1. Published by YWCA Rockford
at the PURI Women’s Resource Center
Fall 2014 / Rockford, Illinois
five and fabulous wine, women & purses
October 2, 2014 — YWCA Rockford and Gala Sponsor
SwedishAmerican Health System presented the fifth
annual Wine, Women & Purses. Over the last five years,
Wine, Women & Purses has grown in popularity and
solidified itself as an out-of-the-ordinary non-profit event,
raising much needed funds for YWCA Rockford.
Prairie Street Brewhouse once again provided the perfect
venue for this fun evening out. 250 guests sampled wines
from Wirtz Distributors, Illinois, paired with heavy hors
d’oeuvres by Best Events Catering. Cordial Sponsor
sugarjones provided a variety of cupcakes to top off the
tasting experience.
Local merchants set up shop for the evening, displaying
handbags, jewelry, and more. Many merchants as well as
local businesses contributed to the most successful Wine,
Women & Purses silent auction to date. Guests bid on over
40 auction packages, including a painting by Shannon
Hallstein, a custom chalkboard by Chalk of the Town, and
a 7-night stay in Hot Springs Village, AK.
New additions to the 2014 event included keepsake wine
glasses, sponsored by Chartwell Agency and
MS2 - Meridian, and a Peach Bellini signature drink
Adding the perfect audio backdrop for the evening was
live music by Starlite Radio. Between wine sampling, trips
to the buffet, and standing guard on silent auction bids,
guests also lined up to for a turn at Photobooth Rockford.
(Continued.)
YWCA Board Member Karen Brown and guests
Special thanks to Crimson Ridge who donated proceeds from
special bracelet sales to YWCA Rockford.

2. ywca board of directors
officers:
President: Amy Ott
Vice President: Dawna Menke
Treasurer: Lori Lyons
Secretary: Tamika Walker
board:
Colleen Anderson
Karen Brown
Darcy Bucholz
Lorraine Campbell
Michelle Cassaro
Katy Chadwick
Rebecca Fox
Kelly Galluzzo
Judge Gwyn Gulley
Tiana McCall
Laura Pomerene
Stacie Talbert Scott
Paulina Sihakom
Lori Sweeney
staff:
Chief Executive Officer: Kris L. Kieper
Chief Financial Officer: Bev Giloy
Vice President of Child Care Solutions:
Danita Lewis
Human Resources/Administrative
Supervisor: Tiffany Lozdoski
Coordinator, Fund Development &
Marketing: Laura Speer
mission statement
YWCA Rockford is dedicated
to the elimination of racism, the
empowerment of women, and
promoting peace, justice, freedom, and
dignity for all.
about membership
Membership is an expression of
support for the goals and work of the
YWCA and contributes to programs
such as Child Care Solutions, Racial
Justice work, and events such as
Leader Luncheon. Please consider
renewing your membership, joining
as a new member, or pledging a
lifetime membership today — show
your support of one of the longest
continuously operated nonprofit
organizations in our region.
welcome to the board
YWCA Rockford welcomes new
members to the board of directors.
Kelly Galluzzo
Kelly has lived
in the Boone
county area for
the 15 years.
Currently,
she works as
an account
executive for
13 WREX
TV. She
began her professional career in
Rockford in 2001 as a news reporter
and producer at the CBS affiliate
news station. In 2004, Kelly joined
Growth Dimensions, the economic
development organization for
Belvidere-Boone County, where
she worked for the better part of the
past 10 years. During her tenure at
Growth Dimensions, Kelly worked
closely with community and business
leaders in the efforts to retain and
attract business development in the
Belvidere-Boone County area.
Kelly graduated from Northern
Illinois University (NIU) with
an M.A. in communications and
a B.A. in journalism. She also
attended the Economic Development
Institute through the University of
Oklahoma, along with completing
public administration course work in
economic development through NIU.
As a member of the YWCA, Kelly is
currently serving as co-chair for the
2015 YWCA Leader Luncheon.
Kelly has 2 children, Milania, 8,
and Anthony, 5. In her free time, she
enjoys spending time with her family
and working towards her next
fitness goal.
Judge Gwyn Gulley
Judge Gwyn
Gulley is a
Rockford
native and
a graduate
of Guilford
High School.
She attended
Illinois State
University and
earned a double Bachelor of Science
degree in Political Science and
Home Economics with a sequence
in Fashion Merchandising in 1986.
She went on to Thurgood Marshall
School of Law in Houston, TX,
graduating in 1991. Judge Gulley
returned to Rockford to practice law
after obtaining her juris doctorate.
Prior to her judicial career, her
primary areas of practice included
civil litigation, commercial litigation,
workers’ compensation, estate
planning, probate and real estate law.
She also served as an Assistant Public
Defender. Judge Gulley was admitted
to the U.S. District Court trial bar
in 1994. In November 2008, Judge
Gulley was elected as a Circuit Court
Judge of the 17th Judicial Circuit,
Sub-circuit 1. She is the first African
American female (cont.)

3. wine, women & purses
sponsors board (cont.)
Thank you to all the sponsors,
merchants, committee members and
guests who help Wine, Women &
Purses continue to grow. We look
forward to seeing you all again next
year, October 1, 2015.
Gala Sponsor
SwedishAmerican Health System
Toasting Sponsor
First National Bank & Trust
Cordial Sponsor
sugarjones
Hors d’ oeuvre Sponsor
OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center
Rockford Bank & Trust
Wine Glass Sponsors
Chartwell Agency
MS2 - Meridian
Supporting Sponsor
Kohl’s
Lenox Healthcare for Women
Friend Sponsor
Coyle-Varland Insurance Agency, Inc.
Gift-In-Kind Sponsors
Beautiful Day Linens
Players Golf Cars
Photobooth of Rockford
Media Sponsors
B103 FM
WREX-TV 13
Rockford Register Star
Wine, Women & Purses Committee
Chair: Paulina Sihakom, PNC Bank
Co-Chair: Michelle Cassaro, Rockford
Housing Authority
Colleen Anderson
Katy Chadwick
Michele Kimes
Dawna Menke
Laura Pomerene
Anna M. Toltzman
Tamika Walker
to be elected to the bench. She
currently serves as supervising judge
of the Family Law division. She was
previously assigned to the Civil Law
division and served as supervising
judge of Mandatory Arbitration.
Judge Gulley has been active in the
Rockford community, serving on
boards and organizations, including
Booker Washington Community
Center, Girl Scouts of Northern
Illinois, Northern Illinois Hospice,
Janet Wattles Foundation, OSF St.
Anthony Medical Center Advisory
Board, and the Rockford Chamber
of Commerce where she served as a
board member and chairman of the
Multicultural Business Council. She
formerly served as a commissioner
and vice chairman of the Chicago
Rockford International Airport Board,
having been appointed by former
mayors Charles Box and Doug Scott.
Judge Gulley also served as a mentor
with the Junior League of Rockford
RAISE program at Jefferson High
School. She is currently a member of
the Winnebago County Bar, National
Bar and Illinois Judges Associations
and serves on the board of directors of
the Rockford Park District Foundation,
Rockford Association for Minority
Management, and serves as Chair of
the WCBA Diversity Committee. She
is a member of New Zion Missionary
Baptist Church and Alpha Kappa
Alpha Sorority, Inc., Pi Gamma
Omega Chapter. Judge Gulley was
the 2011 Recipient of the YWCA
Community Leadership Award.

4. Stacie Talbert Scott
Stacie Talbert
Scott was born
and raised in
Rockford, IL
and is a proud
graduate of
Auburn High
School. Stacie
received her
Bachelor of
Arts degree in Accounting from St.
Ambrose University and her Master
of Business Administration from
Rockford College. She is employed
with the Rockford Public Schools as
the Executive Director of Budget and
Purchasing.
Stacie has over 20+ years of
experience in government and not-
-for-profit finance and management
to include budgeting and financial
planning, accounting and financial
reporting, debt and treasury
management, operations, process
improvement, and internal and
compliance auditing. Previous
employers include Winnebago County
Auditor’s Office, Illinois State Board
of Education, Rock Valley College,
and Rockford Park District. Under the
her financial leadership, governments
have been awarded Certificate of
Achievement for Excellence in
Financial Reporting and Popular
Annual Financial Reporting Awards
through the Government Finance
Officers Association of United States
and Canada (GFOA).
Stacie is a Certified Six Sigma
Green Belt and was awarded the
2012 Booker Washington Center “25
Black Leaders to Watch” and 2009
Rockford Chamber of Commerce “40
Leaders Under 40” awards. She is
an active member of GFOA and was
selected and served 6 years on the
Committee on Accounting, Auditing,
and Financial Reporting. Stacie has
been active on various boards in the
community and really enjoys working
with not for profits.
YWCA TechGYRLS was initiated in
1997 by YWCA USA in response to
the widening gender gap in exposure
to, and interest in, technology for
girls. Studies show that while girls
and boys have the same aptitude for
technology and sciences, by middle
school participation rates for girls in
technology subjects begin to drop
and continue to decline through high
school. This is especially true for
girls in low income, underserved
communities.
TechGYRLS’ goal is to broaden
girls’ knowledge and interests and
help them develop the confidence
to use technology tools in whatever
profession they pursue. These girls
approach choices about their future
pursuits unintimidated by science,
technology, or associated gender-
based stereotypes. Exploring the
science, technology, and math (STEM)
lessons happens in a safe, girls-only
environment where, with support
from women mentors, the girls feel
comfortable taking risks and opening
up to new learning opportunities.
YWCA Rockford currently has two
TechGYRLS groups. One group meets
at The Boys & Girls Club, Blackhawk
and the other meets at the Belvidere
Family YMCA. These groups, made
up of girls 9-13 years old, meet one
to three times a week after school.
TechGYRLS are introduced to the
mission of the YWCA and envision
solutions to community and social
issues through new technology. They
also have a lot of fun. Whether they’re
taking a stand against school bullying,
understanding liquid density while
creating a “lava lamp,” or editing
pictures that they’ve taken themselves,
the girls feel excited to try new things
and empowered to test and push
themselves further.
To learn more about YWCA
TechGYRLS, please contact Danita
Lewis, VP of Child Care Solutions,
(815) 316-6130.
techGYRLS

5. www.ywca.org/rockford
ExceleRate Illinois is the State’s
new quality rating and improvement
system designed to make continuous
improvement an everyday priority
among early learning providers.
Parents can use ExceleRate Illinois to
find early learning and development
programs (licensed in-home child
care, child care centers, Head Start or
Preschool for All) focusing on quality.
The goals focus on quality care and
education in the first five years,
leading to children more prepared for
school and life.
Providers who participate in
ExceleRate Illinois may achieve a
Bronze, Silver, or Gold Circle of
Quality and be listed with their Circle
of Quality on the ExceleRate Illinois
website. These providers are also
eligible for financial incentives such
as, bonuses, add-on rates, and Quality
Improvement Funds to help with the
costs of providing quality care
The consultants at the YWCA have
been working with multiple licensed
child care centers and preschools
in Winnebago, Boone, Stephenson,
and Jo Daviess counties to educate
and provide technical assistance on
ExceleRate Illinois.
For more information please visit
excelerateillinois.com or contact a
YWCA Quality Specialist:
Abby Hauch, Ext: 208
ahauch@ywcachildcaresolutions.org
Rachel Feigel, Ext: 224
rachels@ywcachildcaresolutions.org
start your gift
shopping at
amazon smile
Shop at AmazonSmile and raise funds
for YWCA Rockford. For your eligible
purchases at AmazonSmile, the
AmazonSmile Foundation will donate
0.5% of the purchase price to YWCA
Rockford.
Follow the link below to
AmazonSmile and designate YWCA
Rockford (Young Women’s Christian
Association, Rockford, IL) as the
organization you’re supporting:
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/
36-2174839
ExceleRate
We take time for family and
gratitude on Thanksgiving. But it seems
as though before we’ve even
had a slice of pie, all eyes are on two
days of commerce, Black Friday and
Cyber Monday.
Bringing us back to the spirit of
the season is #GivingTuesday, first
announced in 2012 as a “day dedicated
to giving back.” On Tuesday, December
2, 2014, charities, families, businesses...
around the world will come together
for one common purpose: to celebrate
generosity and to give. Join the
movement. Tell everyone you can about
how and why you are giving with the
#GivingTuesday hashtag.
YWCA Community Night at Abreo
Join YWCA Rockford and Abreo
Restaurant for #GivingTuesday,
December 2, when $1 from each menu
item purchased will be donated to
YWCA Rockford:
#GivingTuesday
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
5:00 p.m. to midnight
515 East State St., Rockford
what is
#GivingTuesday?
leader luncheon xxxv
Monday, March 2, 2015
11:30 to 1:30
Giovanni’s Conference Center, Rockford
Awards nomination deadline: January 13, 2015
Bright Future Scholarship application deadline: January 16, 2015
Applications and registration: ywca.org/rockford/leader-luncheon

6. at the PURI Women’s Resource Center
4990 East State Street
Rockford, IL 61108
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage
PAID
Rockford, IL
Permit No. 610
ywca’s nicholas conference center
ideal for daytime or evening rental
Available for your daytime, evening, business or holiday events,
the YWCA’s beautiful Nicholas Conference Center hosts not
only business conferences, seminars, or training sessions, but
also weddings, showers and family reunions.
The center boasts comfortable seating and tables for 108 or
classroom-style seating for 120, a catering kitchen, high speed
wireless internet, A/V equipment, ample parking, and views of
the Rockford University campus. It’s conveniently located near
I-90 on the entrance road to Rockford University and is one of
the most affordable rental opportunities in Rockford. Best of all,
your rental helps support YWCA programs for women and
families right here in our community. For more information
or to arrange a tour, please contact the Office Manager at
815.968.9681 x 301.
www.ywca.org/rockford
Membership Application
Date: New Member Renewal
This membership is for (circle one): Myself Gift
Membership gift in memory of:
Name of Honoree:
Name:
Address:
City: State: Zip:
E-mail:
Phone:
Choose your annual membership category:
$ 40 Supporting or Partner in Advocacy Member
$100 Anna Ohalla Supporting Member
$500 YWCA Legacy Member
Make checks payable to: YWCA Rockford
4990 E. State Street, Rockford, IL 61008
Credit Card: Visa MasterCard
Card #:
Signature:
Matching gift: If your company participates in the
matching gift program, please enclose your company
gift form.