'Kaleidoscope' a critical benefit for The Cove School
The Cove School's 2023 benefit, "Kaleidoscope," will be its first live event in three years.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its subsequent mitigations and variant stops and starts, the Northbrook facility last hosted a live event in February 2020.
"This is a huge deal for our community," said Julia Lazzara, Cove's community outreach coordinator.
The Cove School, 350 Lee Road, turned 75 years old in 2022. It offers individualized education and strategies for students in kindergarten through 12th grade with complex learning disabilities. The aim is to give students the ability and confidence to transition to community schools and postsecondary education.
The school serves about 160 students from more than 60 school districts throughout the metropolitan area. It also has students who commute from Wisconsin and Indiana.
"With that small amount, we reach a lot of different people. We really depend on our annual benefit to not just raise money but raise visibility and awareness for this very special school," Lazzara said.
Last fall, Cove opened a second campus, The Cove Career Center, 1370 Meadow Road. The career center serves young adults 18-22 years with learning disabilities and offers training in independent living skills, job coaching, academic instruction and other supports to enhance their independence.
Located in downtown Northbrook, at the corner of Meadow and Shermer roads, the center is situated to deliver those real-life experiences.
Between the establishment of this second campus and the typical $1 million cap between the tuition Cove receives and the cost of funding its programs, the annual benefit is "more crucial than ever," Lazzara said.
Some 500 people are expected to attend "Kaleidoscope," which will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at Loews Chicago O'Hare Hotel in Rosemont.
Benefit chair Jessica Brosche of Winnetka and auction chair Samantha Kaplan of Chicago, each a mother of Cove students, have drummed up a program and roster of benefit items with the help of several parents.
The fundraiser will include a speech by Cove Executive Director Sally Sover, addresses by both benefit chairs, and presentation of the 2023 Prism Award to the Reichert Milanak Family.
The event includes cocktails, dinner, silent and live auctions, live music and dancing, with Louis Glunz Wines provided by Cove alumnus and board member Joe Glunz.
David Goodman, who Lazzara called a legend in the auctioneer business, having helped raise more than $500 million for charity over three decades, will emcee games, raffles and the live auction.
A silent auction room will hold attractive offerings whose contents also will be available for online viewing.
Auction items weren't ready to be disclosed, but Lazzara confirmed "they are looking very exciting."
To register for or donate to The Cove School's "Kaleidoscope" benefit, visit bit.ly/covebenefit2023.
"This event is critical and is a super-important aspect of our mission," Lazzara said.