Art Matters Gala

Saturday, May 18, 2019
Palmer House Hilton

Dear Friends,

Last Saturday we honored Chicago Academy for the Arts alum Justin Tranter at our 2019 Art Matters Gala, and it was a night we’ll never forget.

The outpouring of support for our community was enormous. Generous donors like you raised more than $650,000 in support of our students, teachers, and programs — far and away the most successful fundraising event in our history.

For their incredible commercial success and world-changing activism, we presented Justin with the 2019 Leadership and Legacy Award. Their speech, which explores community, collaboration, and confidence, is deeply moving and inspirational. “Being an artist and an activist can be grueling,” they said. “But I realized ... at this school, how much joy there can be in fighting the good fight. I highly recommend that everyone finds the joy of the fight, especially during these trying times. Simply being joyful is an act of resistance.”

I urge you to watch every moment of Justin’s speech below.

It’s not too late to support the 2019 Art Matters Gala in honor of Justin Tranter. If you are able, please donate by clicking here.

With enormous gratitude,

Jason Patera
Head of School

Thank you to our table sponsors!

Virtuoso’s Circle
Justin Tranter
Patty and Ken Hunt on behalf of the T. Kendall Hunt Family Foundation

Director’s Circle
Emily Barr and Scott Kane
Nora Fleming and Eric Napientek
Justin Tranter
Sharon and Todd Walbert
Rusty Hernandez-Sanfilippo and Jeffrey Sanfilippo

Producer’s Circle
Finnerty Family and Friends
Barbara Levy Kipper
Wolf Creek Investments I, LLC

Composer’s Circle
Marina and Carlos Claudio and Guests
Samantha and David Duran, Landon Harper, and Justin Tranter
Jennifer and Eric Ferguson
Nora Fleming and Eric Napientek
Russell McLean of the McLean Wealth Management Group

Artist’s Circle
Eileen Rochford and Michael Beyer
Jennifer and Mark Bremer
Elaine Cohen and Arlen Rubin
Finnerty Family and Friends
Wendy and Randy Romero and Guests
Richard Sanders