MARIO BONDS

KEYNOTE SPEAKER & PERFORMER

Mario Bonds  is a multitalented motivational speaker and singer-songwriter. Made famous by NBC Universal’s 2012 run of The Glee Project, season two, in which he showed the world that a person with a disability can rise to meet any challenge, Bonds enjoys entertaining and inspiring millions.

One of a set of triplets and adopted at age 16, Bonds comes from a large family of nine siblings. Born with Morning Glory Syndrome, a degenerative condition that gradually destroyed the optic nerve in both of his eyes, he was completely blind by the tender age of nine. After losing both his vision, and his parents, Bonds experienced a childhood the likes of which few of us can even imagine—suffering abuse on a number of levels, abandonment and eventually, homelessness. Amazingly, one thing he never suffered from was hopelessness.

In recognition of his work with students and the performing arts, Bonds was awarded the prestigious Imagination Award for 2012 by the Imagination Stage, a theatre arts organization for young people. He is the author of Without Sight but Full of Vision, a memoir recounting how he overcame a childhood marked by blindness, abuse and abandonment. He currently holds foster care licensing, and is in the process of adopting teenage boys.

JON HANSEN, WCIU

EMCEE

Jon Hansen is an Emmy Nominated reporter and host at WCIU-TV in Chicago. He is also a host for WGN 720AM, and a public address announcer and stadium host for the Chicago Blackhawks. Jon previously worked as a Lisagor Award nominated reporter at DNAinfo, a traffic reporter for FOX 32, and as a communications staffer for the United States Senate. Jon is a Downers Grove native who loves being able to work in the area he grew up in, and be close to family and friends!

TURN HOPE INTO ACTION

Starting at $25,000

Table for 10
10 VIP Tickets

• Opportunity to Speak
• Step & Repeat Recognition
• Exclusive Access to VIP Reception
• Inclusion in Media Coverage
• Verbal Recognition
• Tickets
• Print Marketing Recognition (Logo)
• Website Recognition (12 Months) (Logo w/ link to website)
• Virtual Ad Journal Recognition

FULLY CONTRIBUTE

Starting at $10,000

Table for 10
10 VIP Tickets

• Step & Repeat Recognition
• Exclusive Access to VIP Reception
• Inclusion in Media Coverage
• Verbal Recognition
• Tickets
• Print Marketing Recognition (Logo)
• Website Recognition (12 Months) (Logo w/ link to website)
• Virtual Ad Journal Recognition

DO THE RIGHT THING

Starting at $5,000

5 Event Tickets
2 VIP Tickets

• Exclusive Access to VIP Reception
• Inclusion in Media Coverage
• Verbal Recognition
• Tickets
• Print Marketing Recognition (Logo)
• Website Recognition (12 Months) (Logo w/ link to website)
• Virtual Ad Journal Recognition ($500)

EMPOWER ONE ANOTHER

Starting at $2,500
2 Event Tickets

• Tickets
• Print Marketing Recognition (Logo)
• Website Recognition (12 Months) (Logo)
• Virtual Ad Journal Recognition ($500)

SEEK IMPACT EVERY DAY

Starting at $1,000
1 Event Ticket

• Tickets
• Print Marketing Recognition (Name)
• Website Recognition (12 Months) (Name)
• Virtual Ad Journal Recognition ($500)

ALWAYS KEEP IMPROVING

Starting at $500

• Print Marketing Recognition (Name)
• Website Recognition (12 Months) (Name)
• Virtual Ad Journal Recognition ($500)