Stepping Up and Out
A local women’s group boasts teen success.

Last Thursday, 550 guests cheerfully battled the rain to “Shine and Dine” at the second annual Step Up Women’s Network fund-raiser at Galleria Marchetti (825 W. Erie). Partygoers snacked on tasty treats from local restaurants such as IPO, Quay, Shanghai Terrace and Zed 451 until the evening’s pro-woman program began, which was emceed by Val Warner (“Windy City Live”). A hush fell across the crowd as Step Up participant Mary Ann Feliciano took the stage to share how her Step Up mentor pushed her to graduate from high school against all odds; she’s now a top student at Dominican University. The evening brought in more than $100,000 to help teens through Step Up’s after school and Saturday programs. MORE ONLINE Full gallery at Suntimes.com The Sun-Times was the media sponsor of this event.