Annual Event Honors LaSalle Bank and RIC's Dr. Henry Betts

EFE recognizes LaSalle Bank's accessibility initiatives with its 2006 Corporate Excellence Award After several years away, Equip for Equality returns this November 3 to the stunning Fairmont Hotel in Chicago for its annual event, An Evening for Equality. The five-star hotel's first-class cuisine and services will complement an outstanding lineup of honored guests, speakers and entertainment this year, including the evening's featured speaker, Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne M. Burke, whose vision and tenacity led to the development of the International Special Olympics. LaSalle Bank will be accepting Equip for Equality's Corporate Excellence Award for implementing a progressive accessibility program for its customers and employees who are blind or sight impaired. And Dr. Henry B. Betts, past medical director, president and CEO of the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC), will receive the 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award for 40 years of peerless dedication to disability issues.

Equip for Equality welcomes back for a third year as master of ceremonies WBBM Channel 2 News investigative reporter Dave Savini, whose series on the abuse and neglect of students with disabilities in schools led to significant education reforms. In addition to being an undaunted investigator, Mr. Savini has proven to be an incomparable personality at the annual event, sprinkling the evening's program with humor and lively anecdotes about his experiences in front of the camera and off-camera.

For the first time this year, Equip for Equality is pleased to welcome the Chicago Bar Association's Scales of Justice jazz combo, a group of attorneys who are contributing their musical talents to the evening's celebration with their improvisations on jazz standards. The Scales of Justice, one of many music groups organized by the CBA, has been performing for six years at downtown venues, including a the large hotels for charity and law related events.

In addition to enjoying the evening's program and fine cuisine, guests will have the opportunity to take home an array of silent auction items, including vacation home stays, weekend packages, theatre tickets, and more.

This year's Evening for Equality celebrates the beginning of Equip for Equality's third decade of service to Illinois' disability community. The past year has seen several outstanding accomplishments and new developments, including new support for legal advocacy services in southern Illinois and progress on a new Special Education Advocacy Clinic, which will provide advocacy assistance to parents of schoolchildren with disabilities in need of appropriate education supports.

To join Equip for Equality and over 300 civic and community leaders in celebrating a year of endeavors and, accomplishments, visit the organization's website for ticket orders and information, or call Lisa at (312) 341-0022, ext 7306.

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