CHICAGO—Hundreds of alumni, students and friends are expected to attend the October 18th “Gala Dinner Celebration” to commemorate  100 years of excellence at Lane Tech College Prep High School.     

“The gala event—scheduled at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel, 9100 W. Bryn Mawr Ave. in Rosemont—is the Lane Tech Century Foundation’s final charity fund-raiser of the season,” said John H. Schwan, chairman of the foundation.

The schedule for the gala dinner calls for cocktails at 6:30 p.m., Hall of Fame Induction at 7:45 p.m., dinner at 8 p.m. and a silent auction and entertainment and dancing beginning at 9 p.m. Black tie attire is optional.

Dinner reservations are $100 per person, and 10-person tables are available for $1,000. “Alumni, students and friends who place ticket orders before September 15th will receive a 10-percent discount,” Schwan said.

On Friday, October 17th, in conjunction with the 100-year gala, tours of Lane Tech will be held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. A tailgate party will be hosted by the Century Foundation in the Lane Tech Memorial Garden between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

“The tailgate party will be followed by the Century Foundation Football game at Lane Tech Stadium,” Schwan said. Kickoff for the Lane vs. Curie game will be at 7:30 p.m. Game tickets will be provided the day of the event.

“The goal of the foundation’s charity efforts in this centennial year is to raise $2 million for the school’s 2008 Centennial Celebration. The money will be earmarked for restoration of Lane Tech’s 74-year-old building and campus,” Schwan said.  

“At the Lane-Curie game, alumni, students and friends will have an opportunity to view the stadium’s new field turf playing surface and lights, along with the bleacher restoration work now underway,” Schwan said.

The Lane Tech Century Foundation
The Lane Tech Century Foundation was established in March of 2004 by Lane Alumni to raise money to restore Lane’s existing 74-year-old building and grounds.     

The foundation’s accomplishments to date include: new auditorium seating, Lane Stadium lighting, sponsorship of the 1909 “Lost Mural” rededication, and establishing the 1st Annual Open House for graduates and friends of Lane Tech and their families in 2006.   

The Century Foundation also supported the “Fields of Dreams” committee proposal that resulted in a $200,000 National Football League grant to install field turf in Lane Stadium.

According to Schwan, current and future projects of the Century Foundation include the following:

• Repair of the Memorial Garden walkways and pools;
• Upgrading the athletic practice fields;
• Redesign and converting the school lunchroom into a multi-purpose room;
• Restoration and widening the library entrance to accommodate wheelchair students;
• Installation of a new school/community sign;
• Various beautification projects throughout the school, such as installation of display cases to showcase student art and murals to commemorate Lane Tech’s history.
• Hosting annual Open Houses for graduates, friends of Lane and their families.

To reserve tickets for the Lane Tech Century Foundation “Gala Dinner Celebration” to benefit the centennial of Lane Tech College Prep High School, 2501 W. Addison St. in Chicago, please call 773-534-5400 or visit lanetech.org.