Maria Castro, founder of the nonprofit Love Purse, which purchases brand-new purses and fills them with full-size toiletries and personal care essentials, as well as inspirational notes, to gift women facing difficult circumstances.
The nonprofit organization Love Purse will host its much-anticipated annual gala on Thursday, Oct. 2, themed “Casino Royale: Betting on the Purse,” at the elegant Wilder Mansion in Elmhurst, Illinois. The evening promises guests an experience right out of a James Bond‑film, with entertainment, mocktails and signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, a thrilling silent auction and raffle prizes.
Love Purse 2025 gala
The gala serves a critical purpose beyond celebration: it funds Love Purse’s core mission of “putting love on the shoulders of women in need, one #LovePurse at a time.” The organization purchases brand-new purses and fills them with full-size toiletries and personal care essentials, as well as inspirational notes, to gift women facing difficult circumstances. Each purse is meant to convey more than just utility, it is a message of dignity, respect and hope.
The evening’s keynote speaker will be Rashied Davis, a former NFL athlete and community advocate. Guiding the event as Honorary Gala Co-Chairs are Cathy Traczek and Michelle Mekky, whose leadership and community involvement help amplify the gala’s reach and impact.
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The gala will begin at 6:00 p.m. at Wilder Mansion, 211 S. Prospect, Elmhurst, Illinois. Multiple sponsorship levels are available, with naming tiers like For Your Eyes Only, Diamonds Are Forever, Golden Eye, Bond James Bond, Shaken Not Stirred, MI6, and 007. Those interested in underwriting or participating can reach out to Gwendolyn McNutt or Maria Castro for more details.
Love Purse’s annual gala has evolved into a signature event that blends creativity, fundraising and community engagement. Past themes include 2024 “Peace, Love & Purses”, a 1970s-inspired gala; 2023 “Bootleggers Bash”, a Prohibition-era affair featuring casino games and a keynote from Mrs. America 2022, Nicole Zwiercan; and 2022 “There’s No Place Like Home”, a Land of Oz–inspired evening with keynote speaker Dennis McKinnon. These themed nights have become opportunities not only to entertain, but also to spotlight the vital work Love Purse is doing year-round in local communities and beyond.
Funds raised will enable Love Purse to continue distributing high-quality, dignity-affirming gifts to women in crisis, whether facing domestic violence, homelessness or other hardships. (For tickets/more info, click here)
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