Lane Alumni Invited:
LANE TECH CENTURY FOUNDATION AND LANE TECH ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
HOST FOOTBALL TAILGATE PARTY SEPT. 17TH TO BENEFIT THE SCHOOL
By DeBat Media Services
CHICAGO—The Lane Tech Century Foundation and the Lane Tech Alumni Association will host a “Tailgate Appreciation Football Party” at 5 p.m. on September 17th in the Lane Tech Memorial Garden to benefit Lane Tech College Prep High School at 2501 W. Addison St. in Chicago.
“The Tailgate Football Party will show appreciation for prior donations to Lane Tech through the Century Foundation fund-raising events and continued support of the school,” said John H. Schwan, chairman of the Lane Tech Century Foundation. “It also will allow alumni time for fellowship and an opportunity to learn more about future plans for the school.”
The tailgating event is expected to attract up to 200 guests and school officials, Schwan said. Hot dogs, brats and beverages will be served at the football party, prior to the kickoff for the game.
Following the Tailgate Football Party, Lane Tech will play Curie High School in the “Lane Tech Century Foundation-Alumni Association Football Game” at 7 p.m. on September 17th at Lane Stadium.
Football game tickets will be available at the party. Reserved seating will be available in the Lane Tech alumni section.
In 2010, the Lane Tech Century Foundation continued its goal to raise $2-million in charitable gifts to restore the existing 75-year-old building and campus of Lane Tech in conjunction with the school’s 2008 Centennial Celebration.
“The foundation’s centennial charity efforts already have generated more than $1.8 million for restoration of the Lane Tech campus,” said Schwan. The Lane Tech Century Foundation was established in March of 2004 by Lane Alumni.
In May of 2010, the Century Foundation hosted a dedication celebration to commemorate the restoration of the 25,000-square-foot Memorial Gardens at the center of Lane Tech. The event, which attracted more than 200 patrons and alumni, also lauded the Patrons of Lane Tech who donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore the school.
“A key part of the complete renovation of the Memorial Garden is making it more accessible for all members of the Lane Tech community to enjoy,” said Dr. Antoinette LoBosco, principal of Lane Tech.
The Memorial Garden restoration work involved a new wheelchair-accessible entrance, repair of the retainer wall, lining of the three ponds, landscape architecture and installation of new paver brick walkways, said Schwan.
In 2009, the Century Foundation also supported the $250,000 Hewitt College and Career Center (HCCC) which replaced an old, unused print shop. The center is equipped with a state-of-the-art computer lab, classroom, small library and a Board Room.
“The Hewitt College and Career Center was funded by a unique partnership—donations by Hewitt Associates and the Lane Tech Century Foundation, along with a matching grant from the Hoellen Foundation, plus the purchase of computers by Chicago Public Schools, and a raffle sponsored by the Lane Tech Field of Dreams committee,” Dr. LoBosco said.
“All of the furniture for the center was donated by Hewitt Associates as well as projector and screen and Promethian Board, and many extras, including book shelves, shades, bulletin boards, white boards, outside doors,” said Jeff Vacek, the full-time Scholarship Counselor who runs the HCCC.
In the future, the Century Foundation also plans to raise funds to convert of the school lunchroom into a multi-purpose room.
“The Century Foundation also holds an annual Memorial Weekend Carnival fundraiser, and has funded numerous other projects and activities around the building,” Dr. Lobosco said.
The Century Foundation also has funded installation of display cases to showcase student art and murals to commemorate Lane Tech’s history and upgrades of the athletic practice fields.
Schwan said completed projects of the Century Foundation include the following:
• Installation of new seating in the Lane Tech auditorium, and refurbishing of the Auditorium Mural and installation of new lights in the main gymnasium.
• Facilitated and partially funded refurbishing of the track at Lane Stadium and installation of new lighting.
• Funding for new band instruments and uniforms.
• Sponsorship of the 1909 “Lost Mural” rededication, and establishing the 1st Annual Open House for graduates and friends of Lane Tech and their families in 2006.
• The Century Foundation also supported the “Fields of Dreams” committee proposal that resulted in a $200,000 National Football League grant to install field turf in Lane Stadium.
“With the Lane Tech Centennial fund-raising celebration now in its sixth year, we invite the more than 80,000 Lane Tech alumni, their friends, family and neighborhood residents to participate in these historic events,” Schwan said. “All these Century Foundation charity events continue to celebrate 100 years of excellence held at Lane Tech.”
For more information on the Lane Tech Century Foundation’s fund raising efforts to benefit Lane Tech College Prep High School, 2501 W. Addison St. in Chicago, please call 773-534-5400 ext. 45661, or visit www.mmgrubich@cps.edu.
The Alumni Association:
The Lane Tech Alumni Association’s purpose is to promote and enhance the reputation of the school, to provide scholarships, to assist and meet with students in preparing them for higher education and life after graduation. The association also disseminates and publishes information regarding the graduates’ accomplishments, to preserve the history of Lane Tech and to foster a closer fellowship among the graduates. The association has more than 5,200 members worldwide.
Former Lane Tech students who are interested in joining the Alumni Association should call 773-935-9351 for an application, or visit www.landtechalumi.org.
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