CHICAGO (March 1, 2007) – Nearly 2,000 people participated in a fundraising effort tonight in support of Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The $9.4 million this event helped raise will fund the activities Chicago will have to conduct if it makes it to the international stage of the bidding process. In total, the bid committee has raised in excess of $30 million.
Appropriately titled “You Can Make It Happen”, the event is said to be one of the most successful fundraising efforts of its kind in the city’s storied history of public-private partnership. It took place at McCormick Place, the proposed future site of 11 Olympic competition venues, as well as the Main Press Center and the International Broadcast Center, and featured Olympic hopefuls, ages 8 to 13, putting on displays of sport and athleticism atop elaborate staging placed throughout the ballroom.
“The level of enthusiasm for hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Chicago is quite simply astounding,” said Andy McKenna, co-chair of the Chicago 2016 Development Committee. “The 79 co-chairs, whose tables were valued at $100,000 each, plus the more than 300 additional companies, individuals, and organizations that bought tables or tickets, together raised more than $9.4 million.”
Like the Olympic Games themselves, contributions to the hosting of this event went beyond monetary giving. Dozens of local companies and individuals donated their time and effort or provided their services at cost to help ensure the funds raised went toward the bid. These Value-in-Kind contributions were not included in the fundraising totals.
“The wide array of donated goods and services ensures that the funds raised by tonight’s event are used for the appropriate purpose,” said Deb DeHaas, co-chair of the Chicago 2016 Development Committee. “Chicago proved it’s the ‘City That Works’ once again. Everyone came together to pull off a spectacular evening”
"Tonight was a huge success so I want to thank Andy, Deb and everyone else who contributed to this event,” said Patrick G. Ryan, chairman and CEO of the Chicago 2016 Exploratory Committee. “While we have exceeded the minimum the USOC required us to have at our disposal, we will continue to ask for support as the process evolves. We are running a tight ship, but winning on the international stage will take a great effort, and these contributions enable that.
“It is an investment in the future of Chicago in many ways. We hope to inspire our youth, some of whom may actually get a chance to compete in 2016. And we want to leave the types of sport, urban and social legacies hosting the Games can bring.”
The next step for the Chicago bid is an evaluation committee visit by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) next week on March 6, and March 7. The USOC will then make a final decision on the domestic phase of the bid April 14, 2007. The International Olympic Committee will not make their final decision until Oct. 2009.
About the Chicago 2016 Committee
The Chicago 2016 Committee is a 501(c)3 corporation whose mission is to seek the privilege of hosting the Games of the XXXI Olympiad in Chicago. The Committee’s Board comprises business, civic, athletic, cultural and academic leaders representing Chicago and the surrounding Midwest region. Its honorary chairmen are Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich. Patrick Ryan serves as chairman and CEO.
City of Chicago, U.S. Bid City, 2016 Olympic Games
www.chicago2016.org
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