Gala 2019 | Merit School of Music

Celebrating 40 Years of Music

Wednesday, May 8 | Four Seasons Hotel Chicago, 120 East Delaware Place

6:00 pm Reception | 7:00 pm Dinner

Merit School of Music has made music for Chicago since 1979.

So much has changed over the past 40 years – we have grown from two visionary women providing music lessons in borrowed space at Roosevelt University into a nationally accredited music school bringing 3,500+ of Chicago’s most promising student musicians from 145+ zip codes together in the thriving West Loop.

But one BIG thing remains the same: Merit transforms lives through music.

Join us in celebrating 40 years of transforming lives and affirming our commitment to future generations of Chicago youth.

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For more information, contact Rina Tsang at 312-553-2000 or via email.

HONORING: DUFFIE A. ADELSON

The Alice S. Pfaelzer Distinguished Service to the Arts Award

We will honor Merit School of Music Life Trustee Duffie A. Adelson at Gala 2019 for her decades of unparalleled service and dedication to Merit as both a faculty member and the school’s Executive Director, and her commitment to making music and building the lives of thousands of Chicago children. Ms. Adelson’s passion is not limited to Chicago, however. She now leads the National Guild for Community Arts Education as Chairman of the Board of Trustees.

Duffie A. Adelson is a champion for our children and Chicago’s communities, and it’s a privilege to honor her at Gala 2019. Please join us as we do so.

GALA CO-CHAIRS

Madeleine and Joe Glossberg

Barbara Greis and Howard Gottlieb

Judy and Verne Istock

Sandy and Earl Rusnak

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HOST COMMITTEE

Platinum
The Thomas Family

Leadership Circle
Howard Gottlieb and Barbara Greis
Judy and Verne Istock
The Negaunee Foundation

Emerald Society
Anonymous
Janice L. Honigberg
Earl Rusnak, Jr. and Sandra Rusnak

Sterling Society
Abbott
Julie and Daniel Baumeister
The Clinton Family Fund
Madeleine and Joe Glossberg
Kenneth C. Griffin Charitable Fund
Caroline and Charlie Huebner
J. Thomas Hurvis
ITW
Julian Family Foundation
Beth and Barry Mitchell
Peggy and Dick Notebaert
Lorna and Ellard Pfaelzer, Jr.
Sage Foundation
Sirius Fund, Ginny and Peter Foreman
The Steans Family
Nina G. Stillman
Zell Family Foundation

Virtuoso
Anonymous
The Bluhm Family Charitable Foundation
Jeffrey Breslow
Jane & Dave Casper and BMO Harris Bank
Helen and Paul Chang
Clean Law PC
ComEd
The Crown Family
Judson and Joyce Green
Heidi Lukas and Charles Grode
Jim and Kay Mabie, Chicago Capital
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Thomas Linguanti and Olivia Tyrrell
NIPSCO
The Oppenheimer Family Foundation
Cathy and Bill Osborn
Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan
Faith McCoy Scriven and Tyler Scriven

Concertmaster
Susan and Lawrence Aaron
Duffie A. Adelson
Julie and Roger Baskes
The DeVore Family
Joan and Robert Feitler
Bob and Margie Fisher
Ellen and Paul Gignilliat
Anne and William Goldstein
Shelley Ochab and Chester Gougis
Justin and Katharine Greis and EY
John Hart and Carol Prins
Jerry James and Kitty Bliss
Anne L. Kaplan
Thomas and Janet Leopold
Robert M. and Diane v.S. Levy
Doris Roskin
Ann and Ray Rusnak
Jennifer Steans and Jim Kastenholz
Liz Stiffel
Donna and Tom Stone
Susie Pfaelzer Sultan and John M. Sultan
T. Rowe Price
William Blair
Sheri and Sherwin Zuckerman

Associate Board Allegro
Fifth Third Bank
Gabrielle Klein & Family
Oppenheimer Family Foundation

Associate Board Adagio
Baker McKenzie

Associate Board Lento
Alper Services LLC
Michael Andrews and Ryan Ruskin
Jayson Bronchetti/Lincoln Financial Foundation
Grace Allen Newton and David Weinberg Family Foundation
Jerry Niedzialek
Seyfarth Shaw LLP

LEVELS OF SUPPORT

Leadership Circle ($50,000)

• Premier table in the ballroom for ten guests at the Gala

• Photo opportunity with Gala honorees

• 40th Anniversary Host Committee recognition on Gala event materials*

Emerald Society ($40,000)

• Priority table in the ballroom for ten guests at the Gala

• Photo opportunity with Gala honorees

• 40th Anniversary Host Committee recognition on Gala event materials*

Sterling Society ($25,000)

• Prime table in the ballroom for ten guests at the Gala

• 40th Anniversary Host Committee recognition on Gala event materials*

Virtuoso ($10,000)

• Preferred table in the ballroom for ten guests at the Gala

• Preferred recognition on Gala event materials*

Concertmaster ($5,000)

• Reserved table in the ballroom for ten guests at the Gala

• Recognition on Gala event materials*

To make a pledge, fill out the registration form or contact Alice DuBose at 312-267-4461 or via email.

SUPPORT GALA 2019