Lislepalooza part of teen group's charity event
2-minute drill
A quick chat with a Lisle newsmaker
The frightful events of Sept. 11 are as unbelievable today as they were seven years ago when Lisle sisters Katie and Carrie Straub encouraged fellow students to show their patriotic support for the first responders. The event drew 60 friends and family in 2001.
Lisle Teens With Character developed from that first group of young people. Determined not to let the events of that day be forgotten, the teens, under the umbrella of the Lisle Character Counts Alliance, will host its seventh Sept. 11 Memorial Rally, Car Wash and Blood Drive.
The previous events have included 500 volunteers raising $8,500 for charity and almost 200 pints of blood. The 80 members range from sixth to 12th grades.
Benet Academy junior John Jachna of Woodridge, serving his third term as a LTWC teen leader, is the group's Webmaster and is overseeing its first Lislepalooza.
Q. What is Lislepalooza?
A. It is an afternoon of benefit concerts that will assist a local family who has lost a soldier or has a soldier in their family who was wounded or injured. There will be four bands playing: This New Trend is from Lisle High School, The Rikters are in their 20s and have a record deal, Tin Pan Alley is a college band and Handsome Lloyd is from Benet Academy.
Q. Why did the teens decide to add a concert to the events?
A. In the past, we tried to have bands play at the rally. We try to put out there things our members would like. Keeping with our traditions, it is all going to a good cause and its another way to raise more money.
Q. What are the goals of Lislepalooza?
A. Our primary goal is to raise money for the family we will sponsor. Second is to provide a good environment for the community to come and enjoy the bands. Third is to have an event that our members can participate in by serving and enjoying.
Q. How many people do you hope to draw to Lislepalooza?
A. We'd love to have 200 to 300 people come. Perhaps we can get up to 500 people for the whole event. You can come and go as you want and certainly are welcome to stay the whole time.
Q. What should patrons bring?
A. Bring a blanket and maybe a snack. There are some picnic tables there, and the event goes rain or shine. The event will be kid- and parent-friendly as long as they don't mind the noise of the concert. It is drug- and alcohol-free, and we will be selling bottled water.
Q. What will LTWC do at the Sept. 11 Memorial this year?
A. We're joining with the community for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and will have as the guest speaker David Beamer, the father of Todd Beamer (who died on Flight 93).
Our memorial will feature teen members singing our national anthem, "God Bless America" and "Waiting for the World to Change," along with a couple of our members playing guitar.
While our four guitarists play "Danny Boy," we will read some statistics. We also will have a few teen speakers tell how they will never forget Sept. 11.
Q. How old were these young people when Sept. 11 happened?
A. Our members were in first through eighth grades. All of our members can remember where they were when they found out and how they felt. Our September large group meeting will focus on remembering the event. It was basically that first Sept. 11 rally that gave our group its start.
Q. Part of your effort is a car wash. What is it like to wash 200 cars in five hours?
A. Tiring, wet and dirty. It is overwhelming to see the cars piling in and getting your hands in the bucket to scrub down the cars. But it is always on your mind what you are doing it for.
Even though you are having a great time with friends, you know you are there to remember the past and to move forward. We don't just remember; we move forward and continue to do something for charity.
Q. What is the best part of being in Lisle Teens With Character?
A. It is being in a good environment while doing service. This group offers teens opportunities to serve the community with a bunch of their friends. We form great friendships. We have dozens of junior high and high schools represented in our group. We get to meet lots of different people.
Q. Can anyone join LTWC?
A. Not quite anyone. Anyone who is in sixth grade through senior year of high school may join.
The easiest way to join is to go to our Web site and go to the box that says "application." It is lisletwc.org.
Some of our upcoming events include: Monster Madness for little kids, 5K Scarecrow Scramble volunteers, Sleep Out Saturday to raise awareness of the homeless, Relay For Life, a holiday toy drive and lighting luminarias.
We try to do as much as we can and make it as fun as possible. Others should give it a try.
-- Joan Broz
If you go
Lisle Teens With Character is organizing a seventh annual Sept. 11 Memorial Rally that includes a car wash, blood drive and Lislepalooza. For details, visit lisletwc.org.
Memorial Rally
When: 5:30 p.m. Friday
Where: At the American Veterans Traveling Tribute site at Main Street and Burlington Avenue, Lisle
Blood Drive
When: 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. today and 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday
Where: Lisle Fire Station 1 today; Heartland Blood Mobile on Main Street Saturday
Charity Car Wash
When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday
Where: Arbor Dental Care Limited, Center and Ogden avenues
Fee: Donations encouraged
Lislepalooza
When: 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Community Park band shell, 1825 Short St.
Fee: $3
Bands: This New Trend at 3 p.m.; The Rikters at 4 p.m.; Tin Pan Alley at 5 p.m.; Handsome Lloyd at 6 p.m.