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Special Post-Concert Edition First Quarter 2004
* Photo by Beth Elder THE POWER BEHIND THE BENEFITFor the past 14 years, Rainbow has sold out concerts on Chicago’s North Shore. In November, a second night of song was added, in the western suburbs. Three friends provided the energy and leadership for this undertaking. Heartfelt thanks go to:
ARTISTS CAME FROM FAR AND WIDE TO ENTERTAIN,
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TWO SENSATIONAL NIGHTS OF SONGWhat makes every CELEBRATION
wonderful? Major stars who interrupt their
busy schedules to fly to Chicago from
engagements near and far. Artists who take
the time to visit Rainbow facilities and get
to know the residents. Exceptional corporate
support (see the Applause box inside). And
amazing patrons who come from around the
corner and around the world (e.g., Italy,
Washington, D.C., Newport Beach, CA, and
Naples, FL) to celebrate with Rainbow. All
came together November 9 in Evanston and
November 10 in Aurora with one purpose in
mind: to help provide barrier-free housing
options to people with physical disabilities.  |
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DREAMS WE DARE TO DREAM REALLY DO COME TRUE
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Rainbow is deeply grateful to Diana Martinez and the entire staff
of the Paramount Theatre for their assistance in the success of
the November 10 concert.
NEW RAINBOW PROJECT WINS HUD APPROVAL
On November 20, Over The Rainbow Association won funding approval from the Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) for a 24-unit, three-story apartment building in Waukegan, Illinois. Predevelopment activities for the building are now underway. This is a tremendous step forward in Rainbow’s commitment to develop new apartment buildings providing an independent living option to adults with severe physical disabilities.
In Rainbow’s Hill Arboretum and Belden Apartments in Evanston and Chicago, barrier-free apartments enable adults with physical disabilities to live and work in community-based settings and enjoy the dignity that most of us take for granted. There is a long waiting list for additional units, and the new project, which could be completed in 2006, will help meet the desperate need for costeffective, barrier-free housing.
Rainbow housing improves the quality of life for people whose only viable alternatives are institutional care or inadequate care in a non-barrier-free, homebased setting. It costs taxpayers between $60,000 and $100,000-plus per year to house an individual with physical disabilities in a nursing home, while the Rainbow alternative costs taxpayers only $33,000 per person annually. Rainbow’s Waukegan building will save the State as much as $1.6 million per year!
For more information, please contact Rainbow’s Executive Director Eric Huffman at 847-328-8140.
REAL ESTATE EXECUTIVE DIANE CISEK JOINS RAINBOW BOARD
Diane
Cisek, senior vice president-corporate real estate services of Chicago-based
Mesirow Stein Real Estate, has agreed to serve as an advisor to
and will attend all meetings of Rainbow’s Board of Directors.
Diane’s 20 years of real estate experience and knowledge of Chicagoland and other regional markets have been very helpful in identifying possible sites for new Rainbow apartment buildings. Her expertise will be valuable as Rainbow gains momentum on new developments.
Diane has served such major clients as FedEx, AT&T and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois. She creates real estate strategies, oversees lease negotiations, counsels clients on their real estate portfolios and provides value-added solutions. She has completed land acquisitions for a range of real estate projects and worked with governmental agencies to secure appropriate zoning.
Prior to joining Mesirow Stein, she was with two other prominent real estate companies, where she was active in leasing and tenant representation.
Dear Celebration Patrons and Friends:
Words cannot begin to express the wonder of this year’s CELEBRATION benefits. The audiences at Evanston’s Pick-Staiger Concert Hall November 9 and Aurora’s Paramount Theatre November 10 were charmed by mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, bass Samuel Ramey, tenor Richard Leech, and soprano Nancy Gustafson in a rare mix of classical and contemporary music. Baritone Nathan Gunn also sang beautifully in Evanston.
Show-stoppers included Richard Leech’s interpretation of Jerome Kern’s “The Song is You” and several folk tunes, including two of his own compositions, to which he accompanied himself on guitar. The legendary Samuel Ramey sang arias by Handel and Verdi, followed by Frederick Loewe’s “They Call the Wind Maria.” Denyce Graves chose compositions by Francesco Cilea and Henri Duparc and the crowd-pleaser “Yambambo, yambambe” by X. Montsalvatge. At Pick-Staiger, “If I Loved You,” a duet from Carousel sung by Ms. Gustafson and Nathan Gunn, elicited cheers from the audience. “The Rose,” by Amanda McBroom, sung by Mr. Leech and Ms. Gustafson, won resounding applause. All of the singers joined in a poignant finale featuring Harold Arlen’s “Over The Rainbow.” Kristin Okerlund of the Vienna State Opera accompanied the singers on piano.
If you missed these great shows, we hope you will join us next year. Thanks to the hundreds of music lovers and generous donors who made these fund-raisers such huge successes. On behalf of the men and women Rainbow serves, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
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