Seventh Annual Illinois Arts Legend Awards

Friday, April 15, 2005
Rooftop Terrace of the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance
Millennium Park, Chicago

Honored Advocate Richard H. Driehaus Founder, Chief Investment Officer, CEO and Chairman, Driehaus Capital Management, Inc. and Renowned Arts Philanthropist	Honored Artist Bobby Short Legendary Pianist, Cabaret Entertainer and Native of Danville, Illinois

On Friday, April 15, 2005, the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation hosted 350 arts supporters and artists at the seventh annual Illinois Arts Legend Awards on the rooftop terrace of the Joan W. and Irving B. Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Chicago's spectacular Millennium Park. Our returning theme - SHOUT2 - celebrated IAAF's innovative and important work on behalf of the arts in Illinois. Our 2005 Illinois Arts Legend honorees were renowned arts philanthropist Richard H. Driehaus and the late Bobby Short, the legendary cabaret entertainer from Danville, IL. Julie Wilson, a musical legend in her own right and a good friend of Mr. Short's, came from New York to help us pay tribute to his life, music and artistry.

Benefit Co-chairs were Bradford L. Ballast of LaSalle Bank and Melanie Scofield of Scofield Communications. Honorary Chairs were Norman R. Bobins, Chairman, President and CEO of LaSalle Bank, and Daniel J. Schmidt, President and CEO of WTTW Communications, Inc., and current President of the Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation. Chicago Sun-Times columnist, CBS 2 entertainment reporter, and the always charming Bill Zwecker reprised his role as master of ceremonies. Sean Cannon and his team from Event Creative magically transformed the rooftop terrace into a colorful and sophisticated celebration of the arts, and George Jewell Catering provided a delicious dinner and magnificent dessert buffet complete with pyrotechnics. The Michael Lerich Orchestra, a caricature artist and a stylish Fosse-inspired dancer provided entertainment for partygoers throughout the evening.

Guests also had the opportunity to "Experience the Arts" - a live and silent auction featuring more than 30 packages of rare, interactive and behind-the-scenes arts experiences, including fabulous trips to Paris and New York City, and personally guided tours of LaSalle Bank's nationally recognized photography collection and Richard Driehaus' 36 acre estate on Lake Geneva. The live auction was conducted by Gary F. Metzner of Sotheby's; Auction Chair was Diane Spradlin of Northern Trust.

The Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation and 2005 benefit committee would like to thank the generous sponsors of the 2005 Illinois Arts Legend Awards:

Presenting Sponsor

Advocate Sponsors

Richard H. Driehaus

Pictures from the 2005 Illinois Arts Legend Awards
Click to enlarge (photos will appear in popup window)

Benefit Co-chairs Brad Ballast of LaSalle Bank and Melanie Scofield of Scofield Communications with emcee Bill Zwecker of CBS 2 and the Chicago Sun-Times	Chuck Offutt, nephew of Illinois Arts Legend honoree for an artist Bobby Short, cabaret singer Julie Wilson, and emcee Bill Zwecker of CBS 2 and the Chicago Sun-Times
Howard Ecker, School of the Art Institute of Chicago President Tony Jones, and Illinois Arts Legend honoree for an advocate Richard H. Driehaus	Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation Executive Director Alene Valkanas, Honorary Co-chair Daniel J. Schmidt of WTTW Communications, Inc., and Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation board member Marianne Deson
Honoree Richard H. Driehaus and his daughters, Tereza and Caroline	Debbie Krolik Silverman, Bobby Short's nephew Chuck Offutt, emcee Bill Zwecker of CBS 2 and the Chicago Sun-Times, cabaret singer Julie Wilson, Harvey Burstein, Producer Emeritus of The Second City Joyce Sloane, and Stuart Burstein
Benefit Co-chair Brad Ballast of LaSalle Bank and Auction Chair Diane Spradlin of Northern Trust	Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation board member Fred C. Matthews III with his wife Roslyn
Paul Chiaravalle, Chief of Staff at Columbia College Chicago, dancing with his fiancée, Linda Miller	Phil Ponce of WTTW and Robin Colburn, Field Museum trustee
Arts consultant Cheryl Yuen and Thomas Chin	Libby Lai-Bun Chiu, Executive Director of Urban Gateways: Center for Arts Education and an Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation board member, with Michelle L. Bibbs, Director of Cultural Grants for the Department of Cultural Affairs
Richard G. Hawks, Chairman of the Board of the Paramount Arts Centre in Aurora and an Illinois Arts Alliance Foundation board member, bidding on a package in the live auction	School of the Art Institute of Chicago President Tony Jones dancing with his wife Patty Carroll

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