College supporters twist and shout to Fab Four's tunes

Members of the Oakton Community College Educational Foundation wanted to liven up their fundraising efforts, and that's just what they got Saturday when they booked the band American English for their spring benefit.

The popular Beatles' tribute band delivered, during a concert that featured hits from 1963 through 1970, and included authentic costumes, vintage instruments and special effects.

"We saw this as a new opportunity for us," said Joan Richards, a foundation board member and human resources vice president with Wheels, Inc. in Des Plaines, "and a way to perk up our fundraising line."

The band brought in 300 supporters to the college's state-of-the-art Footlik Theatre on its Des Plaines campus.

Guests included American English fans, the college's foundation board members, all local business leaders from the Des Plaines area and the event's leading corporate sponsors, Lawson Products, based in Des Plaines, and Walgreens, based in Deerfield.

"It was fabulous evening," Richards said. "It was a near sell-out and a very positive evening for the college."

On hand to emcee the concert and lead a dance contest, was the legendary WLS disc jockey from the 1960s, Clark Weber, who reflected on his days of spinning Beatles hits, and hanging out with the Fab Four.

Proceeds from the $50 ticket price, as well as the raffle drawings -- one of the prizes was a guitar donated by American English members -- raised money for the foundation's student scholarship fund.

Officials estimated they raised about $15,000 from the evening's activities.

Each year, foundation members award 300 scholarships, or $200,000 in educational grants to worthy students. However, they add that with 40,000 students attending the community college, they actively try to award more scholarships.

"The foundation hopes they never have to turn someone away," Richards said. "That's our real fundraising goal."