Lisa’s family express our profound gratitude to the Plainfield Exchange Club for making our dream a beautiful reality.  We raised money for a very worthy cause and raised awareness about domestic violence and child abuse prevention.

The speeches that Lisa’s parents, Lawrence and Judy Ruttenberg gave thanked the Plainfield community for all they have done for our family in the past year.  With the dove release honoring Lisa’s spirit, accompanied by beautiful music by Joe Cantafio, there wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd.  It was a beautiful and moving remembrance for Lisa Michele.

The families of other missing loved ones came out in support of our family, including those of Stacy Peterson, Brad Olson, and John Spira.  Some came from long distances, including Canada and Arizona.  We appreciate all who came and joined us, and give thank to the many volunteers who gave of their time and energy for this event.

Visit Recent News to see articles and video of the event.

(Courtesy:  Michael R. Schmidt/Joliet Herald Staff Photographer & Rosemary Fontaine)

Post-Walk Live Concert

Come enjoy the music of Joe Cantafio of

101^st Rock Division at

Front Street Cantina restaurant at about 3 pm. 

Admission is free -  

but a donation of $5 per family is requested with

proceeds going to Guardian Angel services.

Cantafio is an accomplished artist who with

101^st Rock Division entertains troops throughout

the world.

(www.joecantafio.com/).

The program will be shown on Friday, April 25 and 7pm, and again on Saturday and Sunday at 1pm.

She is also featured on the front page of their website:

CBS Without A Trace

This is the second time that Without A Trace has featured Lisa as their missing case of the week.

a special event to remember and honor Lisa on the one-year anniversary of her disappearance.

There will be a Fundraiser Walk in Plainfield, IL

benefiting the Guardian Angel Community Services of Joliet

*in Partnership with the Exchange Club of Plainfield

Where: Village Green, 648 West Chicago Street, Plainfield, IL

(Mapquest link of Village Green location)

When: 1:00 pm Sunday, April 27th
Registration begins at 12:00

Same day registration $20 per individual, $35 for a family.

Post-Walk Live ConcertCome enjoy the music of Joe Cantafio of 101^st Rock Division at Front Street Cantina restaurant at about 3 pm.  Admission is free but a donation of $5 per family is requested with proceeds going to Guardian Angel services. Cantafio is an accomplished artist who with 101^st Rock Division entertains troops throughout the world. (www.joecantafio.com/).

The one year anniversary of the disappearance of Lisa Ruttenberg Stebic is fast approaching. Lisa went missing without a trace on April 30^th, 2007. Lisa’s parents and family have decided that they would like to give back to the community that has done so much for our family. To remember Lisa, we are holding a Fundraiser Walk called “Lisa’s Walk for Guardian Angel Community Services“ on Sunday, April 27^th.

The purpose of Lisa’s Walk will be to remember Lisa Stebic, to raise awareness of domestic violence and to assist in the prevention of future domestic violence by donating the proceeds from this event to the Guardian Angel’s Community Services’ Groundwork Domestic Violence Program, Sexual Assault Service Center and Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse.

April is National Child Abuse Awareness month, and the newly chartered Plainfield Exchange Club will partner with Lisa’s family to hold this event. Exchange Clubs is known as America’s service club whose members make a difference within their communities through programs of service in Americanism, youth, community service and their National program of preventing child abuse.

Guardian Angel Community Services, formerly Guardian Angel Home, was founded in Joliet in 1897 as an orphanage, run by the Sisters of Saint Francis of Mary Immaculate. Guardian Angel Community Services offer Domestic Violence crisis services, counseling, foster care and many domestic and child abuse prevention programs. They strive to help victims become survivors.

“The first anniversary of Lisa’s disappearance will be very difficult for our family. We have chosen to honor her by doing something positive for the community. We hope to raise awareness about domestic violence and child abuse, and raise donations for an organization, Guardian Angel, that works to prevent abuse and offers many services for victims.” – Melanie Greenberg, family spokesperson

The Plainfield Exchange Club encourages area businesses to become sponsors of the event.

“As our first signature fundraising event, it is a tremendous honor and privilege to assist Lisa’s family while also building awareness of the domestic violence and child abuse prevention and counseling services that are provided through the Guardian Angel Community Services organization.” - Dave Wentz, Lincolnland Exchange Clubs District President and co-founder of the Exchange Club of Plainfield.

Email us at findlisastebic@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering or becoming a sponsor for the event.  Some extra t-shirts will be available for same day registration, but will be first-come, first served while they last.

If you cannot attend, but would still like to make a donation, please send your donation here:

 Lincolnland Foundation for Youth

Attn:  Robert Epley

First Midwest Bank

24509 W. Lockport Street

Plainfield, IL 60544

We had the privilege of meeting many of you  at both the command center for volunteers at the Westbrook Church in  Bolingbrook, IL….and out in the freezing cold search areas.

We hope that the  “FindLisaStebic” handwarmers (which we also distributed in the Upper Penninsula of Michigan - on opening day of Deer Hunting Season)  warmed both the hands and the hearts all those people who attended the search & prayer vigil for Stacy and Lisa,  last Saturday.

Know that we appreciate, beyond words, the opportunity of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Stacy’s wonderful family, friends & supporters - in trying to find resolution in these two heartbreaking cases.

Their parallel lives as young, abused mothers who go missing while trying to separate from their controlling husbands is a tragedy which the Communities of both Plainfield and Bolingbrook now share. 

May they both be found soon…so that all may find solace through answers. 

Walnut Greens Golf Club in Schaumburg, IL. 
 

On a beautiful but brisk November day, Walnut Greens, a nine hole – par 27 golf course, hosted a 4 person scramble golf tournament with the proceeds going to benefit the Lisa Stebic and Children’s Fund.  

There were 30 golfers and several volunteers helping sell raffle tickets for the many donated prizes.

Through all the participants and volunteers generosity we collected $1021.00. A concerted effort by many helped make this a great success when you consider the obstacles of hosting a golf event in November from an idea conceived a week earlier. 

We gathered to have fun and play golf, but more so, we came together to fight for a sister, mother, daughter and friend who has simply vanished.  We need to find answers; we need to bring Lisa home. 

Hopefully this small gesture to help bolster the Reward/Children’s Fund will in some way be part of a resolution.  If nothing else, it will serve as a message of love and support to all those fighting for Lisa.

Keep up the good fight! 

The FOX News Lineup appearance has been cancelled for Saturday.

Jamie Bouma and Debbie Ruttenberg, sisters of Lisa Stebic, pray for her return at a vigil Tuesday night. Between them is Jamie’s husband John Bouma.

Thank you to Lisa’s neighbors and friends for the beautiful way you decorated the gazebo.

Sisters of Lisa Stebic, a Plainfield woman missing since April 30, pray for her return during a vigil marking the six-months since her disappearance, held near Stebic’s home in Plainfield Tuesday evening. The sisters are from right Jamie Bouma and Debbie Ruttenberg. Behind Jamie is her husband John Bouma. (Danielle Gardner/Staff Photographer, Naperville Sun)

The grandfather of Lisa Stebic, Milton Ruttenberg, 93, center, is comforted by relatives during a prayer vigil near her Plainfield home marking the six months since her disappearance. (Danielle Gardner/Staff Photographer)

Neighbors of missing Plainfield mom Lisa Stebic, Bob Yackley and his daughter Claire, 12, take part at Tuesday’s prayer vigil. “I prayed mostly for (the Stebic’s) children,” said Yackley. (Danielle Gardner/Staff Photographer)

Milton Ruttenberg, right, the grandfather of missing Plainfield woman Lisa Stebic, is comforted by Stebic’s cousin Mark Greenberg during a prayer vigil marking the six months since Stebic’s disappearance. (Danielle Gardner/Staff Photographer)

Charlotte Ruttenberg, center, the grandmother of missing Plainfield woman, Lisa Stebic, embraces Debbie Ruttenberg, Stebic’s sister during a prayer vigil marking the six months since Stebic’s disappearance. At right is Stebic’s sister Jamie Bouma. (Danielle Gardner/Staff Photographer)

Lisa Tarson of Deerfield, whose husband is a cousin of missing Plainfield woman Lisa Stebic, looks at photos of Stebic and her sisters during a prayer vigil marking the six months since Stebic’s disappearance. “I love looking at the pictures and remembering them,” said Tarson. (Danielle Gardner/Staff Photographer)

Lisa Michelle Ruttenberg Stebic’s family held a prayer vigil for Lisa on the 6 month anniversary of her disappearance on Tuesday, October 30th at 7:30 p.m . The prayer vigil was conducted in the gazebo in the park at the end of Red Star Drive near the Stebic home in Plainfield, the same site as previous vigils.

A brief service was conducted by a rabbi, a friend of Lisa’s family.  We thank, from the bottom of our hearts, all those who came to help us remember Lisa that emotional & touching evening.

Our media advisor - Leigh Harris, who from Phoenix, has helped Lisa’s family organize many community events for Lisa, thanks us for remembering her friend Martha Moxley on that evening, as well.

October 30th marked 32 years since the night Martha was murdered by Michael Skakel in Greenwich, Connecticut.

Should you wish to learn more about Martha’s story - please go to http://marthamoxley.com