Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Please join me on November 22, 2008 for the Union Project's 7th Annual
Unwrapped fundraiser and party! The UP has grown into a great neighborhood
institution and the ties between it and the HPCDC and HPCC go back to its earliest
days. This year I am pleased to sit on the
event's Honorary Committee. This organization was started by a group of young people
who saw the hundred year old Union Baptist Church, once a cornerstone for the
neighborhood, abandoned and falling apart and decided to do something about it.
Seven years later, the building has been restored, it is the home to four small
businesses, an office space for 6 organizations, welcomes 5,000+ a year to
their community events, is a job training center for kids aging out of foster
care and a center for civic engagement. The Union Project's businesses include
stained glass restoration, a ceramics studio and co-op, office and events space
rental, and Eat UP café. This is a non-profit building on the strengths of
individuals and neighborhoods and I am proud to support it.
The event, besides being a benefit for the Union Project, is going to be a
great time. Unwrapped features unique entertainment, original local artwork,
and live and silent auctions. The evening will showcase a short performance by
the city's young talent with the Neighborhood Academy Balafon West African
Drumming and Dance Ensemble. Unwrapped will be emceed by Andrew Stockey,
Morning Anchor for WTAE Channel 4 Action News. The live and silent auctions
will include gift certificates from local businesses, entertainment packages,
travel certificates from Jet Blue airlines, and a custom fitted bicycle. The food
is top notch and plentiful. Penn Brewery will be providing all of the beer and
Boyd and Blair vodka will be used for the signature cocktails.
VIP Happy Hour from 7-8pm will include vodka tasting with Boyd & Blair
Potato Vodka, catering by big Burrito, specialty cocktails, live entertainment
and an opportunity to personally select decals for a complimentary piece of
hand crafted ceramics. VIP tickets are available online for $100 at www.unionproject.org.Tickets
for Unwrapped are available for purchase in advance for $40 for a single or two
tickets for $75. Tickets at the door are $50. All tickets are available
online at www.unionproject.org.
The silent and live auction is incredible, as well as a great way to make your
money count. Kick off your holiday shopping at this event knowing that you are
also investing in your neighborhood. Some of the live auction items are
listed below...
• Take Pittsburgh by Bike Package:
o Trek 7.2 FX, featuring Trek's light
Alpha SL aluminum frame with easy-rolling 700c wheels, 24-speed drive train and
linear-pull brakes
o Bike Pittsburgh Membership & Water
Proof/Rip Proof Map
o Signed jersey by cyclist Tim Johnson
• Two flight certificates from Jet Blue Airlines
• Latin Dance Party for 22 people with Absolute
Ballroom Dance Center of Pittsburgh
o This 1-hour group class will teach you
and your guests the basics of the Merengue, Salsa, and Cha Cha Cha with a party
for you and your friends to follow!
o Value: $550.00
• Sunsets on Lake Chautauqua – A week stay for
8-10 people
o Forty feet of lakefront beside historic
Midway Park in Maple Springs, NY (175 miles from Pittsburgh)
o Three bedrooms, two full baths, new
kitchen, central air, bedrooms sleep 8 (10 with living room)
o 1,340 SF lakefront home completely
rebuilt in 2006 with 200ft shared dock for boat.
o Rents for $1,700/week ($840 –
lowest bid). Pick from one of 10 Saturday-to-Saturday summer weeks in 2009 or
any available winter week in 2008
For more information on ticket sales please contact Hilary Brown, Program
Manager at the Union Project at 412-363-4550 x26.
Please join me for this event!
Dave Hance
President, Highland Park
Community Development Corporation