ICYMI: Light Opera Works' Salute to Movie Musicals benefit was a hit

Guest post 
by Light Opera Works

Alice Berneche

On April 11, 2015, more than 160 guests supported Light Opera Works’ spring benefit, A Salute to Movie Musicals, co-chaired by Cathy Westphal of Glenview and Pam Rosenbusch of Evanston, and hosted by Jim and Rosemary Hughes at the elegant North Shore Country Club in Glenview.

Catherine Westphal and Gary Raphael of Glencoe hosted a private reception before the event, during which business manager Mike Kotze screened a clip of “Love Me Tonight” and included performances highlighting the history of the movie musical.

Artistic director Rudy Hogenmiller served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, with Director of Events, Kyle Dougan and General Manager, Bridget McDonough of Chicago leading the live auction bidding. Throughout the evening performers including Light Opera Works cast members from upcoming shows performed numbers from movie musicals and Oscar nominated songs giving a glimpse into next season’s concert of “Hollywood’s Greatest Song Hits” performers included Alicia Berneche of Evanston, Mary Robin Roth of Westchester, Billy Dawson of Chicago, Sarah Larson of Chicago, Justin Adair of Chicago, and James Harms of Chicago.

Flowers were provided by Carl Davenport of Davenport Designs, with support by Martin and Sue Kozak. Photography was by Jennifer Schuman of Horizon Photography. Other sponsors were Binny’s Beverage Depot, Susan Kozak Charitable Fund, On Track Fulfillment, Viking Printing Solutions, First Bank and Trust Evanston and Marcus Promotions.

The raffle prize of $1,000 cash was won by Marilyn Drury-Katillo of Park Ridge.

The evening raised more than $45,000 to fund artistic programming,

YouthReach and SeniorReach initiatives.

Bruce and Mary Feay (left), Fran Faller and Joe Dunn, Lori and John R. Twombly.

For a Peaceful Evanston: Rotary's Holiday Benefit December 11

BizPics applying for Mission: Small Business grant

Update: On June 29, we got the 250 votes we needed to be considered for the grant. Big thank-you to all who voted for us.

Like other Evanston-based business, such as New Leaf Urban Gardens (in need of votes), iBraincercise (closing in on 300 votes), The Titanic Players, I Want To Draw a Cat For You! (close to 350 votes as of this post), my company, Kring Lerner Group is going for it!

We've applied for a Chase and Living Social's Mission: Small Business grant for BizPics too.

Scheduled approximately every other month, often at Boocoo Cultural Center or Creative Coworking, a BizPics shoot is a fun and affordable way to have a good business portrait made.

The grant money, $250,000, will support a new program for Chicago-area unemployed job seekers needing headshots on LinkedIn, Facebook and beyond, as well as help make BizPics a more sustainable operation.

We'll need 250 votes by June 30 to be eligible for the grant.
Grant recipients will be announced in September.

Please search on "BizPics" after logging in at https://www.missionsmallbusiness.com and cast a vote for us.

Thanks. We appreciate our community's support.

Side note: While most our shoots happen in Evanston, our mailing address is in Skokie, so on Mission: Small Business' website we show up when you search on Skokie, IL.

For more about Mission: Small Business' judges and sponsors, check out their press release on BusinessWire.

Portrayed here: Scott Green Sue and Tom Swigert and Julianne Dieterich.

Rotary Club of Evanston's Holiday Benefit December 8

This in from the Rotary Club of Evanston...

Update/November 29: Donate a Silent Auction Item for Rotary: Club members are busy preparing for our annual Holiday Benefit. Rotarians are currently soliciting items from local merchants for the silent and live auctions – highlights of this popular event. Please consider donating a product or service – proceeds benefit Evanston-based charitable projects. For more information, visit www.evanstonrotary.org or call Maggie Noonan at 847-328-4400.
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The Rotary Club of Evanston cordially invites you to its Annual

HOLIDAY BENEFIT
In support of our Charitable Fund

Featuring
Open Bar and exquisite Dinner
Live and Silent Auctions
Live Music - ETHS Jazz Ensemble
Photography - Genie Lemieux

When: Thursday, December 8, 2011
Where: The Hilton Orrington/Evanston
The Grand Ballroom
1710 Orrington Avenue, Evanston
FREE valet parking available

Program
6:00 p.m.
Cocktails & Hors D’oeuvres
Refreshments & Lively Conversation
Silent Auction Bidding

7:00 p.m.
Buffet Dinner & Live Auction

Exciting Auction Items include 
Holiday gifts, Wines, Restaurant Gift Certificates, Vacation Packages to Paris, Sonoma, Las Vegas, Alaska, Orlando, and more… Golf trips to St. Andrews and the Masters Tournament
And so much more…

Ticket Price: $75 prior to December 5, $80 at the door
(purchase 4 or more tickets for $70 each prior to December 5th)
Interested in sponsoring a table? (1 Rotarian plus 7 guests) $550

TO MAKE RESERVATIONS:
(Please reserve by December 5)
Contact Ada Kahn (847) 328-4512
adapkahn@aol.com

Not required, but replying via Facebook would be nice too.

Make checks payable to:
Rotary Club of Evanston Charitable Fund

Checks can be brought to any regular Thursday meeting (starting at noon at North Shore Retirement Hotel) or mailed to:
Rotary Club of Evanston
P.O.Box 84
Evanston, IL 60204
ATTN: Holiday Party

>> About Evanston Rotary: Founded in 1920, the Rotary Club of Evanston provides service to the community via hands-on volunteer projects and fundraising to help worthy causes. It has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for not-for-profit organizations, helping Evanston cope with pressing issues ranging from HIV/AIDS and literacy to homelessness and poverty.

The club also provides scholarships, supports international aid projects and maintains the Friendship
Garden in Evanston’s Ladd Arboretum for public use.

Local Rotarians are part of a global network of more than 1 million Rotarians who work together in
providing local, national and international service projects. Since the 1980s, Rotary International has
played a major role as a partner in worldwide polio eradication efforts. The organization’s global
headquarters are in Evanston.

The club’s weekly luncheon meeting is held Thursdays from 12 to 1:15 p.m. at the North Shore Hotel. To learn more about becoming a member, visit www.evanstonrotary.org.

Pictures above from last year's Holiday Benefit produced courtesy of Genie Lemieux.
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Karen here: In the name of full disclosure, Joel and I are Rotarians.

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