AMAZING’ EVENT TO SHOWCASE TALENTED WEST SIDE YOUTH

‘AMAZING’ EVENT TO SHOWCASE TALENTED WEST SIDE YOUTH

When
it came to selecting entertainment for its annual summer benefit, BBF (Better Boys Foundation) planners
didn’t have to look far – just down the hall. Called It’s AMAZING!, the
fundraiser will be held on Saturday,
June 21, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM at The Shrine nightclub lounge, located at
2109 S. Wabash, and will be built around performances and exhibitions of its
youth’s work.

BBF
offers innovative out-of-school-time programming year-round for girls and boys ages
5 to 18 through its kidLAB and YouthLAB programs. The 12- to 18-year-olds in
YouthLAB participate in expert-led apprenticeships in tap dancing, digital
music composition, filmmaking, visual art, knitting and textile art,
writing/graphic design, bicycling, and urban gardening. As the headliners for
the June 21 bash, they will put on a performance sure to steal the hearts of
the 300 anticipated guests.

Now
in its third year, It’s AMAZING! takes a unique approach to event fundraising. Inspired
by and highlighting BBF’s cutting-edge programming, the event provides a
welcome alternative to the typical charity gala. It serves up way more than
just edible food, pours from a way more than just potable bar, pumps up way
more than just danceable music, and presents way more than just biddable
auction and raffle items. It’s AMAZING! will way more than
just satisfy; it will amaze.

During
the evening, BBF will honor the Polk
Bros Foundation and the Lake Shore
(IL) Chapter of The Links, Inc., a service organization, for their
extraordinary support. In addition, each of the BBF program areas, or labs,
will honor individuals or groups for exceptional service: AgLAB will honor organic
produce distributors The FruitGuys; ArtLAB will honor the creative agency c |
change, BeatLAB will honor the host venue, The Shrine; BikeLAB will
honor West Town Bikes; FilmLAB will honor Jerry Blumenthal and Peter
Kuttner of Kartemquin Films; KnitLAB will honor Robin Richman and the
pioneering Robin Richman Inc.
boutique; LitLAB will honor Chicago poet Krista Franklin; and TapLAB will
honor Peter Taub and Yolanda Cesta Cursach of the MCA Stage/Museum of Contemporary
Art Chicago.

It’s
AMAZING! will
deliver an evening of pure enjoyment benefitting an amazing cause. Included in
the $100 ticket price will be open bars, appetizers, small plate buffet,
dessert bar, dramatic performances showcasing BBF’s talented youth, silent
auction, raffle, and dancing to the awesome music of a Shrine DJ. To buy
tickets for It’s AMAZING! or learn more about BBF, please visit www.betterboys.org.

BBF
has been serving the North Lawndale community since 1961 from the BBF Center at
1512 S. Pulaski Rd., now the site of a state-of-the-art facility. kidLAB sets
the bar well above what standard “child care” programs deliver and strives to
provide a unique and learning-enhanced experience to every child enrolled. In
addition to the skills-specific apprenticeships, YouthLAB provides homework
help, one-to-one tutoring, academic guidance, and preparation for
post-secondary schooling. The BBF Scholars program provides youth who have been
active members of the BBF community throughout their high school careers with postsecondary
tuition scholarships, supplemented by ongoing counseling, workshop
opportunities, networking events, and paid, in-field summer internships.