All Stars Project INC.

All Stars Project of Chicago (ASP) held its 2010 "Partners with Youth" Benefit Luncheon on Wednesday, June 16, at The Metropolitan Club at the Willis Tower.  The event raised $220,000 for the All Stars Project of Chicago's innovative inner-city youth development programs. Stephen S. Bowen, Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP was honored for the significant investment he has made in the growth and development of Chicago's inner-city youth through All Stars Project programs, and six community leaders, including Alderman Toni Foulkes (15^th Ward), received special "Community Spirit Awards." Illinois State Senator Iris Martinez gave remarks about the recently passed After School Youth Development Program Act.  Teen leadership training graduate and 24-year old acapella inspirational singer, Joselyn Sims helped honor the Partners with Youth. 

"Chicago's children need development and hope, which is why I am proud to have introduced one of the country's leading approaches to inner-city youth development to our communities," says David Cherry, Director of the All Stars Project of Chicago and long-time community organizer. In the last three years he has involved more than 1,000 young people for Chicago's South Side and West Side neighborhoods -- and 100s of volunteers from across the city -- in a neighborhood talent show program, the All Stars Talent Show Network, and in the Development School for Youth where young adults attend weekly workshops hosted by business executives at leading companies. The Development School for Youth corporate partners also provide these young people with paid summer internships at their workplaces.

Cherry was featured on June 5 on the WLS-TV show "Chicagoing" with Bill Campbell. Link to video.

The All Stars Project's Chicago effort was launched in 2007 with special support from dozens of individual donors, and a partnership law firm, Latham & Watkins, thanks to Mr. Bowen. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation provided seed funding and philanthropists Gigi Pritzker and Mr. Pucker created an early Challenge Fund to further encourage individual investment and involvement. 

All Stars Project of Chicago is part of the All Stars Project, Inc.  Founded in 1981, ASP Inc. creates outside-of-school, educational and performing arts activities for tens of thousands of poor and minority young people.

In photo above, from left to right: 2010 Partners with Youth Honoree, Stephen S. Bowen, Latham & Watkins (center, holding plaque) and ASP youth, staff and volunteer leadership: (front row, left to right) DSY Graduate and Youth Host, Raven Macon; Julie Lenner, Board of Directors, All Stars Project; Mike Anthony, James Mintz Group; Stephen S. Bowen; Margo Cook, Nuveen Investments; Bonny Gildin, Vice President, All Stars Project; Suzu Neithercut; Christopher Street, Senior Vice President/Development, All Stars Project; (back row, left to right) Gabrielle L. Kurlander, President and CEO, All Stars Project; (partially blocked) Michael Pucker, Latham & Watkins; Nathaniel Christian III, Board of Directors, All Stars Project; Scott Hairston, Latham & Watkins; David Cherry, Director, All Stars Project of Chicago; Richard Levy, Latham & Watkins.