5th Annual

Wake Up Your Spirit Breakfast

Testimonies of Hope Highlight the Morning

DuPage PADS challenged a record number of over 430 guests to be part of the solution to end homelessness in DuPage County at the 5th annual Wake Up Your Spirit Breakfast on Wednesday, November 7, 2007 in the Krasa Center, Benedictine University, Lisle.  Business, congregation and civic leaders in the community gathered together and raised over $ 50,000.   A record number 34 new PADS Partners answered the call to support DuPage PADS with an annual contribution of $500 or more.

Keynote speaker Wayne Messmer shared his message of “The Challenge of Facing Change”.  Known as the voice of the Star Spangled Banner at many Chicago sports events, Messmer addressed the fear and uncertainty one experiences in the process of change, a factor that people who are homeless in DuPage County face everyday.

A tenant in the DuPage PADS’ Permanent Supportive Housing program delivered a testimony to the positive, life changing impact that DuPage PADS had on her life: helping her acquire permanent supportive housing, reunite with her family and start her own business.

Special thanks to our primary sponsors; Harris Naperville, Harris Hinsdale and Sodexho for returning to support this special event.  Proceeds from the event help fund programs such as Life Skills Counseling, Employment Readiness, and Interim (Overnight), Transitional and Permanent Supportive housing for homeless men, women and children in DuPage County.

We are proud to welcome the following individuals that accepted our challengs and became new PADS Partners at the event:

Our next Wake Up Your Spirit Event will be Wednesday, November 5th, 2008.

Join us and help plan for next year’s breakfast! Call 630.682.3846 ×242.

Photos by Gretchen Taylor Photography

Keynote Speaker Wayne Messmer talks with Carol Simler, Executive Director of DuPage PADS and Bill Hasset, President of the Board of Directors at the DuPage PADS 5th Annual Wake Up Your Spirit Breakfast.

Illinois State Representative Sandra Pihos speaks with a guest at the DuPage PADS 5th Annual Wake Up Your Spirit Breakfast.

Naperville Mayor George Pradel shakes hands with Keynote Speaker Wayne Messmer at the DuPage PADS 5th Annual Wake Up Your Spirit Breakfast.

Carol Simler, Executive Director of DuPage PADS, congratulates Mary Kay Slowikowski as the first receipient of the Inspiration Award at the DuPage PADS 5th Annual Wake Up Your Spirit Breakfast.  Mary Kay was instrumental in launching the first breakfast event.

Kathleen Johnson, DuPage PADS Director of Development with PADS Partners and Naperville residents Steve and Patti Essig at the DuPage PADS 5th Annual Wake Up Your Spirit Breakfast.

Guests view the ArtWorks! Exhibit of Art created by DuPage Pads Participants.