Farewell to Jackie's Magic fundraiser Saturday in Gurnee

It'll be the final curtain Saturday for a longtime fundraising magic show in Gurnee that's been performed in memory of a College of Lake County student with a giving spirit who died in a car crash

Jackie's Magic will end with the 13th annual performance at 7 p.m. at Warren Township High School's freshman-sophomore campus auditorium, 500 N. O'Plaine Road. In exchange for a donation of nonperishable food items or a cash donation when the doors open at 5:45 p.m., guests for the last time will be treated to a 90-minute stage show featuring top magicians and other fun.

Professional magician Jim Stanislawski began the show in memory of his daughter, Jackie, and has raised about $33,000 and collected roughly 30,000 pounds of food for those in need in Lake County. He said the show in its current format won't continue, in part because it's become too difficult to obtain donations for raffles that raise additional money.

"We have been blessed to be able to do this for the past 13 years," Stanislawski said. "I always said that I would like to end this on a high note and not wait until it was no longer a popular event. We have discussed some different options going forward, including maybe doing a show for the troops or going to a children's hospital."

Jackie Stanislawski was attending CLC in Grayslake when she was killed in a car crash in December 2003. At the time, the Warren High graduate had been collecting bags of food for a charity drive, and her parents were surprised to find the goods in her car trunk.

That discovery of the food led Jim Stanislawski, who's performed magic professionally for about 30 years, to hold the first Jackie's Magic as a way to continue the work she had been doing. All of Saturday's donated goods will go to the Warren Township food pantry and the raffle money to a Warren High program for students with special needs.

Gurnee Mayor Kristina Kovarik said she was saddened to hear about the end of Jackie's Magic. She said it's been a rare opportunity for families to see a live magic show.

"I know it is hard to get raffle (donations)," Kovarik said. "I hear that from dozens of nonprofits."

Stanislawski said he'll treasure many memories from Jackie's Magic, including an older couple who thanked organizers for the nominal admission fee or seeing children enthralled by the performances. Another memory for Stanislawski will be the conversations he had at the shows with other parents whose children died.

"The one message that I would love for people to take away from our events is to get out and help others," he said. "Get out and do what you can, no matter how small it might be. Jackie was that kind of person. She always helped others. She loved to be with people. She would have loved to be part of this type of event."