Publications & Sites 
Hawthorn Woods resident focuses on the family
Hawthorn Woods resident Cheryl Hass with her grandchildren. | Photo courtesy Cheryl Haas GRID: Neighbors profile teaser pic
Love Fund Auction
Hosts: Hawthorn Woods Women’s Club’s
Date: Preview at 6 p.m., auction at 7 p.m. Oct. 11
Location: Kemper Lakes Golf Club, 24000 N. Old McHenry Road, Kildeer.
Cost: $10 for members, $15 non-members or $25 at the door
Benefits: Women and children in need in Lake County. Organizations include Lake County Haven, Staben House, and A Safe Place
Registration: www.hwwc.info
Article Extras
Updated: October 28, 2012 6:33AM
HAWTHORN WOODS — For several years, Hawthorn Woods residents Cheryl and Frank Haas were on-the-go grandparents.
Originally from Chicago, the Haases followed their son and his family to Florida, Missouri and Tennessee when he relocated for work in order to be closer to their first two grandchildren.
They eventually returned to the Chicago area to be within driving distance of all their kids and eight grandchildren.
Now living in Wichita, the two granddaughters are 12 and 8 year old. Although Kansas is not too far from the Hasses’ Hawthorn Woods home, the kids and grandparents miss each other.
“They say, ‘you left us grandma,’” she said, laughing. “They were used to us following them around the country.”
To keep close, the girls video chat with their grandparents, and the younger of the two sends Haas texts messages nearly every day.
“It’s just adorable,” Haas said. “I just love being with my grand kids.”
Keeping families intact and children safe is obviously important to Haas. That purpose also is evident in Haas’ volunteer work.
When she was new to the area, Haas set out to meet her neighbors and make friends by joining the Hawthorn Woods Women’s Club, a local nonprofit established in 1958 that promotes community, charity and camaraderie by assisting women and children in need.
The club boasts more than 100 members from all areas of Lake County, said Haas.
“It’s a group of people with a common goal trying to help people,” she said.
This year, Haas is a co-chair of the group’s Love Fund Auction, an annual fund-raiser held Oct. 11 at Kemper Lakes Golf Club, 24000 N. Old McHenry Road, Kildeer.
The value of items available for bid — including home decor items, salon services, holiday decorations, children’s toys, and jewelry — range from $25 to more than $400. All proceeds benefit the Lake County Haven, Staben House, A Safe Place, and other programs for women and children.
Men are invited to the event, too, Haas said, as club members also have worked diligently to find auction items attractive to fathers and sons, like golf outings and Chicago Bears and White Sox tickets.
Haas said it’s important to remember Lake County has many families down on their luck, and women facing domestic violence, homelessness and economic hardship who need help.
“Our mission is help improve their situations,” she said.
For more information about the Hawthorn Woods Women’s Club and the Love Fund Auction, visit www.HWWC.info.
