Magic, charity combine for final Jackie's Magic Food Drive Nov. 19

Posted November 18, 2016 5:00 am

Submitted by Jim Stanislawski

Jim Stan the Magic Man, aka Jim Stanislawski, founded Jackie's Magic Food Drive in memory of his daughter. This year's show will take place at 7 p.m. - with preshow festivities starting at 5:30 p.m. - on Nov. 19 at the Warren Township High School O'Plaine Campus Auditorium. Courtesy of Jim Stanislawski

The Jackie's Magic 2016 Food Drive will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, in the Warren Township High School O'Plaine Campus Auditorium, at 500 N. O'Plaine Road, Gurnee. This will be the 13th and final year of this event.

Doors will open at 5:45 p.m., with preshow entertainment including close-up magicians, face painting, games for kids, the ghost hunting team "Shadow Hunters," raffles and a special visit by Santa. The evening illusion show will begin at 7 p.m. Raffles with items and services from local business will be held from 5:45 p.m. until show time.

The show will feature some returning acts along with some new performers. Performing live on stage this year will be: Mark and Sue Holstein, Joe Diamond, Trent James, Big Bob Coleman, Bill Cook, Mike Winters, Chezaday, Jimmy Stanislawski and Jim Stanislawski, aka "Jim Stan, Magic Man."

Admission to the events is either a donation of nonperishable food items or a monetary donation; checks can be made payable to Warren Township with "Food Pantry" written in the memo line.

All food and cash donations collected at the front door will benefit the Warren Township Food Pantry. All of the money collected at the raffle will be donated to the Warren Transitional Students for students with special needs. Money from past events has been used to build Jackie's Magic Garden and Greenhouse. This garden is being used to teach these students to plant, harvest and cook with plants and vegetables.

Jackie's Magic was founded by magician Jim Stanislawski in memory of his daughter Jackie, who died in a car accident in 2003. Jackie had taken it upon herself to run her own food drive to support local families during the holiday season, so her father founded Jackie's Magic to combine the family's love of magic with Jackie's love of charity and service.

For more information on Jackie's Magic, visit www.jackiesmagic.com, email jackiesmagic@att.net, or find Jackie's Magic on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/Jackies-Magic-210830775614198.

Jim Stanislawski performed preshow close-up magic for the Jackie's Magic Food Drive before moving up to the main stage in 2012. Courtesy of Jim Stanislawski

Steve Chezaday has been performing stage magic for more than 25 years, and will lend his talents to the 13th and final Jackie's Magic Food Drive. Courtesy of Jim Stanislawski

Three-time winner of the Lance Burton award of excellence Bill Cook is one of the featured performers of this year's Jackie's Magic Food Drive. Courtesy of Jim Stanislawski

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