Date: May 30, 2007
Contact: Lindsay Gladstone
Governors State University
Phone: (708) 534-7090
Fax: (708) 534-8399
Email: l-gladstone@govst.edu
For Immediate Release
University Park, IL, May 30, 2007 - An afternoon of great music, good friends, delicious food, and the chance to help many worthy causes will bring together fans of jazz and supporters of a host of south suburban social and cultural organizations on July 29 at Governors State University in University Park.
After last year’s great success, “Jazz in the Park for Charity” returns with an even more impressive program of lively jazz entertainment. This year’s headline performer is world famous jazz musician Ramsey Lewis. Mr. Lewis’ performance is sponsored by Great Lakes Bank. Mr. Lewis is best known for his chart topping recordings of “The In Crowd,” “Hang on Sloopy,” and “Wade in the Water,” as well as three Grammy Awards and 7 Gold Records. He currently hosts “The Ramsey Lewis Morning Show” on WNUA –FM Chicago.
Additional performers include Prairie State college Extreme Big Band, Dee Alexander, and Joan Collaso.
As with last year’s event, many local restaurants and businesses will be providing a variety of delicious foods and refreshments, as well as door prizes and items for the live and silent auctions.
“‘Jazz in the Park for Charity’ provides a unique entertainment opportunity for the community and gives us the chance to support south suburban non-profit agencies through ticket purchase, silent auction, door prizes, and contributions,” said Ron Bean of the Governors State University Foundation.
“Jazz in the Park for Charity” will be held on the grounds of Governors State University along the lakefront on the university’s main campus, 1 University Parkway, University Park. The event is from 3 to 5 p.m. The Governors State University Foundation is coordinating the logistics of the event with the other sponsors.
In addition to the GSU Foundation, 11 other non-profit agencies are co-sponsors. All are committed to making the event an extraordinary success. Each agency is responsible for selling tickets, donating auction items, and providing volunteer workers on the day of the event. The funds raised by “Jazz in the Park” will be divided between participating agencies.
“We wanted to bring together people for an enjoyable event that is both a celebration and an opportunity to raise money to support our good causes,” explained Bean. “The event includes some of the finest cuisine in the south suburbs and jazz music by premier musicians.”
In addition to the Governors State University Foundation, event sponsors include: Girl Scouts of South Cook County; Grand Prairie Services; Healing Racism (Chicago Southland), Homewood Rotary; Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra; League of Women Voters of the Homewood/Flossmoor area; Jassac Charitable Foundation, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., JASS Alumnae Chapter; JESF Foundation of Theta Rho Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Matteson Rotary, Special Kids Fund, Inc.; South Suburban Chicago Links, Inc.; and Tall Grass Arts Association.
Tickets for “Jazz in the Park for Charity” are only $50 and are available from each participating organizations prior to the event. Tickets are $60 at the gate on July 29. For more information, call (708) 534-4105 or visit www.jazzintheparkforcharities.org.
