OPENLANDS’ SONGS OF PRAISE JUBILEE CELEBRATES 50 YEARS OF CONSERVATION

CHICAGO, June 15, 2013 – Openlands is proud to celebrate 50 years of conservation with its Songs of Praise: Celebrating Openlands’ Jubilee. Taking place on Saturday, June 15 at 6 p.m. at the Lakeshore Preserve in Highland Park, Ill., the event benefits Openlands’ work in protecting the natural and open spaces in northeastern Illinois and the surrounding region. “Songs of Praise is an opportunity to celebrate our achievements, none of which would have been possible without the generosity of innumerable supporters throughout the years,” said Openlands President and CEO Jerry Adelmann. “The visionaries who founded Openlands could never have guessed 50 years ago that Openlands’ half-century celebration would be held in such a beautiful location, on land owned, restored, and protected by us.” Co-chairs for the event, Susan DePree and Jody Elting, both of Lake Forest, Ill., are orchestrating a spectacular evening. Set a top the towering Lake Michigan bluffs at the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, guests will enjoy event styling by Designs by Jody, cocktails and a delicious dinner by Jewell Events Catering. Guests will also get to listen to a live choral ensemble which will honor Openlands’ work with songs from all five decades of its work. Individual tickets to the Songs of Praise: Celebrating Openlands’ Jubilee are $500. Table sponsorships are $5,000. For further details about attending, contact Kaye Oberhausen at 312.863.6263. Songs of Praise: Celebrating Openlands’ Jubilee sponsors include: ArcelorMittal, Grainger Foundation, Northern Trust, Bartlett Tree Experts, Designs by Jody, ITW, Stantec, Carlson Environmental, Scott Byron & Co. Inc., and Segall Bryant & Hamill. # # # About Openlands Founded in 1963, Openlands is one of the nation’s oldest and most successful metropolitan conservation organizations, having helped secure, protect, and provide public access to more than 55,000 acres of land for parks, forest preserves, land and water greenway corridors, and urban gardens. Openlands’ 50th anniversary celebration continues with the 2013 Annual Luncheon, held on October 25 at the Chicago Hilton. For more information about Openlands, visit www.openlands.org. About the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Located just 25 miles north of Chicago and encompassing more than a mile of Lake Michigan shoreline, the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve gives visitors the opportunity to visit one of the last remaining ravine and bluff ecosystems in the bustling metropolitan region.