‘Puttin’ on the Glitz’

The event raised more than $30,000 for the center.

The evening featured a silent auction, Art Beat Live, dinner, music provided by R Gang and a photo booth for all to enjoy.

The Senior Services Center of Will County presented the center’s Shining Star Award to Ed Batis, who is an individual who is caring and has shown commitment to help make the community a better place to live.

Batis has been volunteering at the center for quite some time, and he has become invaluable to the staff and the seniors at the Center.

Batis is 86 years old and has lived in Joliet his entire life. In his younger years, he was heavily involved with the Exchange Club and he worked on the Capitol Campaign to help keep Providence High School open when it was struggling many years ago.

His contributions have impacted lives more than the last 60 years in the Joliet community.

The second award is the Friends of the center Award, which recognizes an individual or organization which has strongly and continually supported the center and aging programs in general. 

This year’s recipient was Cemeno’s Pizza in recognition of their ongoing support of the center’s programs and services. 

Cemeno’s has teamed up with the center to provide pizza for “Give Your Lunch Money To Feed A Senior” program. They also host one of the center’s largest fundraisers at their restaurant.

Without the help of organizations who are as committed to the community as Cemenos, the Senior Services Center could not offer the quality programs and services we do to seniors throughout Will County.

The Senior Services Center is a multi-purpose senior center, which provides such vital services as home delivered meals, investigation of elder abuse and neglect, information and assistance, congregate meals, and educational opportunities just to name a few.

The center annually reaches more than 52,000 individuals with one or more services.