North Shore Special Recreation Gala March 3, 2007 March 3, 2007

Get your passport ready for GALA 2007, “Travel the World with the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association” which will be held at the Highland Park Country Club on Saturday, March 3, 2007. The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Foundation (NSSRF ) is hosting its second annual Gala to benefit the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA). The Highland Park Country Club is located at 1201 Park Avenue West, Highland Park, Illinois 60035.

Co-chairing the Gala are Lake Forest residents, Sharon Epstein, NSSRF Trustee and Debra Koller, NSSRA parent. The Highland Park Country Club chefs will be taking attendees to the culinary ports of France, Italy, China and Spain. The community is invited to join the friends, families and supporters of NSSRA for a taste of international cuisine, live and silent auction, and dancing. Co-chairwoman, Epstein states, “We are planning a fantastic evening and invite North Shore residents to open their arms to NSSRA. Our goal is to surpass last year’s fundraising efforts which reached $100,000.”

NSSRF invites one and all to partake in the festivities. According to Epstein, “We have received some incredible donations for the auction including an Aston Martin Convertible weekend; Ski Week in Park City, Utah; Adventure Week in Harbor Springs, Michigan and commemorative sports memorabilia which includes Bears Legends (Butkus, Payton and Sayers) signed and custom framed photos; additionally we have an outstanding jewelry selection. There is something for everyone.”

The funds raised by NSSRF are given to NSSRA for specially equipped transportation, inclusion programs, and reduced fees for those individuals in financial need. Tickets are $200 per person. To participate in the event, please contact: Janice Merkin, Foundation Coordinator at 847/509-9400 x21 or jmerkin@nssra.org .

NSSRA is an intergovernmental partnership of the park districts of Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette, and Winnetka, the Cities of Lake Forest and Highwood, and the Village of Riverwoods. The Association provides year-round recreation and leisure opportunities for people with disabilities. Individuals with physical, cognitive, emotional, social, or other disabilities residing in the northern suburbs are eligible to participate. NSSRA offers more than 150 programs and events each season and serves approximately 1500 different individuals with disabilities in creative arts, sports, drama, dance, cooking and other areas. Programs are offered at park district, school and other locations throughout the Northern Suburban area.

NSSRA, formed in 1970, was the first "special recreation" association in Illinois and among the first of its kind in the country. Participants include adults and children with mental, physical, emotional or other disabilities, visual impairments or behavior disorders, as well as individuals who are on the autism spectrum, who are deaf or hard of hearing or have debilitating conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis or Alzheimer's Disease. Funding for NSSRA comes from a Special Recreation property tax levied by the partner agencies, program and other fees, reimbursements, interest, grants, donations, and fund-raising. The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Foundation (NSSRF) was formed to support the programs and services of NSSRA, in particular: Gator Athletics, Inclusion, Transportation, and Reduced Fees.

Official Website: http://nssra.org