Committed to our Ensemble since 1985, American Blues

Theater produces stories about working people and partners

each production with social and service organizations.

Community Outreach

2012

Mission

Contents

2011-2012 ………………....2-3 Waiting for Lefty Ripped It’s A Wonderful Life 2010-2011 ……………………4 It’s A Wonderful Life Rantoul and Die 2009-2010 ……………………5 It’s A Wonderful Life Tobacco Road

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Community Outreach History 2011-2012

Partners

ABT raised awareness of labor issues and rights through U.S. Dept. of Labor, Chicago Federation of Labor, and IL Labor History Society. We honored a Chicago union at every performance with a “Union Spotlight” and offered deeply discounted and subsidized tickets. On Labor Day, we hosted a free performance to

the City of Chicago. We worked with Urban Gateways to create curriculum and collect school supplies for the Chicago Public Schools. We donated proceeds from our “Pink Previews” to the Lynn Sage Foundation for cancer research.

Unions Honored (in order of production date) United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW), IL Nurses Association, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), City of Chicago, Chicago Typographic Union Local 16/CWA 14408, Chicago Firefighters Local 2, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 134), Iron Workers Local 1, IL Federation of Teachers, International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE Local 150), Chicago Teamsters Joint Council 25, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU Local 308), stage artists (AEA) (SDC) (USA) (IATSE), Boilermakers, Bricklayers, Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters, Chicago Plumbers Local 130, University Professional of IL (UPI), Laborers Local 2, Chicago Newspaper Guild, International Association of Machinist & Aerospace Workers (IAM), Union of

Needletrades, Industrial, Textile Employees (Unite Here), and Fraternal Order of Police Local 7.

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Community Outreach

History 2011-2012

(continued)

ABT was proud to partner “It’s a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph!” with the following organizations: Lincoln Park Community Shelter, the Lynn Sage Foundation, Marwen, St. Leo’s Residential Housing for Veterans, Illinois Department of Veteran Affairs, and the USO. We honored a serviceman or servicewoman at each performance with a Soldier Spotlight. In addition, we invited veteran and active military personnel to a special performance. We extended complimentary tickets to Lincoln Park Community Shelter and students of Marwen. We donated proceeds from our “Pink Previews” to the Lynn Sage Foundation for cancer research.

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Greater Chicago Food Depository The University of Chicago Urban Teacher Education

Program Open Books Lincoln Park Community Shelter

ABT raised and donated funds to the Greater Chicago Food Depository, raised awareness for University of Chicago’s UTEP and organized a book drive for Open Books literacy program, donating over 150 books. Additionally, we collected over six boxes of supplies and eight bags of clothing for Lincoln Park Community Shelter.

RIPPED: The Living Newspaper Project 2009 - 2012

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Lincoln Park Community Shelter

Lynn Sage Foundation Mercy Home for Boys and

Girls St. Leo’s Residential Housing

for Veterans Soldiers’ Angels USO (United Service

Organizations) U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs ABT held a Benefit Performance and post-show discussion for servicemen and women. Every performance throughout the run honored one military personnel with complimentary tickets, appearance in the show, and a personal tribute known as “Soldier Spotlight”. Additionally, we sent letters to active troops over-seas through Soldiers’ Angels. We gave complimentary tickets to Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, residents of St. Leo’s Residential Housing, and Lincoln Park Community Shelter.

We began our new initiative “Pink Previews”—donating proceeds to the Lynn Sage Foundation.

Lincoln Park Community Shelter

Lynn Sage Foundation PAWS Chicago Children’s Memorial

Hospital/Children’s Miracle Network Hospital

ABT gave complimentary tickets to Lincoln Park Community Shelter and

workers of Children’s Memorial Hospital. We raised awareness of Children’s Miracle Network. In addition, we proudly continued our “Pink Previews” initiative, donating proceeds from Preview performances to the Lynn Sage Foundation for breast cancer research. We also raised awareness for PAWS Chicago.

Community Outreach History 2010-2011

The Lynn Sage Foundation, established by the family of Lynn Sage, is committed to the discovery of a cure for breast cancer. To achieve this goal, the Foundation has partnered with the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, a nationally recognized leader in breast cancer care, education and research. The Cancer Center, under the direction of Dr. Steven T. Rosen, is one of only two National Cancer Institutes designated a "Comprehensive" Cancer Center in the State of Illinois. The Cancer Center’s solid, well-established program in breast cancer research is fortified by a state-of-the-art, 15,000-square-foot research facility that was opened in the spring of 2005.

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Mercy Home for Boys & Girls St. Leo’s Residential Housing

for Veterans USO (United Service

Organizations) U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs

(Chicago) Vet Art Project

ABT held a Benefit Performance and post-show discussion for servicemen and servicewomen.

Every show honored one military personnel with complimentary tickets, appearance in the show, and a personal tribute. In addition, ABT provided complimentary tickets to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls and St. Leo’s Residential Housing for Veterans.

Greater Chicago Food Depository

Illinois Farm Bureau Lakeview Pantry Lincoln Park Farmers Market Shields Township Food Pantry Smile Train

ABT held a Benefit Performance for local pantries, donating 17 boxes of food. Every performance honored a family farm with a personal tribute. Members of IL Farm Bureau were offered complimentary tickets. ABT raised awareness of the Lincoln Park Farmers Market and passed out agricultural publications. We sponsored one cleft palate and cleft lip surgery through Smile Train.

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Community Outreach History

2009-2010