Literacy Chicago Events

Literacy Chicago holds many special events throughout the year to raise public awareness of the need for adult literacy services. For more information or to reserve your space for an upcoming event, email SpecialEvents@literacychicago.org or call 312.870.1100.

The Literacy Chicago Readathon will begin with a kick off at the Printers Row Book Fair, Saturday and Sunday, June 3rd and 4th. Visit us at our booth and to register or sponsor a reader.

Readathon is an all-ages, all-walks-of-life event open to anyone who has in interest in reading and making a difference in the lives of Literacy Chicago’s adult students.

During the event, “Readers” will establish personal reading and fundraising goals, which will be met through sponsor pledges. Readers can sign on as individuals or as teams from work, school or neighborhoods or church as well.

To attract interest and participation, mini-events will occur at Literacy Chicago, in coffee houses, bookstores and other Chicago area locations.

Sign up as a Reader or Team Captain today with Lisa McCaskill by calling (312) 870-1100, ext. 109. (Photo Credit: John White)

The Literacy Chicago Women's Board extends a cordial invitation for you to attend "Scamalot," a gridiron musical of bench and bar lovingly ripped off from the Broadway show. Join us on Sunday, June 11, 2006 at 6 p.m. for a reception, silent and live auctions, raffle, dinner and the performance at the Chicago Athletic Association.

Reservations are available for $150 Per Person. Raffle tickets are available for $25 each or 5 for $100.

Join us for the fifth annual Windy City BizBash auction, sponsored by the Business Marketing Association (BMA), and once again benefiting Literacy Chicago.

Consider making a personal or business donation for this event which will be held Wednesday, June 14 at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington (at Michigan Avenue) from 5:30 to 9:30 pm. The live auction will begin at 8:00 pm. Tickets are $50.00 in advance and $60.00 at the door. Tickets include a $20 credit toward your first purchase.

Your contribution helps us and you get advertising on the BMA website, promotion in BMA press releases and e-newsletters across the Chicago marketing community.

For more information contact Marla Schrager at (312) 649-3608 or email marla@pcidirect.com

Honorary co-chairs Marilyn Miglin and Harold Ramis are pleased to introduce the Legacy Campaign, a one-of-a-kind opportunity to make a lasting impact in the lives of those empowered by our vitally important work in adult education and literacy.

Plan to attend our Legacy Open House on Thursday, June 22 from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm to tour the Literacy Chicago Learning Center at our new State Street location. You’ll learn how Legacy contributions can underwrite a classroom, tutor carrel, instructional materials, computer center or other items in our extensive catalog of facility needs. You’ll discover that Legacy gifts can be one-time donations or multi-year pledges. Whatever your interest, there is a Legacy Campaign opportunity for you that will help the future unfold for Literacy Chicago students in bold and meaningful ways. Your Legacy begins today!

Please be our guest and feel welcome to invite others to join us. RSVP to Brian Wiley prior to Tuesday, June 20. Call (312) 870-1100, extension 116 or email bwiley@literacychicago.org for assistance.

Leaders for Literacy Luncheon with best-selling authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson

Literacy Chicago and The Book Stall at Chestnut Court are pleased to invite you to the Leaders for Literacy Luncheon featuring authors Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson on Friday, July 21, 2006 at 12 noon. Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson's second collaboration is another riveting and adventure packed story, PETER AND THE SHADOW THIEVES. Join us at the Four Seasons Chicago for an enjoyable afternoon.

Leaders for Literacy was founded in 1994 by Nancy Searle, a Chicago-area philanthropist and a major literacy advocate, to promote awareness of and support for Literacy Chicago’s mission.
Leaders for Literacy recognizes that reading and writing are important to a society’s progress and advancement. A community with a high level of literacy is a community that respects the value and rights of its individuals but also promotes the responsibilities of citizenship.

Luncheon reservations are available for $150 per guest with tables of ten for $1,500. The outstanding annual Leaders Raffle will be held with tickets available at 3 for $100. Corporate sponsorships and tables are available for $3,000 and greater.

Literacy Chicago and The Book Stall at Chestnut Court are pleased to invite you to the Leaders for Literacy Breakfast featuring author Sue Monk Kidd on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 8 am.

Ms. Monk Kidd will be honoring breakfast guests with an intimate key note address. Breakfast Chairs for the event are Nancy S. Searle and Roberta Rubin.

Join Literacy Chicago's Associate for its 2nd Annual Final Four Fundraiser at The Mix (2843 N. Halsted, Chicago) on Saturday, April 1, 2006 from 5-9 pm. Catch NCAA Final Four action in style at Lincoln Park's newest lounge. Enjoy the game on 12-foot HD TV. Ticket prices include drinks and appetizer buffet for four hours of now stop hoops action. All proceeds will benefit adult education programs at Literacy Chicago. (View the event flyer). Congratulations to Valerie Kahn, winner of the 50/50 raffle who won $250!

Literacy Chicago makes our annual journey to Springfield with fellow members of IACEA on Tuesday, March 14, 2006. Students, volunteers and supporters of adult education trek to our state capital every year to meet our state legislators and to attend an afternoon rally in the rotunda in support of adult education.

Plan to personally join us! Make the trip with our students, tutors and staff, celebrating our student's successes and getting a first hand education to the vitally important work of Literacy Chicago.

Unable to join us? Sponsor one or several students passage or help underwrite the costs of lunch! Transportation on the motor coach is available for $15 per person. Underwriting gifts for lunch are welcomed in increments of $5 per student.

Leaders for Literacy chair Nancy Searle is pleased to announce a special event featuring Chef Charlie Trotter in the Marshall Field’s Culinary Studio. Join us February 2, 2006 at 12 noon for an up close and personal 3 course demonstration and lunch prepared by Chef Trotter and discover more about the vitally important work of Literacy Chicago.

“Your Heart’s Desire” benefits the Leaders for Literacy program of Literacy Chicago. Your participation and contributions will be honored as tribute gifts to your hosts.

Space at the Culinary Studio is limited. Reservations are available for $100 each, tables of 8 for $800.

Join Literacy Chicago's Associate Board for their upcoming Well-Read Ball Saturday, February 4, 2006 at the Crystal Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Chicago. The evening begins with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, followed by dinner and dancing. Proceeds for this black-tie optional event benefit Literacy Chicago.

You are cordially invited to our annual Star Awards-our Student, Volunteer and Donor Recognition Night on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 at 6pm at the Harris Bank Auditorium, 111 West Monroe Street. Our special guest for the evening will be noted author, educator and entrepreneur Stedman Graham.

Feeling blue during these last days of summer? Put some fun into life and shop for some new jewelry pieces by Stefani B while helping Literacy Chicago! With the holidays nearing, get gifts early or treat yourself to something special.

Stefani's pieces have sold at Neiman-Marcus and Saks and have been featured in Chicago Social, Chicago Magazine and The Chicago Tribune. Stefani has graciously offered to give 10% of her sales at the Trunk Show to Literacy Chicago.

Join Women's Board members Lois Levine, Toria Emas and Stefani Bay on Monday, September 26, from 6 - 9 pm at the home of Lois Levine. Stop by after work for a glass of wine or drop in after dinner for dessert and coffee. Either way, we'd love to see you.

Literacy Chicago board member Robyn Brooks is pleased to present the "By Invitation" event – an opportunity to personally know the vitally important work of Literacy Chicago in unique and intriguing locations.

Join your hosts Robyn and Norm Brooks on Thursday, September 15, 2005 from 6 to 8pm at the Andrew Bae Gallery, 300 W. Superior Street, Chicago, to celebrate the countless changed lives and success stories made possible through Literacy Chicago.

"By Invitation" events benefit the Leaders for Literacy program and introduce the new Legacy naming campaign of Literacy Chicago. Reservations for the "By Invitation" event are $100 each.

After-words booksellers second annual book sale to benefit Literacy Chicago will be held on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday September 11 from 12-6 pm at 23 East Illinois Street, Chicago.

Literacy Chicago will have "Reach Out and Read" tote bags available for $5. For another $5, fill the tote bag with books. Don't need another tote bag? Bring your own bags or use bags provided by After-words. All proceeds from the sale benefit Literacy Chicago's important literacy programs.

On Wednesday, August 31, 2005 Literacy Chicago will participate in The Shopping Benefit. Bloomingdale’s provides the tickets to be sold at $10 each, with the proceeds going directly to Literacy Chicago. Each ticket gives shoppers a 15-20% savings on all purchases at Chicagoland area Bloomingdale’s stores for the day. The Shopping Benefit will also feature fashion events, storewide entertainment and additional special discounts.

For more information, contact Alicia Adams, Communications and Special Events Manager, at Aadams@literacychicago.org or 312.870.1100, ext. 108.

Shopping certificates are available for purchase online and will be mailed directly to you.

Join the Literacy Chicago's Associate Board for a Summer Happy Hour at House Of Blues on Thursday, August 25, 2005 from 6 to 8pm. The event will include an open call bar, hors d'oeuvres, and live entertainment. Tickets are $50 at the door with the proceeds going directly to Literacy Chicago. There will be a $500 cash raffle with tickets available for $10 each or 3 for $25!

Join the Literacy Chicago Women's Board on Sunday, June 12, 2005 at 2 p.m. at the Ford Theatre as we enjoy the matinee performance of Wicked. After the show, join us at the Chicago Athletic Association for a champagne reception, dinner, raffle, and auction.

Help support Literacy Chicago at the 2005 Chicago Tribune Printers Row Book Fair on Saturday, June 11, 2005 and Sunday, June 12, 2005. We have a booth, located at Polk and Plymouth, and will be selling Literacy Chicago t-shirts, sweatshirts, wrapping paper, tote bags, highball glasses, and wristbands. All merchandise proceeds will help fund Literacy Chicago programs. Our knowledgeable staff and amazing volunteers will be onsite to answer questions about our volunteer opportunities, literacy programs and ways to get involved. Admission is Free. The nearest CTA Red Line stop is at Harrison. For more information about the festival and the 100+ authors who will be in attendance, please click here.

On Thursday, June 9, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center, The Business Marketing Association Chicago (BMA) will hold its annual fundraising event that brings together the most amazing and amusing marketers in the city. BizBash gets more exciting every year with more people to meet, more fun to have, and valuable connections to make.

The event will include complementary drinks, hors d'oeuvres, live entertainment and live and silent auctions. Admission is $25 in advance and $40 at the door. All admission proceeds will benefit Literacy Chicago. For more information about BizBash please click on the image.

Kenneth Cole New York and Literacy Chicago at the Chloe Does Yale Shopping Benefit

Thank you for attending Natalie Krinsky's reading of her witty, new novel, Chloe Does Yale on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Kenneth Cole New York, 540 North Michigan Avenue. Guest enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, and as a special thank you for joining us, attendees received a copy of Chloe Does Yale with their purchase. A portion of the proceeds from the evening were donated to Literacy Chicago.

Students, tutors, supports and staff came together at our state capital on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 to demonstrate to our legislators how their lives have been changed through the important work of Literacy Chicago. Students wrote letters and made calls to their state senators and representatives to express their commitment to adult literacy. We all can make a difference!

The Fourth Annual Reach Out and Read Greater Chicago Conference: Healthy Developments - Children, Families and Communities

The Reach Out and Read Greater Chicago Coalition held the 4th Annual Reach Out and Read Greater Chicago Conference, Wednesday, April 13, 2005 at the Ramada Inn - Lake Shore. This year, the topics were related to keeping our children healthy and developmentally sound. Experts in the fields of Pediatrics and Child Development were on-hand to provide practical information and research updates relative to cognitive development and unusual behaviors in children. Conference topics target pediatricians, RORGC coordinators, staff and volunteers. In addition, this year, for the first time, we were pleased to offer 5 category 1 Continuing Medical Education credits for medical providers who attend. For more information on Reach Out and Read, please contact Stephanie Brown at Sbrown@literacychicago.org or call 312.870.1100 x107.

Thank you for making Lines 2004 a sensational event! We want to extend a special thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, Mark Shale, for providing the hip fashions showcased in our amazing fashion show.

Thank you to all supporters and guests of the Leaders for Literacy Luncheon 2004. It was a huge success! A special thanks is extended to our premier sponsor Harris Private Bank and our underwriters: Anonymous, Steans Family Foundation, Mobium Creative Group, Northbrook Services, Inc., Sidley Austin Brown & Wood, LLP, Gideon and Nancy Searle and United Airlines.