking additional information about Normal Moments should email tricia@normalmoments.org or call 630.888.8111.

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