Chapter Charity

IAEE Midwestern Chapter’s Charity

Off The Street Club 2011-2012 Chapter Charity

Dear IAEE Midwestern Chapter,

Each year, the OTSC Junior Board hosts a gala to raise money for the club. Specifically, the benefits from this event send the kids to camp for the summer. This year we are gearing up for our 4th annual gala to be held July 27^th at Gallery 1028.

Our hope this year is to partner with vendors and services (food, drink, photo booth, photographers, DJ, equipment) that can provide free/at cost services. This strategy will help us generate even more revenue from ticket sales. Every $500 we raise takes a kid off the streets of West Garfield Park and sends them to camp for the summer. Last year's event raised $44,000+ with 275 attendees and we're trying to increase that profit by 60% and grow attendees to 400, so every little bit counts.

We would greatly appreciate a partnership with your business.

Currently, we are in desperate need of the following:

Highboys
Cabaret tables
Chairs
72" Rounds
8ft banquet tables
Linens

If your company is able to help, please contact 2012 OTSC Gala Chair Stacy Argoe at stacyargoe@gmail.com.

Thank you,
The OTSC Junior Board

ABOUT OTSC

Housed in a kid-friendly complex in West Garfield Park, the Off The Street Club gives 4- to 18-year-old kids a place to do their homework or play computer games in the Learning Center; perform plays in the Performing Arts Center; dance, rollerskate, sing, and play musical instruments; express themselves through arts and crafts and woodshop; and more. Off The Street Club kids have mentors, tutors and role models; girls can experience real “girl power” and heightened self-esteem in the Girls Center, while boys and girls together can meet and interact safely and respectfully throughout the Club.

Founded in 1900, OTSC is Chicago's oldest boys and girls club and serves more than 3,000 kids in West Garfield Park, one of Chicago's most dangerous neighborhoods. Each child who belongs to the club, first must sign a contract that they will stay away drugs, gangs and those who associate with them. Afterall, the Club's motto is "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."

In the summer, Off The Street Club kids get to trade in the violence and drugs of their neighborhood for cookouts, sing-alongs, swimming, hiking and horseback riding at Camp Mathieu. Around the nightly campfires the only things to fear are the ghost stories. Winter Weekends at the camp let kids experience skiing, sledding and other outdoor winter sports. Everyone goes home with memories that'll last a lifetime.

To learn more about Off The Street Club and its 3rd Thursday program for volunteers, visit www.otsc.org.

Dates for upcoming 3rd Thursdays include:

Thursday, February 16 – Remember Black History Month & Valentine's Day
Thursday, March 15 – Have fun roller skating (at the club) -
Thursday, April 19 - "Let's do the TWIST" - It's 50's Night at the Club
Thursday, May 17 – Visit special landmarks in West Garfield Park on the Neighborhood bus tour

If you have any questions concerning the chapter charity please contact Pam Nutting at 312-527-7307 or pam.nutting@onpeak.com.

We hope you'll continue to support the wonderful charities that our chapter has sponsored in previous years.