The DePaul School of Music was the place to be the Friday before last for our annual benefit: Can't Stop the Beat! More than 200 people celebrated our three 2022 Trailblazer Award recipients, enjoyed impactful stories from the Village community, (click here for video) a plentiful buffet and open bar, a silent and live auction, and a spectacular performance of Broadway tunes by Chicago’s own Porchlight Music Theatre.
Can’t Stop the Beat! was a record fundraiser thanks to a $30,000 matching grant and unparalleled support from underwriting sponsors and host committee members. Funds will be used to expand our popular memory loss, health and wellbeing, social connection, and LGBT+ programs as well as making it possible for all to be part of the Village community regardless of their ability to pay.
Call us. Join us. Your support will help hundreds of older individuals and their families throughout Chicago. The beat goes on. Send me a note at darcy@thevillagechicago.org.
Warm regards,
Darcy Evon, CEO
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Can’t Stop the Beat –
A Great Party and a Huge Success!
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On Friday September 16, the Village community came together at DePaul’s beautiful Holtschneider Performance Center for our annual benefit. It was a huge success – in terms of fundraising and because we celebrated together as a community for our first in-person benefit since 2019. Thank you to all our generous donors, and to those who attended, participated in the auction, and volunteered: you are the Village!
And as for the great party? These pictures speak for themselves!
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A real party – food, drink, and the joy of being together in the same space! |
Village members Angie Levenstein (c) and Stefanie Clark (r) and Angie’s son, Nick |
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Village members John Ekdahl, Marcia Opp, David Baker (center) and friends. |
Janice Gerstein & Marrissa Lewandowski. |
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This happy group includes Village CEO, Darcy Evon, Kim Hunt (Pride Action Tank), Britta Larson (Center on Halsted) and John Walcher, who donated his considerable skills to conduct a very successful live auction! |
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Event co-chair, Ira Kohlman, helped kick off the evening’s program. |
Karen Terry congratulates Dr. Becca Levy, who received the Trailblazer Award for an author in recognition of her landmark book, Breaking the Age Code. (See the New York Times review here.)
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John Walcher, auctioneer extraordinaire, found three happy bidders who can now look forward to a Florida getaway, a Boka progressive dinner, and a luxurious Lake Michigan cruise. |
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A highlight of the event was the presentation of the prestigious Village Chicago Trailblazer Awards. These awards recognize and celebrate exceptional individuals, organizations, and authors who are changing the outdated narrative on age, dismantling ageism, and leading the way to an age-just society.
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Karen Terry, Village Board President, (r) presenting the Village’s Trailblazer Award for an individual to Dr. Neelum Aggarwal |
Lilly Lerner, Executive Director of Jane Addams Senior Caucus, accepting the Trailblazer Award for an organization. |
Village member Don Bell (r) with Trailblazer Award recipient, Dr. Neelum Aggarwal |
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Michael Weber and the talented Porchlight performers backstage. |
Jen Hurd and Alice Brunner. No words needed! |
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We’ll never know if Village CEO Darcy Evon (r) was saying “Please!” or “Thank you!” - but whatever it was, it came from the heart! |
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Announcing “Turn the Page on Age Awards”! |
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With funding from the RRF Foundation for Aging, The Village Chicago and Chicago Innovation teamed up to help dismantle age bias with an exciting city-wide campaign, “Turn the Page on Age.”
These awards will:
- Celebrate innovators who are combating ageism and dismantling age bias
- Debunk myths commonly associated with aging
- Foster a more positive narrative around getting older
- Promote age-inclusion at work and in the community
Make Your Nomination
If you or anyone you know is engaged in work that is shifting attitudes and behavior by demonstrating that age diversity fosters creativity, productivity, and improved outcomes, please nominate them. Nominees can be an individual, an organization, an artist, or other creative individual – or a work of art. Use this form to make your nominations by October 7.
And watch your mailbox for more information on the December 7 award event!
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The Village has worked with RRF Foundation for Aging and the Reframing Aging Institute to address pervasive ageism in the workplace, in the doctor’s office, and in the community. Our Turn the Page on Age campaign, in partnership with Chicago Innovation, is designed to address agism in all of its forms. We are interested in assessing the impact of ageism on our community.
Please take a few moments and respond here to this brief survey. Thank you! |
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RSVP today for our upcoming in-person and virtual events! For full descriptions and registration, visit thevillagechicago.org.
- (9/29) Weekly Walks Around SOUTH Pond
- (9/29) Short Story Intergenerational Discussions
- (10/1) Saturday Afternoon at the Movies (TBD)
- (10/4) Brain Connection Café
- (10/4) Exercise at Home with Jill Stein
- (10/4) Favorite Films of the ’30’s and ’40’s: The Thin Man
- (10/5) "The Group"
- (10/5) Great Books, Great Conversations
- (10/6) Coffee Chat BYOC
- (10/9) NEW! Tiny Theatre Presents: Shakespeare's Richard III, presented by Babes with Blades
To RSVP for any event, please visit our web calendar or email us at celebrate@thevillagechicago.org!
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Are you...
Looking for a new career, about to retire, wondering what's next? Seeking companions that share your interests? Searching for a way to utilize your abilities? In need of occasional help? New to Chicago? Worried about changing needs? An adult child with aging parents?
Village members are part of an inclusive, multigenerational community, connected to others and to the resources that support growth and wellbeing as we navigate life after 50 together.
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Leadership of The Village Chicago |
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Board of Directors
Karen Terry,
President
Judith Gethner
Vice President
David Baker,
Vice President
Angie Levenstein,
Secretary
Richard W. Sullivan,
Treasurer
Kathie Kolodgy,
Immediate Past President
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Donald M. Bell
Patricia Clickener
Charles G. Cooper
Caryn Curry
Thomas C. Eley III
Joan Goldstein
Bruce Hunt
Ira Kohlman
Molly Matthias
Therese Meike
Liz Metzger
Gail C. Moss
Linda Randall
Wally Shah
Carol Stein
Lois Stuckey
Vamse Kumar Subbiah
Janet Walters
Melville Washburn
Joyce Winnecke
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Advisory Council
Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD
Robyn L. Golden, LCSW
Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD
Mary Ann Smith
CEO
Darcy L. Evon
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The Village Chicago is a community network of friendship, engagement and services for people over 50. We support all aspects of well-being through social engagement, an extensive services and referral network, lifelong learning, health and fitness, intergenerational relationships, work and purpose.
2502 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60614. 773.248.8700
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