Our Story
Mary Agnes and Paul Zellmer’s son Jim was just six years old in the fall of 2004 when he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. When Paul came home from the pharmacy with a bag full of insulin and supplies, Jim panicked and said, “How long will I have to take shots?” His dad told him, “For the rest of your life.” The small boy’s eyes filled with tears and he said, “Mommy, fix this.” The next fall, Pumpkins for a Cure was born.
What started as a small family operation selling pumpkins from Jim’s grandparents’ farm out of the Zellmer front yard, has grown to an annual weekend attraction drawing a crowd of 2,000 people from all over Chicagoland.
In its first year, Pumpkins for a Cure (PFAC) raised $6,000. Today, thanks to our volunteers, sponsors, and passionate supporters, we sell 12 tons of pumpkins each year and raise more than $100,000 per year. Now in it’s seventh year, PFAC benefits the Zellmer Childhood Disease Foundation (ZCDF).
Featured Family Entertainment
Macaroni Soup! with Miss Carole
Miss Carole grew up in a house with a pre-school attached! After graduating from Northwestern University (BS – musical theater), she acted: Chicago, New York, even “All My Children!”) Then to sea as a cruise director, then host of a nightly TV show before settling down to “mommy.” Carole created music classes to meet the needs of her 2 children, who are now twentysomethings. As MACARONI SOUP, she has been providing musical entertainment and education for children 1 – 10 years old internationally since 1989. Carole’s participatory style, energetic presentation and developmentally appropriate music have made her 6 cd’s a favorite with early childhood teachers and parents, winning the Parents’ Choice, NAPPA, I-Parenting Media, Creative Child and Children’s Music Web Awards. Carole considers it a privilege to work with young children and those that care for them!
Judson Allen
It was clear that Judson was IN LOVE with great cuisine. This love for food, led him to attend the only urban agricultural high school in the city of Chicago, “The Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences”, where he majored in Food Science. Faced with the decision of whether to pursue culinary school or take a non-traditional route, Judson chose to continue his studies in Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. Always striving to be different, Judson found himself intrigued by the science behind foods and how flavors seamlessly worked together. Come fall in LOVE with Judson as he prepares a delightful savory dish at the Harvest Taste. He will be performing live at 1:00pm September 29th in front of the Little Traveler.
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