Art for Rory’s sake made an impression
The SoGO Art Exhibit, held April 29 at Art@Random in Chicago, showcased the works of ten emerging artists from Chicago and beyond. The exhibit brought together carefully selected works from artists ranging in their scope and exposure, and the event supported developing artists as well as the Rory David Deutsch Foundation, to which $4,000 of the evening's proceeds were donated.
Rory Award continued to express citizenship
Two students at Indian Trail Elementary School in Highland Park received the Rory Award for good citizenship. Morgan Doetsch took top honors among kindergartners and first graders for her thoughtful illustration and Matthew Berk, who was a classmate of Rory's, won the competition among second and third graders for his bright essay.
Cubby Bear Celebrity Golf Weekend recorded a big win
Nearly thirty celebrities from the worlds of sports and entertainment came together in the summer to raise more than $33,000 for pediatric cancer research. The Celebrity Golf Weekend was a memorable and successful fundraiser that spanned three days and included more than golf. At a kick-off concert at the Cubby Bear North, nearly 1,000 participants took in a performance by legendary piano player Leon Russell. Many of them gathered the following day on rooftops across from Wrigley Field for a family barbeque and a great view of the ballgame.
Indian Trail dedicated a space to Rory
As a first grader at Indian Elementary Trail School, Rory was passionately interested in science and space books. In honoring his memory, the school arranged a special space in its library that is now known as “Rory’s Reading Room.” Decorated with an outer space theme by Gabrielle Rousso, whose daughter attended the school, the room is still a favorite place for students to read and share books.
Karyn Collection increased generosity
Over two years, The Karyn Collection donated a portion of its sales of Beanie Babies and other children's toys to The Foundation. The result: an additional $15,000 applied directly to understanding and treating pediatric brain-stem gliomas. The Highland Park specialty gift shop owned by Karyn and Marc Levy continued its fundraising efforts in 2001 through the sales of its special family blanket. For each blanket sold, $25 was contributed to The Foundation.
Scoozi showed support by celebrating tomatoes
Scoozi’s 11th Annual Tomato Festival, held August 22-26, benefited The Foundation and delivered a great time for kids and adults alike. The festival featured a tomato stomping contest, pizza-making party, a tomato cooking class and much more.
Whole Foods cooked up a day for Rory
For one day each quarter, every Whole Foods store donates 5% of its sales to a charitable cause in its community. On August 31, the supermarket chain's Deerfield store chose The Rory David Deutsch Foundation to be the recipient of the program's proceeds. The Deerfield store also launched a bimonthly "Rory Day" children's activity program in October, which included fun ideas such as a pumpkin-decorating contest.
Olga’s Spa shared the beauty of its commitment
Olga's Day Spa held its annual fundraiser for the Rory David Deutsch Foundation on September 10, which raised $4,800 for research dedicated to pediatric brain-stem gliomas. One hundred percent of the salon's earnings that day were donated to the Foundation. Many members of Olga's staff donated their time for the day as well. A silent auction and raffle raised additional funds.
More players suited up to shoot for Rory
The 2000 Hoops for Rory basketball tournament, held on September 22-24 in Highland Park, brought together more than 100 young players and raised $5,500 for The Foundation. Attendance surpassed that of the 1999 event, as four teams of fifth graders and six teams of eighth graders vied for all-star status. Rick Siegel and Verne Reich, launched the annual fundraising competition in 1999. This year included basketball clinics led by former UNLV coach Bill Bayno, Chicago Bull Jake Voskuhl, and two NBA referees.
Theatre Company made an encore of support
Throughout 1999 and in 2000, the child performers of the Lake Forest Children’s Theatre Company staged performances around the Chicago area and donated a portion of ticket sales to The Rory David Deutsch Foundation. While having a chance to develop performing skills, the kids who take classes with the Children’s Theatre also learned first-hand what it’s like to give a little something back to their community.
More Than 1,200 Shot to the Stars at the 2000 Family Event
The seeds of the Rory David Deutsch Foundation's 2000 Family Event, "Shoot to the Stars for Rory" were planted the day that Ross met with the managers of the Windy City Fieldhouse and toured the 3,000-person capacity Chicago facility equipped with basketball and volleyball courts, a soccer field and ample open space. His view that it was the perfect setting for a family-oriented, recreational event geared to both children and adults proved impeccably true when the November event drew more 1,200 people and raised nearly $600,000 for The Foundation. Generous sponsors that underwrote a large portion of the evening’s expenses allowed the bulk of proceeds to go directly to support research into pediatric brain-stem gliomas.
As he did in 1999, President Clinton graciously agreed to serve as honorary chairperson of "Shoot to the Stars for Rory". His videotaped message described Rory as a boy who was "always looking onward and upward, truly shooting for the stars" and The Foundation as an organization providing “invaluable support in the fight against this pernicious disease.” As the recreational theme of the evening captured Rory's love of fun and play, many of the event’s guests were children who were provided with a carnival of activities. There was basketball and floor hockey, limbo and hoola-hoop contests, balloon artists and even a twenty-five-foot slide. The adults enjoyed an exciting raffle that featured two fancy cars and a Harley Davidson motorcycle and a live auction whose items ranged from an eight-week-old Labrador retriever to a round-trip private jet excursion anywhere in the U.S. A delicious Italian dinner, catered and largely donated by Jim Lazar of Marcello's Catering, satisfied everyone's appetite. The non-stop activity, camaraderie and goodwill of the evening symbolized a tribute to Rory's life.