Results tagged “fundraiser”

When a friend of ours visited Kenya a few years ago she stopped by an elephant orphanage operated by The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and fell in love with the cause. In particular she connected with an adorable little blind baby elephant named Ndolo --who was later profiled on 60 Minutes -- and she was deeply moved by the dedication of the people working with the animals and for the Trust. The Trust operates primarily in Tsavo National Park rescuing and raising both elephant and rhino orphans upholding the ivory ban, de-snaring operations, a mobile veterinary project, animal welfare, and general conservation initiatives.

Last night Eyewitness News Chicagoist went to the House of Blues to hear Bill Clinton talk about the Millennium Network: an effort to involve folks under 45 in the public service work undertaken by his William J. Clinton Foundation. In addition to remarks by the OG President Hopey (Arkansas, represent), the fancy fund-raising event included a performance by Common and platters of spring rolls served with a delightful sauce.

We're feeling quite presidential these days. Besides Hyde Park's most famous resident currently entrenched as POTUS #44, we mentioned earlier that #43, George W. Bush, will be in town later this month for a private function. And now we know that if you have a little extra money to donate, you can catch #42, William J. Clinton, this week at the House of Blues appearing with hip-hop star Common. The event is a fundraiser for the William J. Clinton Foundation Millennium Network, a network that seeks to engage individuals age 45 and younger in the work of the Clinton Foundation. The Clinton Foundation’s seven initiatives deliver tangible results to tackle pressing issues including HIV/AIDS, global warming, economic opportunity worldwide, and the childhood obesity epidemic in the United States. Tomorrow night is the Millennium Network's first event in the Midwest and it'll feature a performance by Common and remarks by the former President.

Dozens of family members and friends quietly gathered outside the Fraternal Order of Police hall where supporters raised funds for an officer accused of drunk driving and crashing into a vehicle that killed two men, Chicago Breaking News reports.

We've mentioned the upcoming film adaptation of the famous childrens book Where The Wild Things Are before. Maybe it's because we're a little skeptical of how writer Dave Eggers and director Spike Jonze will transform a 40-something page book (that's not a whole lot of substance, though we love it dearly) into a 90-plus minute movie. Or maybe it's because we do love the book so much and we're also fans of both Eggers and Jonze and are anxious to see if they worked their magic on this.

There's been more on Chicago 2016's plate than just conflicts of interest and the looming October announcement. Last night the bid committee held its final fundraiser and, though they drew a huge crowd, the Tribune reports that it also raked in the least amount of cash of all their fundraisers: $5 million.

The first major fundraiser, in March 2007, raised $9.4 million, and the second, in July 2008, raised more than $12 million. This fundraiser comes at a time of deep recession and at a point when the bid has met its main targets.

On June 6 avid storm chaser Fabian Guerra died in a car accident to meet up with two of his compatriots, leaving behind his wife and 12-year-old daughter. Fabian also left behind a bereaved Chicago music community, many of who he haad given their start in the back room of The Big Horse in Wicker Park.

President Obama will be in town this weekend for a fundraiser at the home of friend Penny Prtizker, but as Crain's Shia Kapos reports, not all the neighbors are thrilled, especially with the limited access and blocked off streets and alleys in the area of Pritzker's Orchard Ave. home.

If you're a fan of trying to catch a glimpse of President Obama on one of his rare trips back home to Chicago, you'll have a chance in about three weeks when Obama returns for a DNC fundraiser. No word on how long he'll be in town or if the family will be with him. Really, I just wanted an excuse to run the above picture.

              

Did you notice a lot of folks walking around the city on Saturday night? More than usual? With matching t-shirts and fanny packs and water bottles? They were probably part of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's 2009 Overnight walk traversed 18 miles of the city, beginning and ending at Soldier Field. Over 2,000 participants took the stroll and helped raise $2 million (before expenses, as the AFSP notes) that will help "support AFSP’s research and education programs to prevent suicide, increase advocacy, and assist survivors of suicide loss." Check out more of the AFSP's photos from the event.

Whole Foods all over Chicago will be accepting your dusty old practice amps and extraneous guitars, basses, drums, strings, cables, tuners, cases and cymbals this Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The brand spankin' new flagship store in Lincoln Park will also feature live entertainment throughout the day and a chance to meet some of the organizers and former students.

We mentioned the sentencing for former Blago fundraiser Chris Kelly earlier. A judge has sentenced Kelly to 37 months in prison for using work funds to pay off gambling debts and to pay for his house.

       

By now, you've seen them in several spots around town or you've seen them featured on websites like ours. Now, the artist who's created the stencils of former governor Rod Blagojevich is reaching out to you for a little help. The man behind the stencil, Pilsen artist Ray Noland, has begun a fundraiser at kickstarer to help raise money for a future showcase of his works. You can donate any amount from $1 on up and donations of certain increments ($10, $25, etc) will get you things ranging from t-shirts to your own painting. Noland is hoping to raise $3,500 by the end of the month and so far has raised $680 at post time.

We here at Chicagoist are admirers of what Lisa Thompson is doing over at Blue Sky Inn and its Albany Park bakery and café. Blue Sky Inn and LUSH Wine & Spirits are teaming up to host a fundraising event this Saturday. "Picnics & Pies" will feature wine tastings; beer; a cakewalk; a bags tournament; the chance to buy picnic lunches from Charlie Trotter and Rick Bayless, among others; and a pie baking contest. The event runs from noon-5 p.m. at LUSH's University Village location (1257 S. Halsted) and costs $10 in advance, $12 at the door. To enter the pie baking contest, email here.

Support Chicago’s local printmaking scene on Saturday, June 6 with Spudnik Press’ Silent Auction / Loud Party fundraiser at Happy Dog Gallery. For 2 years, Angee Lennard's print shop has hosted weekly open studios, residencies, community outreach programs, and workshops for Chicago’s up and coming artists. It's small, independent shops like Spudnik that keep the city’s art scene thriving, diverse, and accessible, so help them keep the dream alive!

George Rasmussen of Swan Creek Farms provides quality artisan meats to restaurants throughout the city. More recently, Rasmussen has been a beneficiary of spent brewers grain from Goose Island's Clybourn brewpub. One of the early hits of John Manion's still-evolving menu overhaul there is the sliders made from Swan Creek's "beer-fed" pork. While making local deliveries a week ago Rasmussen lost his truck, trailer, generator and a lot of food intended to customers to a fire.

Chicagoland chapters of Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays will be hosting a comedy fundraiser tomorrow, “Stand Up For Equality.” Headliner Vickie Shaw, opening act Mike Neubecker, and host Miss Foozie promise an afternoon of laughs at the Comedy Improv at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg. Tickets are still available on-line for the event which starts at 12 noon tomorrow.

        

Last night we attended the sold out mulefoot pig dinner at Blackbird sponsored by the Chicago Reader. Reader food critic Mike Sula has been chronicling the progress Dee Dee since he persuaded the paper to buy her last year, bringing attention to this rare endangered breed of swine in the process.

Arizona Senator John "Maverick" McCain made a rare Illinois stop-over last night, appearing before hundreds of supporters at a fundraiser at the Chicago Hilton & Towers. It was his first stop in Chicago since June, when he raised $2.5 million. This fundraiser was expected to rake in more than $4 million for McCain. And The Maverick came out swinging, accusing Obama of asking for $932 million in pork barrel projects in his first Senate term.

That averages out to about $1 million a day that he's been in the United States Senate. So, who's going to be the team of change, Obama and Biden or McCain and Palin? I think we know the difference.

Arizona Senator and GOP Presidential Candidate John McCain is making a short stop-over in Chicago tonight for a fundraiser at a downtown hotel and the event is going to prove more lucrative than once thought thanks to the soaring popularity of McCain's VP choice, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. State Rep Jim Durkin of Westchester is coordinating the event and says that the money has come pouring in since the Palin choice was announced. "Since he named Palin, this has taken on a life of its own." It's a welcomed bounce for McCain, especially coming in the home state of his opponent, Senator Barack Obama.

The early 90's Riot Grrrl movement in Los Angeles and Minneapolis proved concretely that even though we like to paint our nails and smell nice, sometimes a girl just needs to rock. Girls Rock! Chicago camps are a non-profit organization offering area young ladies the opportunity explore self-expression through traditionally rock-oriented instruments and arrangements. It's a killer concept and one we wish had existed in suburban Wisconsin when we were slogging through our formative years.