By Ed Lowe
Senior writer
The Australian Trade Commission will be holding a wine and food tasting benefit on behalf of the Sue Duncan Children’s Center on Thursday, Jan. 30. The event will take place in the 80th floor Mid America Club, 200 E. Randolph St. It is the largest Australian wine tasting event ever held in Chicago with over 300 wines being offered to visitors.
For 42 years, Sue Duncan has operated a center designed to teach children from inner city homes the basics of reading. Currently between 40 and 50 youngsters are enrolled in her after school program. Staffed by the volunteer efforts of four mothers and two paid part time “helpers”, the Center runs four days a week. Operating with a very limited budget, Duncan has made a difference in both the education of those hundreds of educationally deprived children and of her own family.
One of her sons is Arne Duncan, CEO of the Chicago Public Schools. Another, Owen, has been a professional athlete and a third, adopted child, Michael Clark Duncan, has a significant movie career, having appeared in such movies as “Armageddon.”
It was because of Owen’s athletic background (he played in Australia) that the fund raiser came to benefit the Sue Duncan Children’s Center. In an interview with Inside, Sue Duncan said that it was her hope to influence children by teaching them to read at the earliest possible age – some are learning to read for themselves at the age of three. In this way, the whole arena of educational possibilities opens for these kids who learn the basics early.
Wines from Australia are featured at most wine retail outlets on the North Side of the city, including Binny’s, Sam’s, and the Wine Discount Center. Australian cheeses and meats, including kangaroo meat, oils and other food specialties are on the menu for the event. Grand tasting tickets are available for $50 and can be arranged by calling (866) 468-7619. |
