NEWS - 2004 Newsletter

INNER-CITY EDUCATION PROGRAM NEWS

Volume 1, Number 1,  December 2004

Fire and Ice Event A Great Success

On Friday, April 23, more than sixty guests attended the ICE event, An Evening of Fire and Ice.  This cocktail reception featured the musical talents of the Howard Sandifer Trio playing jazz favorites.   Expert Stacy Rhodes offered an extensive wine tasting and provided insights into the various wines.    A number of special guests attended including Chicago 32nd Ward Alderman, Ted Matlak, several members of the Wirtz family, Chicago’s first family of hockey and Jay Cohen and Cheri Chappelle co-chairs of the Amateur Hockey Association of Illinois Diversity Hockey Program. 

The purpose of the evening was to raise funds for the ICE scholarship program and to raise awareness of the important role of the Inner-City Education Program.   As a result of the evening, ICE raised over $12,000 for scholarships.  

Meet the Scholarship Recipients

Sidney Merriweather, Jr. has completed the eighth grade at Leif Erickson Academy in Chicago and is attending De La Salle Institute this year as a freshman on a full scholarship provided by ICE.  Sidney has participated in organized hockey for the past several years and has played forward for the Johnny’s Jets Bantam team.   His social studies teacher at Leif Erickson Academy has described Sidney as: “a very strong academic student.  He has a natural ability to grasp new concepts quickly.  He needs to be in an academically challenging environment.  Sidney is an eager learner.”    Sidney lives with his mother and two younger siblings on the West Side of Chicago. 
Darius Mack has completed his freshman year at the De La Salle Institute.  A recipient of a full ICE scholarship for the 2003-2004 academic year, Darius maintained a B average in the very demanding college preparatory academic program at De La Salle.  He is now in his sophomore year at De La Salle and has received another full scholarship from ICE.   He is a long time participant in organized hockey programs and is currently considered by many to be a top goalie with strong college prospects.    Darius lives on the West Side of Chicago with his mother and siblings.

Student Athletes Needed

ICE would like to assist additional student athletes.  If you are aware of low income junior high school hockey players possessing strong academic potential, please contact the ICE office at 312-664-2300 or 773-750-4217.  A detailed application package including scholarship guidelines is available. ICE will screen these students and may select several individuals to receive scholarships for the 2005-2006 or future academic year(s).

ICE Spring Hockey Game

ICE is now planning a spring hockey game to include several former NHL players.   Two teams, limited to twenty skaters plus goalies each will play a three period, non-checking game at Johnny’s Ice House, 1350 West Madison Street, on Sunday, April 10, starting at 1 p.m.   Current plans include former NHL players joining each team.  Amateur hockey players can join in the excitement of playing with or against their favorite former NHL player for a fully tax deductible minimum contribution to ICE of $500.   For more information or to sign up for the game, call the ICE office at 312-664-2300 or 773-750-4217 or email at brad708@yahoo.com.

ICE Board Members

Howard Birnberg, ICE chairman, is a construction industry consultant and educator.  He lives in the Lincoln Park neighborhood with his wife, Diane and 15-year old son, Michael.  He is a coach of the St. Ignatius College Prep. JV hockey team.

Brad Erickson, ICE executive director, is the originator of the ICE concept.  He has played hockey for over 30-years, has coached a team of inner city players for 7 years and the Johnny’s Jets Bantam team for 3 years.

Josh Klein is a partner in the law firm of Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP, specializing in mergers & acquisitions, private equity and general corporate and securities law.   Josh, his wife, Blair, 2-year old daughter, Chloe, and newborn twin boys, Joe and Payton live in Northbrook. 

Russell Brenner is a principal with Syndicated Equities Corporation, a Chicago-based real estate investment firm.  He has been playing organized hockey for over 25 years and currently plays in a Johnny’s Ice House adult league.  Russell and his wife, Janika, reside in Chicago’s Bucktown neighborhood.

Glenn Emig is a principal at Dearborn Development Corporation, the developer of the award winning Skybridge condominium project.  His other charitable directorships include Johnny’s Jets Youth Hockey Association where he is treasurer and the Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America where he is chairman of the Ft. Dearborn District.

Kathy Savino is currently serving as the assistant coach of the Johnny’s Jets Bantam team and is working toward her doctorate in child psychology.  She played Division I ice hockey at Northeastern University and currently plays inline hockey for Team USA.

Amanda Ciatti is the Development Specialist at Volunteers of America of Illinois and has over 13 years experience working with children and families.  She lives in Lombard, Illinois with her husband Stephen and daughter, Sophie.  The Ciatti’s are active members of the hockey community-Stephen as a USA Hockey official and Amanda as a player.

Year-end Giving Assistance

Please consider a gift to the ICE Program as part of your year-end charitable giving plans.   Contributions to ICE are fully tax deductible as the ICE Program is a 501(c)(3) exempt charitable organization.  

Your Name: _____________________________________________________________ 

Address-Street: ______________________________________ City: ________________

State: ______________  Zip: ____________  Telephone: (         ) ___________________

Email: __________________________________________________________________

Enclosed is my check payable to the Inner-City Education Program in the amount of:

$50 ____ $100 ____ $250 ____ $500 ____ $1000 ____ Other $________

ICE Federal Tax I.D. 32-0069799

Send your contribution to the ICE office at 1227 West Wrightwood Avenue, Chicago, IL  60614-1455.  If you have any questions or comments, please call Howard Birnberg at 312-664-2300 or Brad Erickson at 773-750-4217.  Thank you.

2004 Donors List

The Inner-City Education Program would like to thank our donors who made generous contributions to our efforts in 2004. 

Hall Adams III
Cory and Sheila Anderson
Archbishops Hockey Team
Doug and Allison Bacon
Howard and Diane Birnberg
Lawrence Blakley
Paul and Jan Brenner
Russell and Janika Brenner
Leo and Sara Carcione
Alden Clendenin/Chicago Chiropractic and Sports Injury    Clinic, LLP
James Cohn
Matt Collopy
James and Gail Wirtz Costello
Cyclones Amateur Hockey Association
Renee Daina-Palermo
Robert Daniels/Children’s Clinic, LLC
Kevin Delanny/Delanny Hockey, LLC
De La Salle Institute
William and Lucia Egan
Glenn and Kim Emig
Chad and Hope Firsel
Robert and Karen Fix
Gordon and Jacqueline France
Charlie and Fanette Singer Freund
Norman and Lee Gantz
Thomas Gearen
Nancy Gidwitz
Joshua and Jennifer Gorin
Brian and Amy Hand
Lisa Helzing
Horizon Cash Management, LLC
Johnny’s Ice House
Josh and Blair Klein
Anne and Lewis Kostiner
George Koutny
Dominick Mangiardi
Billy Martin
Matthew McCulloch
Mary McDonnell/Geneva Trading USA
Shannon Micheletto
Carey Missner
Neal Gerber & Eisenberg, LLP
Robert Paley
Daniel Pierce
Jerry and Geraldine Pospisil
Bob and Maryann Rosenberg
Stephen Rubin
Ken Rzepecki
Greg and Jo Ellen Schroedter
Pauline Slager
Ginger Szala
Fred Tokowitz