Mothers walked arm in arm with daughters, friends gathered for photos beneath blooming trees and families filled the trails at Lake Katherine on Saturday morning as the Palos Park Woman’s Club hosted its fourth annual Mother’s Day Walk.
What started several years ago as a simple community event has quickly grown into a beloved Mother’s Day weekend tradition, bringing together women and families from across the area for a morning centered on celebration, connection and giving back.
This year’s walk raised more than $20,000 to support the Palos Park Woman’s Club’s charitable efforts and Moraine Valley Community College’s Last Mile Scholarship program, which helps students who are close to graduating overcome final financial barriers to completing their education.
The event was co-chaired by Ronette McCarthy, co-president of the Palos Park Woman’s Club, and Traci Dawodu, treasurer of the organization. Club members spent months organizing the walk, coordinating vendors and sponsors and preparing one of the club’s largest community events of the year.
“This idea really started from wanting to create something joyful around Mother’s Day that also helped people in the community,” McCarthy said.
The Palos Park Woman’s Club, founded in 1902, has more than 130 members and has long focused on supporting cultural, educational and civic initiatives throughout the area.
Participants could choose from three different routes, including a one-mile wood-chip loop around Lake Katherine, a two-mile paved path along the Cal-Sag Trail or a combined three-mile route. Women in matching event shirts laughed and chatted as they walked alongside mothers, grandmothers and children in strollers.
Vendor booths selling flowers, handmade crafts and Mother’s Day gifts added to the festive atmosphere while music played throughout the morning.
The Jackiw family of Palos Park served as the event sponsor and donated $3,000 toward the fundraiser. LiveStrong Aesthetics and Wellness participated as the Bee-Keeper Sponsor.
Organizers said this year’s partnership with Moraine Valley carried special meaning because the walk itself symbolized helping students complete their own “last mile” toward graduation. The scholarship program has helped hundreds of students finish degrees and certificate programs when unexpected financial hardships threatened to derail their education.
Throughout the morning, the event reflected the spirit of the Palos Park Woman’s Club itself, women supporting one another while creating opportunities within the community. More than 30 club members volunteered during the event, greeting walkers, handing out T-shirts and helping keep the busy morning running smoothly.
As the walk wrapped up, many participants lingered near the lakefront, taking family photos and soaking in the warm spring weather. The morning became more than just a fundraiser. It served as a reminder of how powerful a community can be when women come together to celebrate motherhood while helping others move closer to their dreams.
Families and friends gather at Lake Katherine during the Palos Park Woman’s Club Mother’s Day Walk.
