Black History Month Celebration
New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church
FELLOWSHIP HALL
4301 West Washington Boulevard
Chicago, IL
Saturday
February 20, 2010
3:00-5:00PM

The Black History Month celebration will honor Bishop Primo with an afternoon of remembrances from his family and friends.  Noted storyteller, Mama Edie, will perform an interactive program with Primo Center mothers and their children and the members of the greater West Garfield Park community.

“I always enjoy this time of year, because I am able to celebrate my father’s legacy with others he touched over the years,” said Quintin E. Primo III, PCWC Chairman. “My father would be very proud to see how his vision has evolved from the after school program he created for neighborhood residents back in 1979. Today, more than ever, people need places like the Primo Center. It’s our job to continue to look forward like my father did to find solutions to help those in need.”

About Mama Edie
Mama Edie is a bilingual storyteller (Spanish/English), published writer, percussionist, speech/language pathologist, and voice-over artist who has provided international storytelling performances and workshops. Her stories are largely inspired by her passionate regard for her African and Native American ancestries.

Media Contacts:

Trish Hoffman 312-805-4314

Jeff Fisher 312-805-4850

Chicago, IL – February 5, 2010 - Primo Center for Women and Children (“PCWC”) board member and award-winning volunteer Trish Hoffman has secured two unique items that are being auctioned-off on CharityBuzz.com to raise money for the center.

Bidders can go to www.charitybuzz.com to make an offer on a 7-Night stay at Villa Amanecer located in the exclusive The Bay of Dreams residential community in Baja California Sur where houses range in price from $10 million to $75 million or a personal horoscope chart reading by world-renowned astrologist Susan Miller in New York City.

Villa Amanecer is a four-suite luxury villa that boasts an unobstructed 180-degree view of the Sea of Cortez. The big package includes a 7-Night Stay with one deep sea fishing excursion, a round of golf at the famous Tom Doak course, a personal cook during the stay and transportation to-and-from the airport.

Susan Miller, who rarely does personal one-on-one sessions for the general public, will meet the lucky winner of the auction at the posh St. Regis Hotel in New York City for High Tea. Miller, who is the founder of AstrologyZone.com, has nearly six million unique readers a month on her website.

Click here to go to CharityBuzz.com page for Villa Amanecer auction.

Click here to go to CharityBuzz.com page for Susan Miller auction.

Proceeds from both auctions go to the Primo Center for Women and Children.

About Susan Miller

Susan Miller is the founder, owner and editor of AstrologyZone.com, a website she started in 1995 that now generates 18 million page views a month, and is read by 6 million unique readers each month. Susan is the author of six books, including her favorite, Planets and Possibilities (Warner Books). She is currently contributing editor to Elle (USA) and to Vogue (Japan), W (Korea) and Tempo (Turkey).

About Villa Amanecer

Villa Amanecer de los Suenos is a four-suite luxury villa that boasts an unobstructed 180-degree view of the Sea of Cortez. It is located in the Bahia de los Sueños – The Bay of Dreams – the most exclusive residential community in Baja California Sur where houses range from anywhere between $10 million and $75 million. Besides its stunning natural beauty, the Bay of Dreams is known for world-class sport fishing and diving.

Chicago, IL – January 6, 2010 – Christine Achre, Chief Executive Officer of the Primo Center for Women and Children (“PCWC”) in Chicago, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Nicole Ranttila as the center’s Chief Clinical Officer.

Dr. Ranttila, who is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and graduate of The Illinois School of Professional Psychology, has extensive experience working with children, adolescents, adults, and families. She specializes in family dynamics, mood and anxiety disorders, relationship issues, discipline, play therapy, and behavior modification.

“We are pleased to have Dr. Ranttila join our leadership team as this will allow us to raise the clinical competence of the Primo Center,” said Christine Achre. “Her professional expertise in treating families will raise the level of Primo Center’s response to the issue of family homelessness in the community.  This level of care will have a significant impact on the complex needs of homeless women and their children.”

“I have very much enjoyed working with the center’s fundraising arm, theRedHot board, over the last year,” said Dr. Ranttila. “My career has been dedicated to children and families and the Primo Center is a wonderful place to really make an impact on homeless families. I am very excited to formally join the Primo Center team and take part in implementing the programs to create interventions for both individuals and families.”

Dr. Ranttila is a member of ACEPT (Association of Chicagoland Externship and Practicum Training Sites), IPA (Illinois Psychological Association), and APA. She currently serves on the Executive Committee of ACEPT as the Secretary and Treasurer and the Chairperson of the IPA Committee on Student Development and is actively working to develop an internship consortium in Illinois. In addition, Dr. Ranttila is the Associate Director of Training at Psychological Consultations where she facilitates internship and externship training for psychology graduate students. She is also an adjunct faculty member at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology.

Media Contacts:

Trish Hoffman 312-805-4314

Jeff Fisher 312-805-4850

Quintin E. Primo III and his wife Diane, who are Co-Chairmen of the Primo Center for Women and Children, will welcome their guests to the revolutionary outdoor concert stage beginning at 6 P.M. for a cocktail hour and then an elegant dinner with Millennium Park and the incredible Chicago skyline as the backdrop.

Red Hot Gala

Saturday, October 17, 2009

6 P.M. to Midnight

Jay Pritzker Pavilion Stage at Millennium Park

210 E. Randolph Street in Chicago

“Current economic pressure is raising the number of homeless in Chicago,” said Quintin E. Primo, III, who is also Chairman and Founder of Capri Capital Partners in Chicago.  “I’ve looked into the eyes of our moms and children and know how much they appreciate having nice beds and warm meals, plus first-class counseling that helps them work through difficult times and build for the future. If it weren’t for all of our friends and supporters, who look beyond their own lives, we couldn’t continue to work toward ending homelessness one family at a time.”

Joining DJ Sadie on-stage will be “The Connection”, a Motown foursome, for 50 years of Motown music that is sure to keep everyone dancing until midnight.

For ticket information please call Oscar Groves at 312-805-5260

Chicago, IL – May 10, 2009 – The RedHot Board is proud to announce RedHot High Tea II on Sunday, May 31, 2009 from 2 P.M. to 5 P.M. at the G.R. N’Namdi Gallery at 110 North Peoria Street in Chicago.Â

The 2^nd annual event, entitled “City Style”, will raise money for the Primo Center for Women and Children (“PCWC”), an interim housing program for mothers and their children located in the West Garfield neighborhood of Chicago.

Anna McCoy, a noted empowerment coach and author, will address the crowd and announce the launch Hope’s Chance, a business opportunity for homeless women and self-supporting young adults.

“Hope’s Chance’s mission is to employ homeless women, working age orphans and others in dire straits, and donate half of the company’s net profits to charity,” said Diane Primo Co-Chairman of PCWC and Chief Executive Officer of Hope’s Chance. “All of us at Hope’s Chance look forward to our partnership with the Primo Center. In these tough economic times our hope is to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to charities like the Primo Center for Women and Children.”

“As the economic crisis worsens, charities need to get creative in finding new funding sources,” said Christine Achre, Chief Executive Officer of Primo Center for Women and Children. “With organizations like the RedHot Board, Hope’s Chance and The Entertaining Company, which donates the formal high tea menu, our organization is able to move forward with innovative programs for homeless moms and their children.”

About Primo Center for Women and Children

PCWC is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) an interim housing program for mothers and their children located in the West Garfield neighborhood of Chicago. The center’s “LessHomeless” campaign is creating effective solutions to bring an end to family homelessness.

The Primo Center for Women and Children is named in honor of the late Right Reverend Quintin E. Primo, Junior. Bishop Primo was first to serve in many areas: the first president of the National Union of Black Episcopalians; the first black bishop of Chicago; the first bishop to ordain women priests in that diocese; and the first black Episcopal bishop in the Diocese of Delaware. For more information, please visit our website at www.primocenter.org

About RedHot

RedHot is the fundraising arm of the Primo Center for Women and Children. It oversees several events during the year including the RedHot Gala, RedHot Midnight Kiss, RedHot Cocktails, and RedHot Greens and RedHot High Tea.

Media Contacts:

Trish Hoffman 312-805-4314

Jeff Fisher 312-805-4850

Chicago, IL – May 5, 2009- Primo Center for Women and Children (“PCWC”) Executive Director Dollie Williams will receive the Bishop’s Award during the Bishop’s Associates Annual Luncheon on Thursday, May 7, 2009 at the Union Club in Chicago. The Bishop’s Award, which will be presented by Rt. Reverend Jeffrey D. Lee, Bishop of the Chicago Diocese of the Episcopal Church, recognizes individuals for outstanding service to God, church and community.

“It’s an honor to receive the Bishop’s Award,” said Williams, who has been with the Primo Center since 2002. “The mothers and children that come through the doors of our center inspire me every day to help, but the real winners are my staff and the supporters of our shelter.”

“Ms. Williams is very deserving of this award, because of her tireless dedication to the cause of ending homelessness…one family at a time,” said Quintin E. Primo III, Chairman of PCWC. “She is a tireless worker, who has dedicated her life to helping others. With the help of her great staff, the Primo Center has been able to make a difference in the lives of many families dealing with being homeless.”

Chicago, IL – February 24, 2009- The Primo Center for Women and Children (“PCWC”) is pleased to announce it is partnering with the Feinstein Foundation in its’ 12th Annual Million Dollar Giveaway to Fight Hunger.

Under the program, the Feinstein Foundation will award PCWC a monetary grant based on all cash and food donations to the center between March 1, 2009 and April 30, 2009. Feinstein Foundation grants can range from $250 to $40,000 per participating agency.

“We are pleased to participate in this very important challenge,” says Christine Achre, Chief Executive Officer of the Primo Center for Women and Children. “Feinstein’s past million dollar challenges to fight hunger have raised a record $940 million for agencies nationwide.  This partnership represents one of the most successful grassroots campaign to fight hunger.”

Achre added, “Any donations we receive will turn into cash, and be used for the operating expenses of our home away from home for moms and their children.”

“People always ask why I giveaway a million dollars each year to fight hunger, and the answer is simple,” said Alan Shawn Feinstein, Chief Executive Officer of the Feinstein Foundation. “I believe each of us was put here on earth to do what we can to help those in need.”

To make a donation to PCWC for the Feinstein Foundation Million Dollar Giveaway to Fight Hunger, please contact PCWC Chief Development Officer Shelley Cooper at 773-722-2371.

About Primo Center for Women and Children

PCWC is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) an interim housing program for mothers and their children located in the West Garfield neighborhood of Chicago. The center’s “LessHomeless” campaign is creating effective solutions to bring an end to family homelessness.Â

About Feinstein Foundation

Founded in 1991 by Alan Shawn Feinstein, the Feinstein Foundation is dedicated to the alleviation of hunger, the importance of community service in education and the values of caring, compassion and brotherhood. The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funding. For more information please visit the foundation’s website at www.feinsteinfoundation.org.

Media Contacts:

Trish Hoffman 312-805-4314

Jeff Fisher 312-805-4850

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“It is truly an honor to be cited by a great publication like the Chicago Defender,” said Primo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capri Capital Partners, LLC in Chicago. “I believe that being a role model for our children is the biggest thing that a man can give back to society.”

The 50 Men of Excellence in Chicago were saluted for excellence in their work and their communities.

Click here to read the entire list of honorees.

Thomas interviewed PCWC Chief Executive Officer Christine Achre and one of the center’s moms about what will happen to social service agencies as the economy slows down.

Ms. Achre was quoted as saying, “We have been facing serious issues with homelessness before the economic downturn and the economy just magnified the issue.”

Click here to read the entire story.

“Shelley is the perfect person to lead the Primo Center to the next level,” said Primo, who is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Capri Capital Partners, LLC in Chicago. “Shelley’s commitment to excellence and details will be very invaluable in this tough economic times when we need to work harder to make sure our funding levels remain strong, so that we can keep providing our high level of service to our moms and their kids.”

Shelley can be contacted at 773-722-2371 or at scooper@primocenter.org.