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 <http://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 <http://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 This message is sent by Perkins Eastman Architects, PC, and/or its Affiliates, and is intended exclusively for the persons to which it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is privileged or confidential. If you are not the named addressee, you are not authorized to read, print, retain, copy or disseminate any part of this message.