Playing music for fundraisers and working with non-profit organizations is always a great experience. Their members have such a strong commitment to important causes and they exert tremendous effort to host innovative and fun-filled events. Tomorrow’s event benefiting the Tondue Primary School in Mozambique is no exception.
Tomorrow from 7-10 p.m. at the Sidebar Grille, event-planner Deborah Borsum is hosting an enlightening evening of food, drink and music, featuring a Stitely jazz duo. All proceeds from this event go to World Vision, an organization dedicated to helping children, families, and communities overcome injustice and poverty. World Vision is currently building a primary school for the people of Namanjavira, Mozambique where the current adult literacy rate is only 35%! So head downtown to the Sidebar Grille and eat up to help increase literacy.
Throughout 2012, Stitely Entertainment has worked with numerous charity organizations. Whether we provided a DJ, jazz combo, or full band, we really enjoyed being able to contribute to these events with the inspiring addition of music. Here are some other fantastic fundraisers of which we were proud to be a part:
We were thrilled to reprise our participation in the U.S. Fund for UNICEF Message of Hope gala this April. Last year, 312 Chicago performedfor over 350 guests at the successful event that ultimately raised over $550,000 benefiting UNICEF’s international work.
All photos by Lily Calfee and Maureen Donlon of Lili Miller Media
This year the Stitely Orchestra brought the party to the Union League Club, performing for more than 370 guests that pitched in to raised nearly $671,000, exceeding fundraising goals by $46,000 and setting a new gala record! In addition to dancing, the event featured performances by the Columbia College of Chicago Gospel Repertory Ensemble and world-renowned, ten-year-old pianist and composer Emily Bear. There was a raffle, as well as a live and silent auction that featured prizes like a weekend getaway to the Sundance Film Festival, a trip to Jamaica, a South African vacation, and a beautiful bronze sculpture by artist Jean Jacques Porret.
May 9 was our first experience working with Chicago’s Interfaith House. The Interfaith House is a wonderful organization that provides a healing environment and resources to help ill and injured homeless adults restore their health, rebuild their lives and regain self sufficiency. This short video explains their mission and features interviews with past & current residents, staff & volunteers. DJ Vincent spun 20’s 30’s and 40’s music for their annual Big Band-themed fundraiser, “Ain’t We Got Fun,” at Germania Place. NBC 5’s LeeAnn Trotter emceed the evening that raised money to continue the charity’s efforts to improve the health and welfare of its residents.
On July 31, a Stitely jazz duo played at the Public Justice 30th Annual Gala and Awards Dinner held at Union Station. Public Justice is a national public interest law firm that works to advance the public good by fighting for precedent-setting and socially significant litigation that protects consumers, employees, civil rights, and the environment. The Public Justice Foundation supports the firm’s cutting-edge litigation; they also educate the public about the critical issues the firm addresses in court. Check out the video below for footage from the fabulous evening that featured a live auction, awards, delicious food, and Stitely music.
In September the Foundation Fighting Blindness asked Stitely to return for a second year to perform at their annual Visions Ball at The Four Seasons. 
The Foundation Fighting Blindness funds research that will provide preventions, treatments and cures for people affected by the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. These diseases affect more than 10 million people in the United States and ultimately lead to blindness. The Visions Ball is quickly becoming a Chicago tradition to benefit the Foundation in their mission to fund cutting-edge research. The Foundation booked a Stitely jazz/swing quintet to play earlier in the evening, followed by a performance by comedian Jimmy Tingle and a Stitely DJ dance party to close the evening.
This fall was also Stitely’s first time working with the Big Brothers Big Sisters. We were thrilled when a past wedding client, who is also a BBBS volunteer, approached us about working with this wonderful organization on this brand new event. The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metropolitan Chicago’s mission is to empower at-risk youth by providing one-to-one mentoring that enables lifelong success. They strengthen local communities by pairing adult volunteers (“Bigs”) and children (“Littles”), ages 6 through 18, to develop positive, nurturing relationships. The Stitely Orchestra performed for over 300 guests at the BBBS gala and silent auction held Galleria Marchetti on September 28. We’re proud that the event helped the organization raise over $130,000 for local neighborhood programs!
It’s been a great year of giving and galas and we can’t wait for more next year!
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