All Stars Project INC.

All Stars Project (ASP) of Chicago held its annual Partners with Youth Benefit Luncheon on Tuesday, June 19, at The Standard Club in downtown Chicago. Celebrating the fifth anniversary of the All Stars in Chicago, the benefit raised $375,000 for All Stars' afterschool programs. ABC 7 sports anchor and reporter Rafer Weigel hosted the festivities. 

"Since I began walking the streets of the South and West Sides of Chicago in 2007, more than 2,500 young people have joined with me to develop as leaders by participating in the All Stars Talent Show Network and the Development School for Youth," said David Cherry, director of the ASP of Chicago. "This is a tough time for young people in Chicago's poorest neighborhoods. The continuing violence is a product of the continuing crisis of development in these communities. Today's event shows that there are hundreds of business leaders and philanthropists who want to invest in innovative approaches to inner-city youth development and partner directly with our young people."

Luncheon honorees David Heller, partner at Latham & Watkins, and Bill Lowry, Jr. special assistant to the president of The Chicago Community Trust received Partners with Youth awards for their passionate advocacy for Chicago's youth.  Hundreds of business leaders, philanthropists and nonprofit executives from Nuveen Investments, Winston & Strawn, Equity Residential, Hilco, Alvarez & Marsal, Grant Thornton, Lazard, the MacArthur Foundation, Draper and Kramer, William Blair and other organizations joined the celebration.  All Stars Community Spirit Awards were presented to Diane Latiker, founder and president of Kids Off The Block and 2011 Top 10 CNN Hero, Dr. Robert Halpern, professor at Erikson Institute, and Mark Jackson, resource coordinator for 21^st Century - Family Focus at Manley Career Academy.

"The excitement in the room was palpable as we announced fundraising progress and also invited everyone in attendance to become a volunteer partner with our programs," said Julie Lenner, ASP of Chicago director of development. "All Stars has thrived in Chicago where we have experienced a very rapid growth rate in private support. We doubled the amount of dollars raised this year and our room was twice as full, even in these challenging economic times."

All Stars Project President and CEO Gabrielle L. Kurlander and Co-Founder Lenora B. Fulani, Ph.D. delivered keynote remarks.  All Stars Talent Show Network alumna Ashley Wilson treated guests to a musical performance and Development School for Youth graduates Jasmin Graham (Class of 2010) and David Collum II (Class of 2012) spoke about their experiences and growth in the program.