Early Expressions 2022

October 6
6:00 p.m. | The Carter | $250

A little bit fancy, and a whole lot of fun!

Join us on October 6th for PLAY!, a benefit dinner at The Carter, a beautiful new venue in the West Loop. PLAY! celebrates the power of play-based learning and invites guests to enjoy an evening of play, the VOCEL way.

90% of brain growth happens before age 5 — and the best way to leverage that growth for learning is through PLAY! At VOCEL, we unlock the power of play-based learning for parents, teachers, and school leaders — so young children from low-income communities in Chicago can have access to the same intentional opportunities for play that are emphasized in expensive preschool programs.

Today, 79% of children from low-income families in Chicago start kindergarten behind, and many never catch up. That’s why VOCEL invests in the adults in their lives, building an ecosystem of extraordinary support around every child. Every dollar raised by PLAY! enables VOCEL’s groundbreaking programs, empowering parents, teachers, and school leaders to help young children succeed in school and thrive in life.

Learn more about VOCEL and the impact of your support →

Event Details

October 6, 2022

6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

The Carter
1948 W Fulton St
Chicago, IL 60612

PLAY! will feature a sit-down dinner program, an open bar, and the chance to enjoy the VOCEL PLAYground.

In a concise dinner program, you will learn about the power of play-based learning from Jesse Ilhardt, Co-Founder and Executive Director of VOCEL; Tai Basurto, Director of School Leader Development at Chicago Public Schools; and our keynote speaker Bo Stjerne Thomsen, PhD, the Chair of Learning Through Play at the LEGO Foundation and a globally recognized leader in creativity, learning, and play.

At the VOCEL PLAYground, you will have the chance to play, tinker, and create, with a glass of wine or cocktail in hand. Through a variety of activities that will spark joy and bring out your inner child, you’ll learn how play shapes young brains and empowers our future leaders. PLAYground stations will be open before and after the dinner program.