Hyde Park Day School prepares for its fresh springtime gala, “A Garden Party,” at the Ivy Room on April 12. PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN SUBAR
After what seemed like a very long Midwest winter, the flowers are ready to bloom, spring is in the air, and Hyde Park Day School (HPDS) is busily preparing for its upcoming signature fundraiser, “A Garden Party.”
Dedicated co-chairs Katie Burnside and Vanya Weglarz decided not only on a new venue this year, but to move the event up to the spring, hoping to create an opportunity for more supporters to attend.
The elegant garden party will take place on April 12 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Ivy Room in Chicago. Guests should prepare for fresh, delicious, and unique cuisine and drinks by Lettuce Entertain You. Guests should plan to wear cocktail-garden party attire and prepare for mixing and mingling over cocktails, followed by a formal dinner, live auction, and paddle raise.
Burnside explains, “The Ivy Room is part of a historic block of Chicago called the Tree Studios. The building has its original charm, and the courtyard is an added bonus. We are excited to be working with Lettuce Entertain you to take advantage of an all-inclusive space that lends perfectly to our Springtime theme.”
Burnside and Weglarz, who chaired the event last year as well are not only excited for guests to have a fabulous time in the beautiful garden space, but to raise much needed funds for the school’s Bright Futures Scholarship Fund.
“I’m excited to have a fantastic time with fellow Hyde Park Day School parents as well as to increase the money raised for the Bright Futures Scholarship Fund,” says Weglarz.
The Bright Futures Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to children who have learning disabilities to be able to attend Hyde Park Day School and receive a specialized education. All proceeds from the evening will be used to help fund students through the scholarship fund.
“We believe that financial ability should not prohibit students of average-to-superior ability, who have learning disabilities, the opportunity to receive an innovative and comprehensive education. Hyde Park Day School’s Bright Futures Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to children in order to attend our school,” says Dr. Casey Crnich, HPDS’s executive director.
Both chairs have students at the school and have been so impressed by their experience that they’ve chosen to chair the event again this year.
This is the third year that Burnside’s daughter, Mia, has attended the school and she is in fifth grade. She notes Mia’s success, “The amount of growth she’s experienced is immeasurable. She has blossomed academically, socially and emotionally. When we came to the school, I had high expectations due to the great reputation HPDS has in the North Shore, but the experience itself has far exceeded my expectations.”
Hyde Park Day School opened its doors in 2000. In addition to its curriculum aimed to help students with learning disabilities, it serves as a transition school. The staff helps to teach students learning strategies that can be used at schools in their home community as well as age-based and skill-based curriculums.
As Audrey Hepburn once quipped, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow,” and Hyde Park Day School’s garden party is certainly on track to create a better future for tomorrow.
Ticket prices range from $225 for an individual ticket to $5,000 for a Gold Level sponsorship. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit hydeparkday.org/annual-giving-gala.
