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Published on May 23, 2026
PAG’s Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser was a wonderful success and a meaningful reminder of the shared commitment behind our mission to educate, protect, and restore confidence in pension advocacy.
Thank you to everyone who attended, volunteered, donated, cooked, played music, took photos, bought raffle tickets, shared encouragement, and helped make the morning possible. It was a true community effort, and thankfully, no one left hungry.
A Morning of Community and Support
The Pancake Breakfast brought together members, volunteers, supporters, friends, and advocates for a morning of food, music, conversation, and connection.
Events like this matter because PAG’s work depends on the community. Pension advocacy is serious work, but it is also relationship-building work. When people come together in support of a shared mission, we strengthen the foundation needed to keep educating, protecting, and restoring confidence in pension advocacy.
Thank You to Our Volunteers and Supporters
Ray Wohl donated $2,500, plus two certificates for a massage at the Chicago Male Clinic. He was sent an appreciation call and will be crowned King at the prom for being the highest supporter.
A heartfelt thank-you to Mr. and Mrs. Michael Harris for preparing the food, especially the pancakes, which may now be part of PAG history.
We are also deeply grateful to Venessa Kotesky, LaTa’ja Enachs, Maria Blancas, June O’Ketterer, Candy Bayna, and Francie Reizen for consistently stepping up whenever there is pension advocacy work to be done. Their helping hands, steady energy, and willingness to jump in made the morning run smoothly.
A good event needs planning, people, and purpose. This one had all three, plus pancakes, which never hurts.
The success of the breakfast was made possible by many generous contributions.
Thank you to Lois Jones for donating the beautiful handmade quilt, which helped support PAG’s educational work.
Thank you to Vicki Sochia and Veronica Sanchez for providing wine for prizes.
Thank you to Felipe Barrios for capturing the spirit of the morning through photos and video. His work helped preserve the joy, energy, and purpose of the day.
A huge thank you to Pastor Colman, Lori, and all the support from Mayfair Presbyterian Church for opening their doors and hearts, and for supporting our mission.
These contributions helped make the event feel warm, personal, and rooted in community.
Music, Joy, and a Few Burned Pancake Calories
Of course, no pancake brunch is complete without music.
Former Trustee Gregory Redfearn, along with Yves Francois and his band, brought the perfect sound and energy to the event. Their music gave the morning a lively, welcoming feel and may have helped a few of us burn off at least one pancake calorie.
Javier Payano and fellow music teachers contributed to the second act, continuing the spirit of creativity and community that carried throughout the morning.
We were also treated to a performance by Greir, a 9-year-old CPS student, who shared original songs on his ukulele. His performance was a special reminder of the young people, educators, and communities at the heart of this work.
Why This Fundraiser Matters
PAG’s mission to educate, protect, and restore confidence in pension advocacy requires time, resources, and sustained support.
Every ticket, donation, volunteer hour, raffle contribution, photo, song, and plate of pancakes helped move that mission forward.
This fundraiser was not only about raising money. It was about building community around the belief that educators, retirees, and future members deserve clear information, strong advocacy, and continued attention to the systems that support retirement security.
Looking Ahead
Thank you again to everyone who made the breakfast such a success. The pancakes were excellent. The music was even better. But the best part was seeing this community show up for the work ahead.
We are gearing up for the next and final event for the summer, our first-ever Senior Prom: Somewhere Over the Rainbow. RSVP and get your tickets now.
