Jazz Legend To Receive Inaugural Award At Prairie State Foundation Gala

Orbert Davis (pictured) will soon receive the inaugural Reach for the Stars Award at the Prairie State College Foundation’s annual gala. Photo Credit: Provided by Prairie State College
Orbert Davis (pictured) will soon receive the inaugural Reach for the Stars Award at the Prairie State College Foundation’s annual gala. Photo Credit: Provided by Prairie State College

Jazz Legend To Receive Inaugural Award At Prairie State Foundation Gala

BY KATHERINE NEWMAN

Prairie State College recently announced that Orbert Davis will receive the inaugural Reach for the Stars Award at the Prairie State College Foundation’s annual gala. The event will be held at the college’s main campus, 202 S. Halsted St., on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. in South Holland.

Davis is the conductor and artistic director for the Chicago Jazz Philharmonic and has been working with Prairie State College to help them put on their annual jazz festival for 30 years, according to information provided by Prairie State College.

Not only is Davis a jazz musician, but he is also an educator and a composer. Chicago Magazine named Davis as the “Y2k Best Trumpeter in Chicago” and “Chicagoan of the Year for 2002.” In Sept. 2011, Davis became the second Chicagoan in history to be named Artist-In-Residence for the Chicago Jazz Festival, according to information provided by Davis.

The Prairie State College Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was created to promote Prairie State College and enhance opportunities for students. As a nonprofit, the foundation works to build awareness of the college in the community, support students through scholarships, attract and retain staff, identify potential board members, and overall provide for the school’s growth and development, according to information provided by the Prairie State College Foundation.

All proceeds from the upcoming Prairie State College Foundation Gala will go towards student scholarships.

“We have many students on campus who would not receive an education if it wasn’t for Prairie State College,” said Deborah Havighorst, executive director of the Prairie State College Foundation. “The Foundation bridges the gap between what students receive from financial aid and what they can actually afford. I’ve had students tell me they would have to take a semester off because they were $200 short. The Foundation is here to help keep these students in school and help them earn their degrees.”

Havighorst said that the foundation has been able to continuously increase scholarship funds every year for the last several years and help thousands of students with tuition, books, supplies, and overall support that extends beyond financial need.

The upcoming gala is black-tie optional and begins at 6 p.m. with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Prairie State College conference center. There will be a gourmet dinner in the college atrium at 7 p.m.

The Gala will feature a live auction, raffles, dancing, and music will be provided by Brass from the Past, a Chicagoland band that performs Motown, soul, and rock music.

For tickets or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.give.classy.org/PSCGala2019. For more information, contact the PSC Foundation at (708) 709-3631.

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