Our nonprofit team works tirelessly to stay on top of the latest industry news and trends so they can provide innovative recommendations to their clients. Our senior vice presidents, Robin Bettenhausen and Tom Kallai, recently attended key nonprofit conferences and benefits. Below is a detailed recap of the events they attended and the valuable lessons they brought back to enhance our client services.
2026 Trustmark Producer Conference
Our team attended this insightful conference in Nashville at the beginning of February, which was targeted to top producers, enrollment experts and benefits innovators. The conference focused on elevating the employee experience and improving enrollment outcomes.
One specific aspect that resonated with us was their session on life and long-term care, where we discussed how many caretakers we have in the United States and how to offer support, whether it’s vetting facilities, calling Medicaid or creating a community to answer questions. These benefits will help your employees immensely.
Chicago Auto Show’s “First Look for Charity”
We’re proud to have Tom Kallai represent our client, Sertoma Star Services, at the Chicago Auto Show’s “First Look for Charity” on February 6, serving as emcee for their hospitality room.
Sertoma does incredible work to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Tom – a longtime Sertoma board member – shared the organization’s mission and a personal story about how it’s touched his family.
Park Lawn’s “Turning the Page” Gala
We had a wonderful time celebrating Park Lawn at their premier annual fundraising event on March 7 at the Crystal Tree Country Club in Orland Park, Illinois. Park Lawn is a purpose-driven organization that provides programs and support for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
The evening marked the kickoff of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, reminding us of the importance of continuing to build communities where individuals of all abilities can live with dignity, independence and opportunity.
Easterseals Joliet’s “Light Up Lives” Telethon
Our nonprofit team had a blast volunteering at Easterseals Joliet’s annual telethon on March 7!
A longtime client, Easterseals Joliet, invited our team to staff a one-hour call slot to reach out for donations – a fast-paced, rewarding hour spent answering questions, sharing impact stories and encouraging community support for vital programs. During the six-hour live broadcast, the community came together in a show of generosity, raising more than $160,000, surpassing the original $140,000 goal!
Our team left inspired by the telethon’s spirit of generosity and by Easterseals Joliet’s long history of service. Volunteering side-by-side with the client highlighted the shared commitment to making a difference and the importance of sustaining these nonprofit partnerships.
Little Friends Annual Benefit Auction
We had a lovely evening supporting Little Friends, an organization that empowers individuals with autism, intellectual/developmental and physical disabilities. Proceeds from their auction (held on March 7 at the Embassy Suites in Naperville, IL) directly supported vital programs, including therapy services, educational initiatives, vocational training, housing solutions and family support.
Little City “Ladies in Leadership” Luncheon
On March 12, Robin Bettenhausen joined 50+ courageous, resilient and optimistic women for a luncheon hosted by Little City at Cefalu Seaside in Elk Grove Village, IL. They enjoyed chatting about books, podcasts, kids, business and more. The luncheon also featured special speakers and raffles with fun prizes.
Little City is an incredible organization that serves children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities with a wide scope of programs and services. It is always an honor to support their work!
Housing Forward’s “Have a Heart” Gala
Tom had a wonderful time attending Housing Forward’s 28th annual “Have a Heart” gala on March 13 at the Bridgeport Arts Center in Chicago. Proceeds from the event supported the organization’s mission to secure stable housing for people affected by the housing crisis.
We were pleased to find out that Housing Forward surpassed their fundraising goal and raised more than $350,000 to support their work to end homelessness!
Personify Health Thrive Summit 2026
Robin also attended Personify’s “Health Thrive” summit in Phoenix from March 16-19. This health and well-being innovation event united the entire health ecosystem to learn, collaborate and shape the future of how healthy happens. The summit featured sessions on engaging employees through digital wellness and on using clinical data to build a personalized healthcare journey for everyone.
Jazz, Joy & Generosity Gala for UCP Seguin
We are proud to support UCP Seguin, a charitable not-for-profit agency serving individuals with disabilities in metropolitan Chicago and beyond. We had a wonderful time attending their “Jazz, Joy & Generosity” gala on March 21 at the Chicago Marriott in Oak Brook, IL. We enjoyed decadent cocktails, a delicious dinner and live music.
Proceeds from the gala went to UCP Seguin’s life-changing services that empower children and adults with disabilities to learn, work and live with greater independence and fulfillment. We were excited to learn that they exceeded their $150,000 fundraising goal, raising more than $170,000 to support their mission of creating a life without limits for people with disabilities!
Envision Unlimited’s “Bright Futures Ball”
Tom had a wonderful night supporting Envision Unlimited at its annual signature fundraiser, the “Bright Futures Ball,” on April 11 at the Theater on the Lake in Chicago. It was an inspiring evening celebrating their members and their commitment to providing choice, independence and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and mental health challenges.
What’s Next?
We are excited to continue our active participation in industry events to support worthy organizations and gain more insight into this ever-evolving nonprofit industry. Meanwhile, we invite you to learn more about our nonprofit team and encourage you to reach out with any questions or opportunities to collaborate. Together, we can drive meaningful impact and innovation in the nonprofit sector.
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