Maryville Jen School Garden Growing Strong for Jammin' with Jen Celebration
Summer rains have done nothing to dampen the spirits of Maryville's Jen School youth, volunteers and staff who are preparing for the organization's first-ever "Jammin' with Jen" celebration on Friday, September 11, 2015.
Featuring a farm-to-table dinner created with fresh produce from the Jen School garden, the event is designed to showcase the students' commitment to healthy eating, good nutrition and grass-roots environmentalism.
The Maryville Jen School provides specialized academic and vocational opportunities for young men ages 12-21, who are experiencing academic, emotional, behavioral or cognitive challenges. The garden serves as a cornerstone of the Jen School's vocational program.
The "Jammin' with Jen" festivities will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Maryville's Des Plaines Campus, 1150 N. River Road. Along with beer and wine, hors d'oeuvres and sumptuous buffet dining under the big tent, "Jammin' with Jen" will get extra spice from live entertainment. Expect the classic rock and Chicago-style blues of local favorite The Poker Night Band to turn the heat up on the dance floor and keep the party jumpin'!
"Jammin' with Jen" will also spotlight the Jen School's new greenhouse, which was completed this summer with support from Hilton Worldwide and The Rivers Foundation Des Plaines Community Giving Program. The Jen School garden, which was started in 2008 with six vegetable beds, now contains 28 raised garden beds, a dozen flower boxes and a dozen fruit trees. The new greenhouse will provide students with hands-on learning experiences designed to increase academic performance and vocational skills.
Tickets for "Jammin' with Jen" are $70 per person. This is an event for adults 21 and older. All proceeds benefit the Maryville Jen School and its students. To buy tickets, please visit www.maryvilleacademy.org.
Maryville Academy is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. For more information about "Jammin' with Jen," or to learn how you can support the Jen School as a donor or a sponsor, please contact Tina Restivo-Hock at restivo-hockt@maryvilleacademy.org or 847-294-1982.