Our Honor Tree 2022 honors two incredible women.

Our inaugural Honor Service Award 2022 recipient, Ila Chaiken, LCSW, one of our dedicated Lilac Tree Counselors for her continuing and 30+ years of unwavering service to The Lilac Tree.

In memoriam, for Becky Shaevel, our former Lilac Tree Staff member, long-time volunteer & eternal organizer, who sadly passed away in May. We will miss you!

We raised over $15,000

All donations will support our Scholarship Fund

Please Click on the picture above and visit our Honor Tree 2022

All funds raised for The Honor Tree 2022 will be used for our Scholarship Fund, which helps us provide scholarships and offer lower cost & some free programs.

We will continue for a 3rd year to serve all First Responders for free in 2022 to honor their dedicated and unwavering service during Covid.

Choose A Leaf to Donate!

You can move around the branches and choose any size you want, and then change its color - well, the shade of purple. This year’s Honor Tree 2022 is all purple in honor of Ila and Becky! And you can remain anonymous/not, write a message, share publicly or keep your donation private. You can also send us a check instead & we can still add your leaf and message!

All Donations are Welcome and tax deductible.

This year, we are also creating an Annual Honor Service Award, and our inaugural Honoree is Ila Chaiken, LCSW, Lilac Tree Counselor and the heart of The Lilac Tree!

She has tirelessly worked for The Lilac Tree for over 30 years, instrumental in developing many of our programs, especially our Information Sessions and Support Groups. Thousands of individuals have been in a Support Group with Ila, and faced her gentle honesty, her humor, her truth, her compassion and professionalism for those dealing with separation and divorce. It is an experience never forgotten. Ila changes lives. Saves lives. She is truly unique, inspiring and amazing counselor!

The Honor Tree 2022 is also dedicated, in memoriam, for our former Lilac Tree team member, volunteer, former Lilac Tree client, and dear friend, Becky Shaevel, who sadly passed away recently. Becky was the most organized, punctual and calm team member we ever had, with an ever so wicked sense of humor! She will be sorely missed.

As we have processed the passing of Becky, the changes and losses Covid has forced upon us and our clients, the impact of politics, and the recent violent events around our country, we have also ricocheted the notion that we need a better sense of community, connection, support and honor more than ever - and that those facing separation and divorce need it the most. With that in mind, we are currently developing a National Divorce Awareness Month and campaign to foster engagement, action, support and impact for all touched by separation and divorce. More on this soon!

Thank you for your Awareness and Support,

The Lilac Tree Staff and Board

Prefer to donate by check (it saves on fees - thank you!) - let us know, email Lorraine at lmurphy@thelilactree.org and we can still add a Leaf and a message on your behalf. Please make payable and mail to The Lilac Tree, 1101 Davis Street, Unit 510, Evanston, IL 60204