Merit School of Music's Rhythm & Vine Benefit Set for 10/24

Celebrating Merit School of Music's commitment to "Making Music, Building Lives," Merit's Associate Board invites young professionals to its Rhythm & Vine fundraiser on Friday, October 24 at 7 p.m. at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., in Chicago's West Loop.

Join Merit's Associates Board for a fun night out at City Winery, toast Merit's talented young musicians and celebrate the many ways Merit positively impacts its students and community. Guests will be treated to live performances by Merit students, dancing to tunes by local DJ Fig Media, an open bar, hors d'oeuvres, desserts and an exciting silent auction and raffle. General admission tickets are $95. VIP tickets are $150. Visit http://tinyurl.com/Rhythm-Vine or call Merit School of Music, 312.267.4461 to purchase tickets. All proceeds benefit Merit's mission to give Chicago children - especially children living in underserved communities - the opportunity to achieve their full musical and personal potential through accessible, high-quality music education.

Rhythm & Vine is the Associate Board's annual fundraiser for Merit. However, behind the scenes, Merit's young professionals volunteer year-round to support the community music school. For instance, on Saturday, October 4, Merit's young professionals are organizing and staffing an all-day leadership conference at Merit to teach its students valuable business and life skills that will help them build successful careers.

"The young men and women on Merit's Associate Board regularly go above and beyond to support our passion for enhancing the lives of Chicago children through music and beyond," said Thomas Bracy, Executive Director, Merit School of Music. "From organizing fundraisers like Rhythm & Vine to hosting leadership events for our students, Merit's young professionals are ushering in a bright future for philanthropy surrounding arts education in Chicago."

Rhythm & Vine is chaired by Associate Board Event Chair Debbie Newman and supported by Associate Board Chair John Young, By-laws Chair Kathrine B.D. Hanna, Board Relations Chair Matthew Hanna, Secretary Sara Kobaissi and Treasurer Michael Andrews.

Merit thanks its full, 44-member Associate Board for their unwavering support. Sponsors of Rhythm & Vine include the Oppenheimer Family Foundation, Gilmer and Charlotte Minor, Bryan Cave LLP, Duffie A. Adelson, Alper Services LLC, Michael Andrews, Shari and Daniel Gottlieb, MB Financial North America, Angela and John McCareins, LeRoy and Tammy Ousley and Polsinelli.

Celebrating its 35th anniversary, Merit School of Music is nationally recognized for providing accessible, high-quality music education to nearly 5,000 Chicago-area students.

Merit School of Music is devoted to giving children-especially children living in economically disadvantaged communities-the opportunity to grow through music. As part of Merit's commitment to providing access to a high quality music education, substantial financial support is provided to young musicians through program subsidies, need-based tuition relief, low-cost instrument rental, and music supplies so that motivated students can participate in every program regardless of their economic circumstance. The goal is to ensure that children, regardless of their family income, have access to high quality music education and all of its benefits in developing personally as well asmusically.

To learn more, visit meritmusic.org or call 312.786.9428.