CHICAGO (October 12, 2005) – The National Runaway Switchboard (NRS) will host the third annual Spirit of Youth benefit on Thursday, Nov. 3, from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. in the Sydney R. Yates Gallery at the Chicago Cultural Center (77 E. Randolph Street, Chicago, IL). Alex Kotlowitz, author of There are No Children Here and The Other Side of the River, will be presented with the 2005 Spirit of Youth award for his commitment to disadvantaged youth. Christie Hefner, CEO of Playboy Enterprises, Inc. will present the award.
“Alex has dedicated his career to writing about issues that children face,” said Maureen Blaha, executive director of the NRS. “The National Runaway Switchboard is honored to present him with the Spirit of Youth award for his commitment to making sure at-risk youth have a voice.”
Kotlowitz's first book, There are No Children Here, examined life in a Chicago housing project through the eyes of two young boys. The book received the Helen B. Bernstein Award for Excellence in Journalism, the Carl Sandburg Award and a Christopher Award, and was named as one of the 150 most important books of the century by the New York Public Library.
The goal of this year’s event will be to raise $75,000 for NRS, an organization dedicated to keeping America’s runaway and at-risk youth safe and off the streets. The benefit will feature a dinner, silent auction and raffle along with the award presentation. Steve Baskerville of WBBM-TV CBS Channel 2 will serve as the Master of Ceremonies.
Raffle prizes include:
- First prize: A Jazzfest 2006 package including two United Airlines first-class roundtrip tickets to the fest at the Hollywood Bowl, guest passes to the Playboy Mansion’s pre-Jazz Festival reception, Playboy Jazz Festival tickets for two days and a parking pass. Donated by United Airlines and the Playboy Foundation.
- Second prize: Four 300-level tickets to a Chicago Bulls 2005-2006 regular season home game at the United Center.
- Third prize: A one-night stay for two at the Courtyard Marriott Magnificent Mile including breakfast at Viand Bar & Kitchen.
Cost for a table of 10 is $950 and individual tickets are $95. Raffle tickets are $20 each or $100 for six tickets. To secure a table, purchase raffle tickets, or to participate in early online auction bidding, visit www.1800runaway.org or call 773-880-9860. Sponsors of this year’s benefit include United Airlines, LaSalle Bank, Radio Flyer, Carlton Technologies and C.N.A. Insurance.
The National Runaway Switchboard, established in 1971, serves as the federally-designated national communication system for homeless and runaway youth. Recognized as the oldest hotline in the world, NRS, with the support of more than 150 volunteers, has handled more than 3 million calls in its 34-year history and handles an average of 115,000 calls annually. NRS provides crisis intervention, referrals to local resources, and education and prevention services to youth, families and community members throughout the country 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Over 10,000 youth have been reunited with their families through NRS’ Home Free program, done in collaboration with Greyhound Lines, Inc. The NRS crisis hotline is 1-800-RUNAWAY. For more information, visit www.1800runaway.org.