Thank You Honorary Committee Members!

With the 2025 Heart of Gold Ball fast approaching on March 7th, we’d like to take a quick moment and recognize the Honorary Committee Members whose support allows us to celebrate this amazing event year after year.

Jackie Barlow has been an incredible community advocate, donor, supporter, volunteer, and dear friend. Jackie worked on Hephzibah’s Board of Directors for 14 years, providing invaluable financial insights that have served Hephzibah through thick and thin. We are beyond honored to have Jackie as an Honorary Committee Member at this year’s Heart of Gold Ball!

Mary and Bill DiSomma are Hephzibah superstars. Heart of Gold award winners in 2021, Mary and Bill are outspoken ambassadors of Hephzibah’s work, bringing our story to the national scale. 100% of proceeds from Mary’s two cookbooks – My Life in Pies and A Gift of Cookies – are donated to Hephzibah and the OPRF Infant Welfare Society. Grab a copy for you or your loved ones this Valentine’s Day!

Michelle Durpetti and Collin Pierson understand better than anyone that the kitchen is truly the “heart of the home.” For more than 20 years, the Durpetti family and their legendary restaurant Gene & Georgetti have been raising funds and awareness while sharing their food and fellowship with the children and staff of the group home. “It is so important to pay it forward by lending our support to an organization that does wonderful things for children who are waiting to find their forever families,” says Michelle Durpetti.


Jodi Fyfe has been with Hephzibah since day one. Jodi grew up going to Hephzibah day care and summer camp when it first began in the 70’s, and has since gone on to serve on the Oak Park Auxiliary Board, volunteer at the group home, host incredible fundraisers, and win the Heart  of Gold Award in 2019. Jodi is the founder and CEO of the Paramount Group, a leading Chicago catering and event business, where she works with her husband Devon Quinn to “fuel those hungry for life. ”Hephzibah is especially excited to have Jodi and Devon as our caterers for this year’s Heart of Gold Ball!

Maria Garvy has served as a chair for our annual Heart of Gold Ball for many years, supporting every detail of what makes our events so fun. Maria has advocated for Hephzibah in the Oak Park community for many years, and been volunteering with us since 2009. Maria serves as the chair of THRIVE Counseling Center, a comprehensive mental health center that has served Oak Park and the Chicagoland area since 1898, making her an invaluable connection supporting Hephzibah local community. As such, we are more than honored to have her as an Honorary Committee Member at the Heart of Gold Ball 2025.

From the bottom of our golden hearts, THANK YOU ALL for coming back to supporting Hephzibah’s mission year after year; without you, none of this would be possible!

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