HISTORY OF ROCK FOR READING

As many of you know one of my songs is titled "I'll Start With Me." The song is about trying to make a difference by starting with yourself.  In 2003, an idea began to germinate in my brain and eventually took shape.  I was fortunate to participate in Farm Aid a few years before and I was incredibly impressed with the passion and activism that they brought to their cause. Farm Aid has been a viable source of support for our family farmers for over twenty years. Twenty+ years! Wow...on one hand it’s amazing in today’s advanced society that we still need aid for our farmers but thank god we have groups like Farm Aid to plug the holes. 

And so Rock For Reading was born. In the spirit of Farm Aid, we decided to make an annual music concert the signature event of our foundation and build from there. We designed a one-day benefit that took nine months to organize. Affectionately titled “One Day, One Stage, One Reason” we called on all Chicago recording artists to perform at our daylong outdoor music festival for adults and children.

And then the rains came...just about the time we had put the finishing touches on our stage and light show, it started to sprinkle – about 1am the night before.  Within hours, we had to pull the plug as concerns for our equipment and safety ruled the day. The most heart breaking moment was realizing that we were not going to get to play the music that we had worked so hard to prepare but everyone’s spirits were amazing. We would be back and Rock For Reading II would rock even harder as a result!

Beginning in late 2004 and continuing into 2005, the idea that was Rock For Reading became more and more of a reality.  A Board of Directors, consisting of leading Chicago professionals from many differing fields, was recruited and put into place.  Official 501(c)(3) non-profit tax status was applied for and granted in near record time.  New corporate sponsors were recruited, anxious to be part of something special.

Cheers,

2005 was a year of many firsts and highlights for Rock For Reading.  They included:

• Staging sold out concerts with Lucinda Williams and Nickle Creek at the historic Old Vic Theatre.
• Holding a WXRT/Potbelly Sandwich Works “Live” radio show with Alice Peacock, Steve Winwood and Lin Brehmer.
• Organizing a Lincoln Park Athletic Club/Goose Island Brewpub fundraiser.
• Launching the official Rock For Reading website (www.rockforreading.org).
• Completing our first Founder’s Circle Pledge Drive
• Securing LaSalle Bank as our Title Sponsor.

Things did not slow down as we entered 2006. In February, 2006, Rock For Reading was selected by the Chicago Community Trust to be the recipient of a $10,000 MOD grant.  The funds enabled Rock For Reading to expand its awareness and outreach tremendously.  Rock For Reading was designated as an official charity by the LaSalle Bank for its Shamrock Shuffle which was held in April, 2006.  It also formed a new partnership with the Chicago Tribune Company.  This partnership allowed Rock For Reading to participate, for the first time, in the Printers Row Book Fair.

We also made our first grants to groups that support our mission to fight the rising tide of illiteracy and renew interest in reading.  We target organizations that focus on functional literacy programs as well as those that encourage a culture of reading.

In addition to these activities, partnerships were built with local community organizations.  Some of the organizations that are partnering with Rock For Reading include:

• The Chicago Public Library System
• The Chicago Public School System
• The Chicago Community Trust
• The LaSalle Bank Marathon

2006’s signature concert, featuring the amazing Willy Porter and his virtuoso band, was held in fall at the beautiful Park West and, by all accounts, was the best one yet!

2007 started out on a high note for Rock For Reading!  On a cold day in January, more than 3,800 students from kindergarten through grade eight in Wilmette School District 39 participated in the first Rock For Reading Read-A-Thon.  They devoted the day to literature and reading to help raise money. And raise it they did! All told, their efforts resulted in more than $50,000 in funds for the organization.

The Read-A-Thon also featured a highly successful book drive. Children from all six schools collected more than 7,000 books that were distributed by Book Worm Angels, a Chicago-based non-profit book-collection agency. Hugh Haller, Rock For Reading’s Executive Director, was thrilled with the event's outcome. "We already have several other districts interested in conducting their own events in the coming school year. It’s a great opportunity for us to spread the word and to get kids involved.

Creating a Nation of Readers was launched in April of 2007 through the collaboration of Weigl Publishers Inc. of New York, Rock For Reading and Book Worm Angels of Chicago. The program seeks to combat rising youth illiteracy rates in the United States through the recruitment of book donations from publishers and distribution of donated books to literacy organizations. Creating a Nation of Readers is committed to getting books to those children who most need them and to inspiring one child at a time, one book at a time to discover the wonderful world of reading.

Additional bright spots for 2007 included our first ever Rock For Reading running team which participated in the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon.  Although it was unseasonably warm, all of our runners made it to the finish line and raised over $20,000 for the cause.  Certainly, the highlight of our year was our signature concert with David Gray.  Sold out in two minutes!  David rocked the house, spoke passionately about literacy and helped us bring awareness of Rock For Reading to another level.  Oh, we raised over $50,000 as well.  Not bad for a great night of rock.

So, that brings us up to date.  Through 2007, we have awarded grants to 35 grants to 24 worthy organizations.  Since Rock For Reading was founded in 2003, between our monetary grants and the dollar value of the books we have donated, we have given away the equivalent of over $1,000.000.  A huge thanks to all that made our first four years so successful. It's going to be a long, hard fight but we will prevail!

Cheers,

Alice Peacock
Founder & President