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Two years after selling their beloved Geneva restaurant, Chef Francois Sanchez and his wife, Betsy, former owners of Chez Francois, will stir up a “Bene-Feast” for Hear Us, a national nonprofit organization that raises awareness of homeless children.
The benefit dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles.
Three years ago, the owners of the Geneva bistro put their culinary talents to work for homeless children. They hosted the “Day One” benefit dinner for Hear Us, created by Diane Nilan, former shelter director from Aurora’s Hesed House and an advocate for homeless children and adults.
Following the dinner, Nilan sold her Aurora townhouse, using proceeds to buy an RV which continues to serve as her home/office. She started Hear Us and went on the road in 2005 to film a documentary on homeless children and teens. After more than 60,000 miles of mostly back roads, she’s gained national attention for the issue and is expanding her efforts.
The Sanchezes offered ongoing support for Hear Us’ efforts.
“This is a cause we deeply believe in,” stated Betsy Sanchez. “We’ve seen what Hear Us does; and we know that awareness-raising and advocacy are essential to solving the overlooked, but widespread, issue of homeless families and teens.”
More than 1.5 million children are homeless in this country, a number Nilan fears is woefully under-counted.
Thanks to the Sanchezes’ financial support and backing from others, the documentary expertise of media professor Laura Vazquez from Northern Illinois University, and the participation of more than 75 children from non-urban parts of the country, the first Hear Us documentary, “My Own Four Walls,” was released in 2007.
Since then, the documentary has received national recognition, bringing the faces and voices of homeless kids before Congress, educators, teen groups, human service staff and concerned individuals across the country. More than 3,000 copies of MOFW have been distributed. The documentary is available through www.hearus.us.
Nilan and Vazquez have filmed a feature-length documentary, “On the Edge,” focusing on homeless families.
Nilan hopes a trailer will be available in time for the dinner.
Individuals interested in attending should e-mail diane@hearus.us or leave a message at 630-267-5424 to receive an invitation.
Dinner tickets are $75, with all proceeds going to Hear Us. Corporate sponsors are being sought to offset the cost of the dinner.
The Sanchezes and Nilan are hoping the October event will be a reunion: for the Sanchezes, to see former restaurant patrons and friends, and for Nilan, to reunite with volunteers from her days at Hesed House.
Nilan also hopes for a serving of leftover paella as she heads to a speaking engagement in Pennsylvania, leaving the Fox Valley for her fourth nationwide tour a few days after the dinner.
Two years after selling their beloved Geneva restaurant, Chef Francois Sanchez and his wife, Betsy, former owners of Chez Francois, will stir up a “Bene-Feast” for Hear Us, a national nonprofit organization that raises awareness of homeless children.
The benefit dinner will be held at 6 p.m. Oct. 4 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in St. Charles.
Three years ago, the owners of the Geneva bistro put their culinary talents to work for homeless children. They hosted the “Day One” benefit dinner for Hear Us, created by Diane Nilan, former shelter director from Aurora’s Hesed House and an advocate for homeless children and adults.
Following the dinner, Nilan sold her Aurora townhouse, using proceeds to buy an RV which continues to serve as her home/office. She started Hear Us and went on the road in 2005 to film a documentary on homeless children and teens. After more than 60,000 miles of mostly back roads, she’s gained national attention for the issue and is expanding her efforts.
The Sanchezes offered ongoing support for Hear Us’ efforts.
“This is a cause we deeply believe in,” stated Betsy Sanchez. “We’ve seen what Hear Us does; and we know that awareness-raising and advocacy are essential to solving the overlooked, but widespread, issue of homeless families and teens.”
More than 1.5 million children are homeless in this country, a number Nilan fears is woefully under-counted.
Thanks to the Sanchezes’ financial support and backing from others, the documentary expertise of media professor Laura Vazquez from Northern Illinois University, and the participation of more than 75 children from non-urban parts of the country, the first Hear Us documentary, “My Own Four Walls,” was released in 2007.
Since then, the documentary has received national recognition, bringing the faces and voices of homeless kids before Congress, educators, teen groups, human service staff and concerned individuals across the country. More than 3,000 copies of MOFW have been distributed. The documentary is available through www.hearus.us.
Nilan and Vazquez have filmed a feature-length documentary, “On the Edge,” focusing on homeless families.
Nilan hopes a trailer will be available in time for the dinner.
Individuals interested in attending should e-mail diane@hearus.us or leave a message at 630-267-5424 to receive an invitation.
Dinner tickets are $75, with all proceeds going to Hear Us. Corporate sponsors are being sought to offset the cost of the dinner.
The Sanchezes and Nilan are hoping the October event will be a reunion: for the Sanchezes, to see former restaurant patrons and friends, and for Nilan, to reunite with volunteers from her days at Hesed House.
Nilan also hopes for a serving of leftover paella as she heads to a speaking engagement in Pennsylvania, leaving the Fox Valley for her fourth nationwide tour a few days after the dinner.
