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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 24, 2007
 CONTACT: James Juliano
SHOUT Marketing & Media Relations
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Chicago, Illinois 60608
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AN EVENING WITH THE STARS, CHICAGO’S PREMIER OSCAR® PARTY, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2008,
ANNOUNCES CO-CHAIRS, HOSTS AND NEW LOCATION
Tickets For Autism Speaks Fundraiser On Sale Now.
CHICAGO—An Evening with the Stars, the annual red carpet benefit for Autism Speaks, is proud to announce Richard Roeper, author, columnist and host of nationally syndicated At the Movies with Ebert and Roeper, as the honorary chair and Spike and Tami Manton as event co-chairs for their third annual fundraiser, Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008. Zoraida Sambolin and Jeff Rogers will host the event at its new location, the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts, 777 N. Green Street.
An Evening with the Stars brings the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the Windy City, featuring live coverage of the red carpet arrivals and pre-show interviews of the guests at the Chicago Center for the Performing Arts on the big screen inside the auditorium. Guests will be able to participate in a silent auction and have a chance at winning hundreds of raffle prizes ranging from dinner-theater packages to all expense paid trips to Hollywood, New York, and other desired destinations. The evening will culminate with the viewing of the 80th Annual Academy Awards® telecast shown live on big screens inside the theater.
Roeper says, “An Evening with the Stars is a great way of increasing the support and the profile of Autism Speaks. It is an opportunity to combine my love of the movies with a deserving cause, allowing everyone to get a glimpse of the excitement of the Kodak Theater from right here in Chicago.”
Autism Speaks, founded in 2005 by former Chief Executive of NBC Universal and current Vice Chairman, General Electric Bob Wright and his wife, Suzanne, is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism, and to advocating for the needs of affected families.
Spike and Tami Manton, co-chairs of this year’s fundraiser expect a sell-out in the new venue adding, “This year’s event is the culmination of years of hard work and tireless commitment from a very dedicated committee. We are thrilled to be a part of a team dedicated to raising money and awareness for autism research.” The Mantons have been active committee members since the inception of the event in 2006. “An Evening with the Stars will surely be THE Oscar© event to attend this year! We look forward to seeing everyone on our red carpet.” added Spike Manton.
NBC 5 News Anchor and Feature Reporter Zoraida Sambolin and Second City Alum and Comedian Jeff Rogers will host the red carpet benefit. Radio personality and Event Co-Chair Spike Manton with a special celebrity dinner host, to be announced, will keep the pre-show dinner lively.
Tickets for this event go on sale Saturday, Dec. 1. Tickets prices begin at $250 for an all-inclusive evening starting at 5 p.m. with a pre-show dinner inside the venue featuring a live auction, entertainment, and VIP seating to the Oscar® viewing. Tickets to the Oscar® telecast viewing portion, open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres start at $100 per person. For more information or tickets, call 847.673.0150 or visit www.eveningwiththestars.org.
Founding Chairs Dan & Kerry Schlaack, and Teri Steinberg, an Autism training and advocacy consultant, have made Autism awareness their mission, as they are parents of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. “We are absolutely thrilled to see this unique, glamorous and important fundraising event enter its third year in Chicago. It is our continued goal to raise funds to help find answers and put programs in place now so our children can have brighter futures.” says Teri Steinberg, who has been involved with Cure Autism Now/Autism Speaks for well over a decade. “Bringing Hollywood home to Chicago for a night has proven to be a very successful and unique way to accomplish this goal,” continues Schlaack. “Purchasing a ticket not only raises funds for Autism awareness and advocacy, but also provides a fantastic Oscar® night experience for all guests, complete with our own red carpet interviews and paparazzi. We’re excited to have a sold out event February 24 at An Evening with the Stars.”
This event is not affiliated with nor endorsed by the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences®.
About Autism
Autism is a complex neurobiological disorder that typically lasts throughout a person's lifetime. It is part of a group of disorders known as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Today, 1 in 150 individuals is diagnosed with autism, making it more common than pediatric cancer, diabetes, and AIDS combined. It occurs in all racial, ethnic, and social groups and is four times more likely to strike boys than girls. Autism impairs a person's ability to communicate and relate to others. It is also associated with rigid routines and repetitive behaviors, such as obsessively arranging objects or following very specific routines. Symptoms can range from very mild to quite severe.
About Autism Speaks
Autism Speaks is dedicated to increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders, to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and cure for autism, and to advocating for the needs of affected families. Founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Bob Wright is vice chairman, General Electric, and served as chief executive officer of NBC for more than twenty years. Autism Speaks has merged with both the National Alliance for Autism Research (NAAR) and Cure Autism Now (CAN), bringing together the nation's three leading autism advocacy organizations. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit www.autismspeaks.org.
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For more information:
Visit the event website: www.eveningwiththestars.org
Visit the Autism Speaks website: www.autismspeaks.org
Spike Manton, co-chairperson: 312-423-6612 or spikemanton@eveningwiththestars.org
Tami Manton, co-chairperson: 312-423-6612 or tamimanton@eveningwiththestars.org
Fred Walz, Corporate Sponsorship Chairperson: fredwalzcorp@gmail.com
Dan Schlaack, Production Chairperson/Founding Chair: 773-398-1950 dschlaack@gmail.com
Karen DeMars-Pillsbury, Auction/Raffle chairperson: Kpills@comcast.net
Teri Steinberg, Founding Co-chair/communications: 847-831-4540 teri_steinberg@yahoo.com
Emma Petievich, Sr. Events Mgr. Autism Speaks: 323-549-0500 x757 epetievich@autismspeaks.org
Chicago Center for the Performing Arts is located at 777 North Green Street, Chicago, IL 60622.
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