HELP OUT: Tickets to Circus Soirée Benefit Here #CircEsteem

10 Days Until the Soirée! Dear Bonnie, Take a peek below to learn about our fundraising goals, how to buy tickets for Circus Soirée or to volunteer and/or participate at the event! It's CircEsteem like you've never seen us before at this fall's Circus Soirée! Join CircEsteem on Thursday, October 18th from 7pm-10pm at Architectural Artifacts for an evening of inspiring performances, delectable food and libation, a spectacular silent auction- Whimsy, surprise and amazement around every corner! VIP ticket holders can enjoy a private pre-party reception from 6pm-7pm in the Architectural Artifacts garden with special food, an open bar and exciting live performance as well as reserved VIP seating at the main event! Learn more about the needs behind our fundraising- $50,000 a year-   CircEsteem offers free tutoring and circus instruction 3 days a week, 32 weeks of the year, through our 'HomeWork & CircusWork' program.This program is 100% free to participants and serves over 30 youth each week. 20,000 miles a year to transport-  CircEsteem transports 30 youth a week, picking them up at school and taking them home afterwards.  Money raised at Circus Soirée will help us buy a new van allowing more youth to participate. Will YOU support CircEsteem and help us reach our goals?   40,000 participants CircEsteem reaches over 40,000 people each year offering over 150 workshops and performances.  We crisscross the city and suburbs providing circus programs at 15 offsite locations 5 days a week.  100% High School graduation rates- CircEsteem has a 100% graduation rate from high school, with all of the students going on to pursue higher learning.  To date CE graduates have amassed over $600,000 in outside scholarships thanks to our partnership withChicago Scholars. $10,000 in matching funds- CE has employed over 60 youth since the creation of theCircusTeens Job Program. To date CircusTeens have been paid over $40,000 with almost $15,000 of it being saved for college. In addition CE has provided matching funds to encourage college savings totaling nearly $10,000. There's still time to buy your tickets to Circus Soirée! Nothing would please us more than having you join our fundraising efforts on Thursday, October 18th at Architectural Artifacts for our Circus Soirée! Your contributions help make our free programming, youth employment efforts and community outreach a continued reality! For more info, to purchase tickets or make a financial contribution  please visit Brown Paper Tickets.   Kindly, Maribeth Joy Executive Director It's a family circus....Du-Jay and Sagezilla are performing with a slew of talented CircEsteem kids.   We'll be there shooting stills and video.   If you can't make it or don't live locally, you can still donate.   CircEsteem's doing amazing work.   Check it out!

Help Locally: Corks & Crayons event to benefit Purple Asparagus is SUNDAY, AUGUST 26!

PURPLE ASPARAGUS ANNOUNCES ANNUAL

“CORKS & CRAYONS” BENEFIT

Foodies, Families and Farmers get together for a good cause

WHO:               Purple Asparagus, the non-profit that educates children, families and the community about eating that’s good for the body and the planet, will host its Eighth Annual Corks & Crayons Benefit.  

WHAT:              Corks & Crayons is Purple Asparagus’ annual signature event which is fun for all ages. The event takes place in the gorgeous Greenhouse Loft and will be hosted by Michael Moody, NBC's Biggest Loser Chicago Tour fitness expert. Corks & Crayons 2012 will feature tastings from over 25 of Chicago’s leading tastemakers,including Top Chef Contestants Heather Terhune (Sable) and Richie Farina (Moto), as well as Mindy Segal, winner of the 2012 James Beard Award for Outstanding Pastry (Hot Chocolate). The event will also feature Three Floyds brews, cocktails made with Templeton Rye whiskey, Candid Wines and delicious non-alcoholic beverages for the kids.

During the event there will be multiple activities to keep the entire family entertained including a mini farmer’s market, tours of the Green Exchange, a photo booth, art projects, a silent auction, raffle prize drawings and the revealing of the winner of Michael Moody’s Redefine Yourself Fitness Challenge!

Michael Moody of Revival Fitness, the Chicago tour fitness expert of NBC's Biggest Loser, is the honorary chair for this event. As owner and top personal trainer at Revival Fitness, Michael Moody is passionately dedicated in helping overweight adolescents lose weight, maintain a healthier lifestyle and gain proper nutrition the right way. To help accomplish this goal, Revival Fitness Personal Training has launched its first ever Redefine Yourself Challenge, aimed at Chicago teens/tweens, aged 12-18, who wish to ‘redefine’ themselves through exercise and wellness. The winner will receive one year of free personal training and nutritional guidance, a complimentary makeover by Robert Jeffrey Hair Salon, a Whole Foods in-store shopping lesson, expert nutritional guidance, a gift certificate to Karyn’s Cooked, and the book In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan. The runner-ups will receive two weeks of free personal training, a nutritional consultation with a guide and a copy of In Defense of Food.

WHEN:             Sunday, August 26, 2012

4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

$70 for adults, $15 for ages 5-20, kids under 5 are free

Tickets can be purchased here

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WHERE:           Greenhouse Loft

2545 W. Diversey

Chicago, IL

About Purple Asparagus

Founded in 2005, Purple Asparagus is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that educates children, families, and the community about good eating for the body and the planet. Purple Asparagus is the winner of the 2012 International Association of Culinary Professionals Culinary Youth Advocate of the Year Award. With a board of equally dedicated farmers, community organizers, advocates, and food aficionados, the aim is to change the way children and, by extension, families and communities, relate to food and all things associated with it. Purple Asparagus lead “Growing Healthy Kids,” a consortium of 30 plus organizations working in the schools to improve child wellness. The organization is also a key partner in Chicago Chefs “Move to Schools” program of the White House's “Let's Move” initiative. For more information about the event and Purple Asparagus, visitwww.purpleasparagus.com.