Kidz in the Biz perform farewell concerts
Kidz in the Biz performers and alumni will perform two free farewell concerts after over 10 years of service to the community on Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 at the Tabor Hills Supportive Living Facility, 1439 McDowell Road in Naperville.
Seniors, senior groups, and members of all facilities throughout the Naperville/Lisle/Downers Grove/Plainfield/Aurora area are invited to come to Tabor Hills and watch one of the performances.
Current members and Kidz in the Biz alumni will return to perform in these farewell performances – traveling from throughout the Chicago area and beyond to salute the senior community.
“Tabor Hills is proud to host the farewell performance for Kidz in the Biz. While their talent is something we have all appreciated over the years, their dedication to Seniors in our community is something we have long admired,” Gloria Pindiak, director, Tabor Hills.
The youth/young adults, ranging in ages from 13-28 from Naperville, Lisle, Plainfield, and Aurora have been singing and dancing to seniors at local nursing homes and libraries throughout DuPage and Cook counties, including Independence Village, Snow Valley, Monarch Landing, St. Benedictine, Charles Court, St. Patrick's, Lombard Library, Community Nursing Home, Alden of Aurora, Bethlehem Retirement Home, The Devonshire, and Sunrise Assisted Living.
They have been in great demand throughout the area even performing at the Last Fling. Alumni from across the country will return to say good bye and salute the senior community with pride.
A young member, Rebecca Heitz, who had a junior high school assignment to complete a service project, put this group together. She rallied her friends and put together a variety show for an area nursing home. The youth enjoyed the program so much, they decided to continue it and spread their service to other groups in the area and Lynn Hodak continued the program, enlisting the help of “student leaders,” and the parents of the youth. Judy Burton was one of the co-directors of the group and Pam Graffagna has served as co-director for 7 years.
Through the years, the youth have done special performances (Snoopy!) and brought their mission to perform in Europe where a program like Kidz In the Biz is non-existent. The Snoopy! performance funds that were raised were donated to a senior home and whenever civic groups insisted on paying the organization – the funds were given to a senior home as a donation. All performances were performed for free and allowed the youth the opportunity to combine two of their passions: giving to others while doing what they love to do most.
Since its inception, the youth had summer rehearsal “boot camps” and practiced as needed to put a “polish on the show” and give the highest level of performance possible – consistently performing at least once a month for over 10 years.
Today the Kidz in the Biz alumni are doing a variety of things – all of them attended or are attending college, many have gone on to do other mission trips, some are married, and most are still performing and donating their time to others. All have gone on to be successful, responsible, and giving adults.
If there are groups or individuals interested in attending the free goodbye concert, please call Lynn Hodak at (630) 624-5064 as soon as possible.