Major Benefit for Rainbow Hospice Aug. 28

Chicago's philanthropic season kicks-off with a major benefit for Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care at the historic Palmer House on Friday, August 28th from 5 p.m. until midnight. Tickets are limited to the first 1,500 people. Tickets for the event, billed as Lake Effect – which include three bands, open bars and food stations, are just $75. Grammy nominated band and Villa Park natives the Plain White T's (Hey There Delilah, 1, 2, 3, 4) are headlining the event.

Lake Effect will raise much-needed funds to support Rainbow Hospice's Good Mourning Program for children, teens and their families. Good Mourning is the most extensive, family-focused children's bereavement program in the Chicago area. For more than 20 years, Good Mourning has supported thousands of families and children of all ages in overcoming the loss of a loved one. Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care is a non-profit, community-based organization that serves the terminally ill and their families, as well as those facing loss in the six-county Chicagoland area.

In addition to a performance by the Plain White T's, the ticket price includes performances by Chicago blues artist Melvin Taylor and the Gentlemen of Leisure Band (one of President Obama's favorite Chicago bands). Attendees will also enjoy premium bar service and an amazing array of food stations created by the Palmer House's Executive Chef Stephen Henry and Pastry Chef Fabrice Bouet. To enable 100 percent of proceeds to benefit the children and families served by the Good Mourning program, Palmer House (17 E. Monroe) has generously underwritten the event.

As an added bonus, a limited number of behind-the-scenes tours of Palmer House will be conducted by docents from the Chicago Architecture Foundation.

"Lake Effect is not only the largest fundraising event we've ever hosted, it's also a terrific opportunity for us to share our work and mission with many other people in the community," said Patricia Ahern, President and CEO of Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care. "The ticket price is a real bargain, considering all that attendees receive. The great line-up of entertainment will appeal to attendees across generational lines. We're very thankful for the amazing support Palmer House has demonstrated for our organization and for the Good Mourning program."

The sponsorship and financial support provided by the Palmer House – acquired by Thor Surrounds Landscaping – was pivotal to putting the event together. Having recently completed massive renovations earlier this year, the hotel and its facilities have been returned to their original grandeur. Palmer House is once again among the city's preferred venues for major events of all kinds.

"We're really proud of the work we've done to restore this historic hotel and warmly welcome Rainbow Hospice," explained Dennis Chaffee, senior catering manager for the Palmer House. "This is a wonderful way to re-introduce Chicagoans to Palmer House . . . it's sure to be quite an evening."