ALCA Takes Center Stage with Annual Gala

featuring entertainment by Green Room Improv

The Alexander Leigh Center for Autism will take to the stage for their “Night of ImprovABILITY” annual
gala on Saturday, April 30th at the Raue Center in Crystal Lake, IL. The evening will include a silent
auction, various raffles, ALCA presentations, and will conclude with a set from Green Room Improv. In-
person tickets are $100, while a virtual viewing is offered at $50.

All proceeds from the gala will go towards helping ALCA provide an environment where children on the
autism spectrum can develop their potential; academically, emotionally, socially, communicatively, and
physically.

To purchase tickets visit https://aesbid.com/ELP/ALCA22/

The Alexander Leigh Center for Autism (ALCA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, full-day, year-round therapeutic
day school approved by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) for children 3-21 years old with
autism spectrum disorder (ASD), OHI, multiple disabilities, developmental delay and/or intellectual
disability. ALCA currently serves students from Cook, DuPage, Lake, Kane, McHenry, and Will counties. It
is our mission to provide an environment where children on the autism spectrum can develop their full
potential and gain functional independence.

Event Contacts: Megg Wallen: mwallen@alcacenter.org
JD Harshbarger: jharshbarger@alcacenter.org

Contact Phone: 815-344-2522
Media Contact: Patrick Hastings: phastings@alcacenter.org

Calls For Artists For Fourth Annual 6X6 PROJECT at Raue Center

Join Raue Center For The Arts as they host the 4th Annual 6×6 Project Art Auction & Exhibition on Saturday, June 25, 2022, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Raue Center For The Arts, 26 N. Williams Street, Crystal Lake.

Blank canvases are now available and anyone can be an artist! Canvases may be purchased for a $5 donation at either Raue Center’s box office at 26 William Street in downtown Crystal Lake or one of the other partner locations including Out of the Box (Crystal Lake), Brush Studio (Cary), Creative Arts Inc. (Crystal Lake), Material Things (Woodstock), and Piano Trends (Crystal Lake). The deadline to return the completed artwork is May 9, 2022. For more information on how to participate in this annual event visit rauecenter.org/6×6-project/

All artwork submitted to the 6×6 Project will be available for viewing online and can be bid on in an online auction starting June 6, 2022. Please be sure to mark your calendars for the Raue’s 6×6 Project Art Reception to be held on Saturday, June 25, 2022, at Raue Center For The Arts.

“We are so happy to be kicking off our 4th year of the 6×6 Project! More people are learning about it and excited to participate and support Raue Center,” says 6×6 Project Co-Chairperson, Michelle Nowland. “The art reception will be open to the public again in June and we plan to have Raue Center School For The Arts students performing live. I think one of the best things though is that bidding is done online so you can be anywhere in the world and bid on (and hopefully win) original art.”

Last year, over 190 unique pieces of art were up for bidding. This year, bidding for the artwork begins on June 6th at charityauction.bid/6x6project2022 and continues through the evening of the public reception at Raue Center on June 25, 2022. Several mini installations of the art will be on display at various locations, prior to the reception, including Raue Center, Countryside Flowershop, Out of the Box in Crystal Lake, and at Material Things Artisan Market in Woodstock.

All proceeds of the 6×6 Project benefit Raue Center’s educational programs, Mission Imagination, and Raue Center School For The Arts, which have been enriching the lives of over 20,000 children each year in the local community since 2001.

The 4th Annual 6×6 Project is made possible through the generous support of Raue Center donors and grantors. If you’d like more information about becoming a sponsor, please email Meredith Schaefer at mschaefer@rauecenter.org. For more information on the 6×6 Project and Raue Center’s educational programs, please visit rauecenter.org or email 6x6project@rauecenter.org.

THE CRYSTAL LAKE STRIKERS RETURN TO RAUE CENTER

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. – January 19, 2022 – Raue Center For The Arts is excited to welcome the Crystal Lake Strikers for “An Evening of Percussion” at 7 p.m. on February 19, 2022. Returning for the twelfth year, this community fundraiser helps the Strikers grow their educational and performing programs!

“Evening of Percussion has become an annual tradition at Raue Center. Be ready for a fun-filled, fast-paced, and exciting evening,” says Board President, Tim Paul. “We are always proud to present shows that highlight our local talent, as this presentation always does.”

Evening of Percussion will feature multiple groups of outstanding performers from all over the region, including Girls on the Drum (drumline for middle school girls), the Crystal Lake Thunder (competitive winter drumline), the Strikers All-Stars (high school drumline), the Kingpins (drumline for special needs performers), the Convergence Winter Guard and more to present a high-energy night of entertainment. The Strikers will also award scholarships to local high school students including the Tim Althoff Memorial Scholarship, the William Laskey Memorial Scholarship, and the inaugural Aaron Shepley Memorial Scholarship during the event.

The Crystal Lake Strikers was formed in the fall of 2007 when three area men sat in a local coffee shop imagining the possibility of forming an organization that would achieve the essential goals of providing a performing outlet for drummers of college-age and beyond as well as supporting and educating aspiring young performers. For more information on the organization, visit www.clstrikers.com.

This Crystal Lake favorite is sure to be a sell-out! Tickets start at $15 ($8 for students) and may be purchased online at rauecenter.org or via the Box Office at 815.356.9212 or at 26 N. Williams Street in downtown Crystal Lake. For information on the Crystal Lake Strikers, visit clstrikers.com.

 

UPDATED COVID POLICY! Raue Center appreciates your help in our efforts to keep the theater a safe environment for all. As of 2.16.22 Raue Center NO LONGER requires vaccination or negative tests for entry to shows and events. Masks continue to be required while in the theater unless actively eating or drinking. For more information visit rauecenter.org/covid/

About Raue Center For The Arts
Raue Center is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of all through the arts. For 20 years, they have provided quality programming – striving to make it pertinent, available, and affordable to all. As a painstakingly restored, 1920s regional showcase theatre named for its benefactor—Lucile Raue—Raue Center has attracted the finest stars, Broadway shows, musicians and artists. Named on the League of Historic American Theatres, Raue Center is one of the finest examples of restored art and decor in the nation. The 750-seat theatre, located in historic downtown Crystal Lake, Illinois, is a gathering place for our region’s citizens and has become a true destination.

For additional information, visit rauecenter.org, facebook.com/RaueCenter, and twitter.com/RaueCenter.

SANTA RUN RETURNS TO CRYSTAL LAKE

CRYSTAL LAKE, Ill. (CBS) — “Ho, ho, ho,” turned into, “No, no, no,” for a charity Santa race in the northwest suburbs thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

But a year later, Santas by the hundred are set to hit the streets once again. CBS 2’s Jim Williams had a look at the preps needed to make it happen.

Upon first glance, you might think Mike Splitt was in the apparel business, or that he’s outfitting department store Santas. Nope; stacking box after box at his office, Splitt is preparing for one of Crystal Lake’s biggest events of the year.

“It’s a sea of red out here,” in downtown Crystal Lake, he said.

The McHenry County Santa Run for Kids returns in person this year on the first Sunday of December. Splitt is the race director.

“It’s a fun event. You wear the beard, wear the costume basically, all for a good cause,” he said.

The Santa Run raises money for several charities.

“We provide programs for girls from 3rd to 8th grade. It’s a running foreword that helps empower girls,” said Michelle Stien, project manager for the non-profit Girls on the Run,

Michael Neumannn said tells us his organization, Turning Point, will able to provide more help for victims of domestic violence thanks to the race.

VIEW THE ORIGINAL ARTICLE ON CBS 2 NEWS