Ruth Page Center for the Arts to Hold 2015 Gala EN POINTE, Today

The Ruth Page Center for the Arts will hold its annual Ruth Page Gala at the Union League Club of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., Saturday, May 16. The evening begins at 5:45 p.m. with a VIP Reception, followed by dinner and entertainment from 7 p.m. - 11 p.m. Gal Co-Chairs are Sasha Gerritson and Sara Stewart Schumann. The evening, hosted by WGN News Anchor Micah Materre, will include two award presentations, the Cultural Ambassador Award presented to Mesirow Financial for "Mesirow Financial Presents!," and the Community Partner Award presented to the Union League Boys and Girls Clubs; live performances by Artist In-Residence Ruth Page Civic Ballet; and a live auction presented by auctioneer, Bart Darfler. A highlight of the live auction will be a trip for two to Cuba as part of a cultural exchange program between the Ruth Page School of Dance and Cuba's Escuela Nacional de Ballet.

Gala tickets begin at $175 and proceeds from the 2015 Gala support the educational, outreach and artistic programs and services provided by the Ruth Page Foundation and its arts center, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. To purchase tickets, make a donation or for more information, please visit www.ruthpage.org.

About the Ruth Page Center for the Arts

The Ruth Page Center for the Arts has for over forty years committed its resources to creating a dance destination in Chicago. Located at 1016 N. Dearborn Street, The Center serves the Chicago dance community by being an incubator, providing a home, office space, rehearsal space, performance opportunities, professional dance training, and marketing support for the up-and-coming companies and artists of Chicago's vibrant dance scene. Its mission is to ensure that children and dance artists have a place to study, work and perform at the highest level of excellence. Founded by Chicago icon and internationally-renown performer and choreographer, Ruth Page, the Center reflects her vision of supporting dance excellence in Chicago. Emanating from the Illinois heartland, the visionary work of Ruth Page influenced the growth of theater design, opera-ballet, and dance. She achieved worldwide recognition as a true pioneer of dance in America by creating at the forefront of social, political and artistic issues. As a prominent force in the Chicago arts community, the Ruth Page Center for the Arts continues that legacy through its initiatives and programs that nurture the art form of dance, and by being an arts incubator for emerging and established artists and organizations.

About Micah Materre

Micah Materre is an Emmy award winning journalist and anchor of the WGN Evening News and the WGN News at Nine. Prior to being appointed anchor of the WGN News at Nine in 2009, she was co-anchor of WGN Midday News from January, 2003 to October, 2009. Micah joined Chicago's WGN-TV in January 1998 as a WGN Morning News co-anchor and medical reporter. Micah has anchored all of the newscasts at WGN, as well as covering entertainment news and special assignment stories, including the historic inauguration of America's first black President. In addition, Micah reports and produces the "Chicago's Very Own" bi-weekly segment for WGN News and she is the host of WGN's public affairs program, "People to People".

About Mesirow Financial Presents!

Mesirow Financial believes that supporting the arts helps to enrich and define its corporate culture. Mesirow Financial Presents! is a program that achieves this by hosting fundraising performances in its headquarters for the benefit of select not-for-profit organizations and to attract clients and friends interested in the arts. Mesirow Financial Presents! demonstrates Mesirow Financial's commitment to sustaining Chicago's culturally rich fine arts community. They are proud to host fundraising performances which directly benefit non-profit organizations and provide guests an inspired and unique experience.

About the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs

The Union League Boys & Girls Clubs changes lives at 8 locations in the Chicago area and a Camp in Salem, Wisconsin. Programming ensures all members realize their dreams and reach their full potential, while providing healthy meals and a safe and positive environment for neighborhood kids. The Union League Boys & Girls Clubs was founded by the membership of the Union League Club of Chicago on December 26, 1919 and became an affiliate member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America on February 23, 1920. Their city locations include two traditional clubs: Club One and Barreto, four school-based program sites: Club Two, Pickard Club, Clemente Club and the Chicago International Charter School and a community-based program site: the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center Program.

2015 Gala Benefit Sponsors
Tom Chakos, Thea Flaum, Sasha Gerritson, Kiser Institutional Group, David and Lynn Kravis Family Foundation, Mesirow Financial, Sara Stewart Schumann, Salme Harju Steinberg, The John Buck Company, Union League Boys & Girls Clubs, Venetia Stifler, Wintrust Wealth Management.

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