"Enchanted" Dinner Party to Support The Morton Arboretum
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Annual Fundraiser Set Amid Gorgeous "Forest" Scene
LISLE, IL (May 27, 2009) - Nature's own "banquet hall" beckons once again for the fifth-annual Morton Arboretum fundraising dinner party amid majestic trees and stunningly beautiful landscapes, on Saturday, June 20.
Proceeds support the vital Arboretum initiatives of encouraging all to plant and protect trees, for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. The Arboretum, a private, nonprofit, relies on donations to fund research, education, tree collections, and activities that enrich lives, improve communities, and produce engaging visitor experiences.
The dinner party will be a feast of mind, body, and spirit as this year's theme, "The Enchanted Forest," reflects the surprising delights in store for those who attend.
As guests mix and mingle in the Arboretum's Hedge Garden during the 6:30 p.m. cocktail hour, they can almost visualize the Sherwood Forest as professional actors perform short scenes from Robin Hood.
At 7:30 p.m., guests settle into a large tent for a lavish dinner by Jewell Events Catering of Chicago, which has planned a truly memorable and enjoyable summer menu, with an emphasis on using locally-grown food.
The décor, coordinated through Heffernan Morgan in Chicago, will create the woodlands atmosphere using earthy florals, natural elements, and an understated elegance to complement the party-goers' joy of being immersed in natural beauty, with the cool grass underfoot.
The party is an excellent opportunity for guests to make new friends who share a common interest in protecting trees and the environment. And to stimulate their discussions, the Arboretum's Manager of Natural Resources, Kurt Dreisilker, will deliver a stirring program during dinner on the Arboretum's highly-important woodland restoration project, and what it may mean for land managers throughout the Midwest who seek to preserve woodlands, which help purify air and water.
Following the program, entertainers will keep the dinner crowd amused and delighted, strolling along while singing and engaging the guests.
As guests depart for the evening with special gifts, they stroll beneath the stars, with a line of votive candles producing soft lighting, illuminating the path between the party site and the exit.
Tickets to the Enchanted Forest Dinner Party are $350 each, and sponsorships of $5,000 and $10,000 per table of ten are also available. The Morton Arboretum Development Office is taking reservations at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or at 630-719-7976. Cocktail attire is appropriate for this function.
Chairing this year's dinner party are Arboretum trustee Catherine Slark and her husband, Martin Slark, Vice Chairman and CEO of Molex of Lisle. The couple resides in Burr Ridge. Co-chairs are James Crouthamel, an Arboretum trustee and a Principal of Old Town Capital, LLC, in Chicago; and his wife, Pamela Crouthamel. The Crouthamels also reside in Burr Ridge.
The Morton Arboretum is an internationally recognized 1,700-acre outdoor museum with collections of 4,117 kinds of trees, shrubs, and other plants from around the world. The Arboretum's beautiful natural landscapes, gardens, research and education programs, and year-round family activities support its mission - the planting and conservation of trees and other plants for a greener, healthier, and more beautiful world. Conveniently located at I-88 and Rte. 53 in Lisle, Illinois, the Arboretum is open 7 days a week, 365 days a year, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Central Time or sunset, whichever is earlier. The Children's Garden is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., March through October, and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., November through February. Visit Press Room at www.mortonarb.org, call to learn more.
Media Contact: Gina Tedesco, (office) 630-725-2103, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it