Local Talent & National Headliners Featured in NF Hope Benefit June 27

NF Hope® Concerts hosts its first live Chicagoland concert in over three years at 7 p.m. Monday, June 27 at North Central College’s Madden Theatre, 171 E. Chicago Ave. in Naperville. Since the inaugural Las Vegas event in 2011, NF Hope® Concerts has raised more than $1.2 million for Neurofibromatosis (NF) research and advocacy and now presents in three cities–Las Vegas, New York City and Chicago.

“For more than 11 years, we have fought to raise awareness and funds for Neurofibromatosis, a cause near and dear to our hearts” says NF Hope® Concerts co-founder and producer Jeff Leibow. “And every day, our daughter reminds us why.”

Co-founder Jeff Leibow landed in Las Vegas in 2008 as one of the stars in the Tony Award-Winning musical, “Jersey Boys.” Before that, he worked in professional theaters all over the country garnishing award nominations for many of his performances. Immediately after his arrival in Vegas, he made giving back to the community a priority, involving himself with every charity event and benefit concert he could fit into his schedule. In 2009, his daughter became his top priority as did raising awareness for NF, the disorder she is afflicted with. He and his wife Melody founded the annual NF Hope Concerts in 2011 and, in 2014, after more than seven years and 2,700 performances in “Jersey Boys,” Leibow stepped down to dedicate more of his time to the cause that means so much to him and his family.

NF Hope® Concerts brings together incredible local talent and national headliners for an evening of entertainment to support a wonderful cause. Artists showcased in the June 27 benefit concert include:

• Anastasia Lee (contralto), a 25-year-old Billboard-charting opera crossover singer recently diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (NF)
• The Four C Notes, the incredible Chicago-based Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute created by John Michael Coppola, best known for his appearance in Chicago’s long-running production of the Broadway smash hit "Jersey Boys"
• Heidi Kettenring whose credits include Broadway in Chicago (“Wicked”), Goodman, Chicago Shakespeare, Northlight, Paramount, Writers Theater, Court, Drury Lane, among others
• Under the Streetlamp co-founder Christopher Kale Jones with his wife Jenna Coker-Jones
• Morgen Hare, lead singer of the band Spoken Four
• NF Hope® Concerts co-founder Jeff Leibow
• …plus surprise guests.

The evening will also acknowledge this year’s recipients of NF Hope® Concerts awards:

• Advocate of Hope Award presented to an individual or company, whose contributions have made a significant difference in the lives of those living with Neurofibromatosis. This year’s recipient is the NF Research Project at UW-Madison for their groundbreaking research understanding NF tumor tissue.
• Paul Bodner Memorial Award presented to a member of the NF Community who has taken the challenges NF presents and used them to inspire those around them. This year’s recipient is advocate Caroline Hunt, Miss Madison County, Tenn. Iris Teen 2019 for the obstacles she has overcome and the impact she has made raising NF awareness in the pageant circuit with her platform, “Being Different is Beautiful.”

A silent auction is also part of the evening. Visit nfhopechi22.givesmart.com formore information.

A limited number of Reserved tickets for the June 27 concert are still available at $49. VIP tickets, which run $89 and include a meet & greet with the cast and prime seating are nearly sold out. Tickets can be purchased at nfhopechi22.givesmart.com, at the North Central College Box Office, located at 171 E. Chicago Ave., or by calling the box office at 630.637.SHOW. Box Office hours are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. A live streaming option is now available. For more information visit nfhope.org.

NF is a genetic disorder of the nervous system characterized by tumors that can grow on any nerve in the body without warning. Although NF is a common genetic disorder, most people are not aware that one in 2,500 people are born with it making it more common than cystic fibrosis, hereditary muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s Disease and Tay Sachs combined. For more information visit, nfnetwork.org