City Council Meeting November 8, 2017
City Council Honors Midnight Circus in the Park for Its Efforts to Help Puerto Rico
WHEREAS, Midnight Circus in the Parks is all about community, family, and the power of live performance to have a positive impact long after the performance has ended; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 2007 by Chicagoans Jeff Jenkins and Julie Greenberg in their neighborhood park, Welles Park; and
WHEREAS, The goal was to bring the neighborhood together in their local park to see the circus, raise funds to rebuild the playground and create a sense of community that would remain long after the show was over; and
WHEREAS, That initial weekend of shows was so successful the program has grown exponentially over the last 11 years. Midnight Circus in the Parks now tours across Chicago every summer playing to approx.15,000 people and has raised nearly 1 million dollars for the parks they play; and
WHEREAS, When Puerto Rico was devastated by Hurricane Maria, Midnight Circus in the Parks felt compelled to help; and
WHEREAS, The Midnight Circus in the Parks Core Committee came together and crafted a plan to mobilize people and organizations from all across Chicago to answer the call and help Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, They partnered with the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois/ CEO Selena Roldon and added a Benefit Show for Puerto Rico to the final weekend of the tour; and
WHEREAS, Every performer, staff member, vendor and organization involved donated 100% of their time, talent and resources. Every dollar raised was going to help the people of Puerto Rico; and
WHEREAS, The show took place in Welles Park on Thursday October 12, 2017; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council would like to recognize the hard work and dedication of Midnight Circus in the Parks, we would also like to recognize their various partners such as the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois, Park Advisory Council Members from across Chicago, community members a...
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