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Arts & Entertainment

Rock the Bank

Bernie’s Book Bank is raising the roof again on June 16 when the non-profit organization hosts its 2nd annual Rock The Bank benefit. Proceeds will be used to deliver hundreds of thousands of books to at-risk children throughout Chicagoland. 

The evening will be a concert experience showcasing everything from acoustic soul to rock & roll provided by artists David Hawkins, Daniela Sloan and headliners The Turnstyles.  Great food will be served throughout the evening, along with an open bar providing mai tais, beer, wine and vodka cocktails. The cost for tickets is only $50 through May, $75 in June.

“Rock the Bank was a great party last year,” says partygoer and volunteer Bob Hausheer from Wilmette. “I’m happy to support them in any way because I love what they’re doing delivering books to children.”

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“We’re expecting a great group this year,” says Managing Director Catherine Driscoll. “We’ve met so many fantastic people in the past two years who have collected books for us, volunteered in the warehouse, or who work in schools with our children. That’s the beauty of what we do – we interact with people in nearly every Chicagoland community in one way or another, and we’re so thankful for their support.”

Bernie’s Book Bank facilitates the collection, processing and redistribution of quality new and gently used children's books to significantly increase book ownership among at-risk infants, toddlers and school-age children living throughout Chicagoland. Since its inception, Bernie’s Book Bank has collected, processed and distributed more than 690,000 books and now serves 40,000 children. Each child served receives a minimum of 12 books per year from Bernie’s Book Bank until he or she completes 6th grade.

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“Our focus is really on preventing reading issues before they occur,” says Executive Director Brian Floriani. “By pouring books into the homes of at-risk children, we ensure that they have the same opportunities to succeed as all other children.”

Bernie’s Book Bank is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that relies on private funding. Rock The Bank is their biggest fundraiser for the year.

Tickets are $50 per person through May 31st, $75 per person in June. Tickets can be purchased at www.rockthebank.org or at the door the night of the event. Guests must be 21 years of age and older. For all details about the event, including concert tshirts, VIP tickets, musician profiles, and an online silent auction, go towww.rockthebank.org. To learn more about Bernie’s Book Bank, go to www.berniesbookbank.org.

Special thanks to event sponsors and in-kind donorswho have helped to make this event possible: Chicago Bears, Copia Capital, INDECK, Lake Forest Pediatric Dentistry, Libertyville Bank & Trust, Lake Forest Bank & Trust, State Bank of the Lakes, Barnes & Nobles, Bent Fork, Blurb Designs, Bob C Beverages, LLC, Bob Chinn’s Crab House, Catered by Design, Chef Paul Catering, Chef Vee, Classic Toyota Scion Kia, Dr. Energy Saver, DJ Payne, EJ Graphics LLC, FastSigns of Gurnee, GEM Realty Capital, Hel’s Kitchen, Howard Simon & Assoc., Jack’s Tents, Long Grove Café, Louis Glunz Wines, Maid to Order, Miller Coors, Modern Event Rental, Morning Glory Flower Shops, Paul Davis Restoration, Popcorn Factory, Porta Jane Chicago, Sandy’s Cookies, Sports 11, Sunset Foods, United Services, Whole Foods, Wirtz Distributors, Zebra Technologies

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