Concert to End Polio hits all the high notes
Rotary International News -- 21 March 2011
Perlman and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, directed by guest conductor James DePreist, perform Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto in E Minor. Before Perlman’s appearance, the orchestra played The Corsair Overture by Berlioz and the Suite from The Firebird by Stravinsky. Photo by Dan Rest
The Concert to End Polio, which brought together Rotarians and friends of Rotary in Chicago on 7 March, raised more than $100,000 for Rotary’s efforts to eradicate the disease.
The event also helped increase awareness of polio, which many don’t realize is still a threat to children in parts of the world.
The benefit concert featured violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, who performed before a packed audience at Symphony Center. Rotary International joined with Perlman, members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and conductor James DePreist to present the event. Read more about the concert.
Ending polio is Rotary’s top priority. It is more than three-quarters of the way through its effort to raise $200 million to match $355 million in challenge grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The Rotary Foundation thanks the concert sponsors, including Lead Sponsor Blane Foundation; Silver Sponsor Hyatt Hotels Corporation; Bronze Sponsors Océ Business Services and the Sidley Austin Foundation; Supporters Adams Street Partners, Boston Private Bank, Cushman and Wakefield, EMC Corporation, Grant Thornton, Mesirow Financial, the Northern Trust Company, and Van Scoyoc Associates; and Media Sponsors 98.7 WFMT and the Chicago Tribune.