Women Leaders Join Chuhak & Tecson to Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Its Pioneering Women Helping Women Program in Support of #LovePurse

CHICAGO, SEPT. 25, 2024. On September 18, 2024, almost 200 women business leaders, entrepreneurs and strategic partners gathered together at Rivers Restaurant, 10 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, to celebrate a major milestone and support a wonderful and compelling cause. The occasion was the Women Helping Women Mix-and-Mingle marking the 15^th anniversary of Chuhak & Tecson’s award-winning Women Helping Women program. This groundbreaking initiative, designed exclusively by women, for women, fosters professional empowerment and strengthens bonds among women professionals while partnering with not for profit organizations to provide resources and expand opportunities for women throughout Chicagoland.

At this year’s event, Women Helping Women welcomed its 21^st not for profit partner, #LovePurse. This innovative nonprofit organization and its volunteers collect new purses, fill them with necessary toiletries, personal items, small gifts and inspirational notes of encouragement and distribute them to organizations supporting women coping with personal tragedies, living in emergency shelter situations or facing domestic violence, human trafficking or homelessness.

The women who gathered at this year’s Mix-and-Mingle contributed over 125 purses and more than $1000 in cash donations — all to support deserving women.

Maria Castro, who started #LovePurse in March 2021, was both thrilled by the success of the event and grateful for the overwhelming support shown by Chuhak & Tecson and the women in attendance.

“We were so proud to participate in Women Helping Women’s 15th anniversary. It was such a blessing and inspiration to see all of these impressive professionals come together to support fellow women and let them know that they are seen, supported and loved,” Castro says. “It is not an understatement to say that the purses, materials and personal messages gathered that evening will change lives.”

Over the past 15 years, Women Helping Women has brought together thousands of local women attorneys, business leaders, entrepreneurs, decision-makers and strategic partners at its annual Mix and Mingle gathering. Over delicious food and drink (such as this year’s specially concocted “Purse-Your-Lips C-Tini”), these accomplished women forge bonds, exchange ideas, generate new business and share laughter and conversation, all while bringing hope, assistance and opportunities for women facing an array of personal and economic challenges.

For its creative, integrated approach to professional growth and community service, Women Helping Women received the IDEA award from the Association of Legal Administrators, which recognizes new practices that deliver immense value and transformational impact through innovative achievement.

This year’s Mix-and-Mingle earned ecstatic reviews from guests, including the following comments:

• “I’ve never experienced such a warm and welcoming event – and we get to help women too! This is amazing! I’ll be there next year.”
• “I was so moved by the speakers and the stories they shared about what women go through to escape horrible situations.”
• “I remember the first few events as smaller and intimate. While larger now, that intimacy is still present. Well done.”
• “What an event! Honestly, it is my favorite Women’s networking event. Every one of my colleagues expressed the same sentiment. It’s truly what all networking events, women or coed, try to be but never succeed. You all do it right!”
  
  To learn more about Women Helping Women or to suggest a not for profit partner for upcoming events, contact Sydney Iglitzen, Manager of Marketing & Communications, at siglitzen@chuhak.com.