People dressed as giant Rubik’s Cubes, a life-size cut out of Mr. T and a Michael Jackson impersonator – Oh, and unlimited food and beer. What more could you want at a party?

DeKalb area residents donned their legwarmers and parachute pants for charity on Friday night. The Totally Awesome ’80s Bash was held at MVP’s Regale Center, 124 ½ S. California St., Sycamore. The party raised funding for Childrens Home + Aid and the DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau.

“The common theme between Youth Service Bureau and Childrens Home + Aid is the child, the children on DeKalb County we’re servicing,” said Margo Sutorius, Children Home and Aid’s Healthy Families Illinois supervisor and NIU Instructor. “Another commonality among the two agencies is that we’re servicing at risk children and youth.”

The two agencies focus on helping families and children lead healthy, happy lives. They provide everything from family and youth counseling to 24-hour crisis intervention. The agencies employ NIU students, volunteers and interns. Some NIU alumni have made it their career.

“I went to NIU for four years and got my bachelor’s in psychology and then I went for two years and got my master’s in marriage and family therapy. So I’m definitely in the right field,” said Ahna Young, Clinical Director of the Youth Service Bureau, who was dressed like Madonna circa 1984.

Anna Nelson, senior Public health and promotion major and Youth Service Bureau employee, learned about the Youth Service Bureau through an NIU’s Internship Fair.

“I think it’s a really great opportunity for students to volunteer,” said Nelson, who chose a more business casual approach, opting for a blazer with shoulder pads bigger than Melanie Griffith in Working Girl. “We’re always looking for help for both agencies. It’s always a good experience to come out and get to work with youth.”

Most of the patrons of the Totally Awesome ’80s Bash didn’t have to search ’80s fashion online to put together their costumes. A man stood near one of the prize tables rocking a piano key necktie and a fedora.

“A lot of us remember the ’80s quite well; In fact, I was a student at NIU during the ’80s,” said Brad Hoey, member of Children’s Home + Aid’s auxiliary board and director of the Department of Communications and Marketing for NIU. “Although I don’t have a whole lot attire left from the ’80s – and even if I didn’t I wouldn’t have admitted it – but I think it’s kind of a fun time … People have fond recollections of the ’80s, and that’s what it’s all about.”

To find out more about opportunities and events at from Children’s Home + Aid and the Youth Service Bureau, check out their websites at dcysb.com and childrenshomeandaid.org.