GL_122916

10 | December 29, 2016 | The glenview lantern News
glenviewlantern.com
Glenview Education Fund
preps for second charity night
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
DECEMBER
Sarah Haider
Assistant Editor
In 2015, the Glenview
Education Fund raised
more than $65,000 at
its “Dancing with Local
Stars” charity Event. In
2017, organizers are coming
back with Glenview’s
Got Talent and even higher
expectations.
The event will occur on
March 11 and feature 12
diverse acts. The lineup
consists of singers, musicians,
award-winning
dancers, stand-up comedians,
belly dancers and
Irish dancing.
“We had a lot of singers
submit, but we wanted
it balanced and to have
variety,” event co-chair
Cathy Cunningham said.
“We have six singing acts
in the show but we also
wanted to have some other
unique acts. Our whole
objective at the very beginning
was to make it as
interesting with as much
variety as possible.”
The groups also boast
many Glenview locals
who have children that attend
District 34 schools,
which the charity benefits.
“GEF is all about raising
money for D34 education
grants,” Cunningham said.
“These individuals, people
are going to vote for them
like crazy with their dollars
because they are so
talented and so connected
with the community.”
Residents will get a
chance to vote for their
favorite act in two separate
ways. The first round
of voting starts on Feb. 6
and continues through the
night of the performance.
This people’s choice aspect
allows viewers to donate
$1 to cast their vote
after viewing short teasers
of the acts. Many of the
teasers will be filmed by
Glenbrook South senior
Sarah Patt.
The $1 voting will continue
on the night of the
event, where there will be
tables with Ipads so votes
can be purchased with a
card. The second round
of voting will also occur
on the night of the event
when attendees will be
given a ballot to decide
their favorite night of the
event.
The event will also
feature three community
judges: Matvey Kostukovsky,
co-founder of
TerraSounds School of
Music and Arts and director
of Audio Production;
Anne Marie Shipstad,
manager of Glenview
Park District Cultural
Arts; and Mark Maranto,
GBS instructional supervisor
for Fine Arts.
The winner of the night
will receive a trophy and
publicity from an ad that
will be placed in The
Glenview Lantern.
Cunningham is looking
forward to the community
coming out to support the
event and the organization
has high hopes after
several member of the
community have already
devoted their skills to the
upcoming event.
Chris Karabas, owner
and founder of the Rock
House, assisted in getting
the word out to local talent
that the organization
was looking for acts, supplied
the Rock House to
film the teaser videos and
is acting as staging and directing
assistance for the
event. Glenview resident
Lisa Anastasia, owner
of event sponsor Media
Direct Productions, will
create all staging, lighting
and AV aspects of
the night. The emcee of
the evening will be TJ
Shanoff, a Second City
comic, writer and musical
director.
The volunteers will provide
their skills for the
450 audience members
who will attend the event
at the St. John Brebeuf
banquet and conference
facility in Niles. The organizers
are expecting to
pack the house and raise
a substantial amount of
money for the educational
fund.
The organization provides
funds for explorations
of new and creative
ideas proposed by teachers
for education that
may not originally be
supported financially by
the district. The fund provides
the seed money for
the teachers to try out the
new ideas that, if successful,
are then funded by
the district. Some of the
projects that were enabled
by the proceeds from the
previous event were Financial
Literacy Club,
Universidad de Baile,
Lead Up to Ride, After
School STEAM (science,
technology, engineering,
arts and math) Club,
Henking Family Literacy
Club and PAC (Phonemic
Awareness for Children)
the Sack.
Communities members
can cast their $1 votes for
the acts starting Feb. 6 by
visiting www.gef34.org/
ggt and via cash collection
jars that competitors will
soon place around town.
Tickets for the night will
be available for purchase
Jan. 30 and are expected
to sell out fast.