December 4, 2007 - The holiday season at the Primo Center for Women and Children (PCWC) will be a little bit brighter thanks to the generosity of WMAQ-TV NBC 5.

The station donated a seven-foot tree along with lights and ornaments to the center. The tree, which was donated to WMAQ by the Michigan Christmas Tree Association, was decorated on-the-air Sunday morning, December 2, 2007 during the station’s weekend newscast.

“During this holiday season we MUST consider the less fortunate and see it as our duty to provide a service and give to those in need,” said Deborah Brown, NBC 5’s Director of Station Relations.

“Words cannot express how happy we are with NBC 5’s generous donation,” said Dollie Williams, Executive Director of the Primo Center for Women and Children. “The tree looks beautiful in our living room. It will definitely make this holiday a little bit brighter for our families.”

Earlier this year, NBC 5 donated clothing to PCWC that was donated by station employees.

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November 20, 2007 - The Primo Center for Women and Children (PCWC) is teaming up with the producer of the NBC hit television show “The Biggest Loser” to raise money for the 120-day transitional shelter located on the west side of Chicago.

Reveille Productions has donated two tickets to the LIVE season finale of the show on December 18, 2007 in Los Angeles. The tickets, which are being offered to the public for the first time, are being auctioned on www.charityfolks.com with proceeds going directly to PCWC.

NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” Ticket Auction
November 20 – December 4, 2007
www.charityfolks.com
Starting bid $500
All proceeds benefit Primo Center for Women and Children

In addition to the two tickets to be part of the live studio audience, the auction winners will also receive two copies of the New York Times Bestsellers “The Biggest Loser, The Weight-Loss Program to Transform your Body, Health and Life” and “The Complete Calorie Counter”, plus DVDs of Seasons 1-3 and a CD of the show’s soundtrack.

Starting bids for “The Biggest Loser” package began at $500 November 20, 2007. The auction will close on December 4, 2007 at 6 P.M. EST.

For more information on “The Biggest Loser” click here.

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November 1, 2007 - For the second time this year, CS (Chicago Social) Magazine has featured a Primo Center for Women and Children fundraiser.

The magazine in its November , 2007 “In Scene” section featured several pictures and a story about the August 18th RedHot Midnight Kiss event that featured Carmen Electra.

CS was a sponsor of the event.

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October 23, 2007 - The Associates Board of the Primo Center for Women and Children (PCWC) will hold its first Red Hot Cocktails on November 1, 2007 from 6 P.M. to 9 P.M. at ‘The Gage’ at 24 South Michigan Avenue.

Red Hot Cocktails
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Gage
24 South Michigan Avenue
6 P.M. to 9 P.M.

Red Hot Cocktails is an after-work social gathering of young professionals that is designed to raise awareness of the plight of homelessness among women and children in Chicago, and the role that PCWC plays in trying to break the cycle of homelessness.

“With federal, state and local funding constantly being cut, the Associates Board wanted to step-up and hold unique fundraisers that not only will raise money for the Primo Center, but also create dialogue on homelessness,” said Lance Macon, PCWC Associates Board member. “We are pleased that ‘The Gage’ and Event Architects have come-on board as our sponsors.”

“In our fight to end homelessness in this city, we need to engage our young professionals,” said Quintin E. Primo III, Chairman of PCWC and Chairman and CEO of Capri Capital Partners. “The average age of our Associates Board is about the same as the mothers we are helping at the center. I believe that by getting this age group involved, we stand a better chance in our drive to end homelessness among women and children.”

The Gage donated the space, food and beverages for the evening, while Event Architects is serving as the event planner.

Tickets, which are tax-deductible, are priced at $50 and include an open bar from 6:30 to 8, complimentary appetizers, plus a chance to win fantastic raffle prizes. For more information or to buy tickets, please go to our website at www.primocenter.org/events.

About Red Hot
Red Hot is the fundraising arm of the Primo Center for Women and Children. It oversees several events during the year including the Red Hot Gala, Red Hot Midnight Kiss, Red Hot Cocktails, Red Hot Topics and Red Hot Giving.

About the Associates Board for the Primo Center for Women and Children
The PCWC Associates Board assists the center and its families with annual fundraisers such as Red Hot Cocktails, Red Hot Topics and Red Hot Giving. The board also organizes field trips for PCWC moms and kids, and raises awareness about PCWC and the problem of homelessness through its grassroots efforts.

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Benefit Raises Nearly $500,000 for the Primo Center for Women and Children

October 16, 2007 - For the fifth straight year the Red Hot Gala, benefiting the Primo Center for Women and Children (“PCWC”), raised a record amount of money to help fight homelessness in Chicago. The sixth annual gala was held Saturday, October 13, 2007 at The Murphy Auditorium at 50 East Erie Street and raised nearly $500,000.

Over 200 people attended the event entitled “Havana Nights”, which highlighted the color and pageantry of Cuba, and featured a special 90-minute performance by jazz legend Arturo Sandoval. Also joining Co-Masters of Ceremonies Quintin E. Primo and his wife Diane in the fight against homelessness in America was award-winning director/choreographer/actor Debbie Allen and Hollywood producer Moctesuma Esparza, who has produced such notable films as “Selena” and “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge”.

“It warms my heart and my family’s heart to know that so many people in the Chicago community would reach deep into their pockets to help our homeless moms and kids,” said Quintin E. Primo III, Chairman of PCWC and Chairman and CEO of Capri Capital Partners in Chicago. “The fight against homelessness is a tough one, but with our dedicated staff and generous supporters, we focus on ending homelessness one family at a time.”

The gala was created six years ago by mover-and-shakers in the Chicago real estate community, and this year the guest list expanded to include some of the city’s top business professionals.

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Hollywood’s Debbie Allen to attend Sixth Annual Gala Benefiting the Primo Center for Women and Children

October 10, 2007 - Academy award winning choreographer Debbie Allen is joining Quintin E. Primo and his wife Diane in the fight against homelessness in America. Allen, who has had a long career in Hollywood as a film director, actor and choreographer, will attend the 6th Annual Red Hot Gala on Saturday, October 13, 2007 at The Murphy Auditorium in Chicago.

Red Hot Gala
Saturday, October 13, 2007
6:30 P.M.
The Murphy Auditorium
50 East Erie Street
Special Performance by Jazz Legend Arturo Sandoval

This year’s event entitled “Havana Nights” will feature a special performance by jazz legend Arturo Sandoval, who will have two performances. The first will be during the $2,500-a-seat gala, and then he will also conduct a special post-gala jam session that is open to the public.

In addition to Ms. Allen and Sandoval, Hollywood producer Moctesuma Esparza, who has produced such notable films as “Selena” and “Introducing Dorothy Dandridge” will also be in attendance.

The annual gala benefits the Primo Center for Women and Children (”PCWC”), a 120-day transitional shelter located on the west side of Chicago. The gala was created six years ago by mover-and-shakers in the Chicago real estate community, and this year the guest list has expanded to include some of the city’s top business professionals. Last year’s event raised over $400,000.

Quintin E. Primo III, Chairman of the Primo Center for Women and Children and Chairman and CEO of Capri Capital Partners in Chicago, and his wife Diane will be the Co-Masters of Ceremonies for the Cuban-themed event featuring the color and pageantry of Cuba.

About Arturo Sandoval
Arturo Sandoval is fluent in at least four musical languages. He can burn through an Afro-Cuban groove, tear up a bebop tune, soar over a Mozart concerto and sooth you with a luscious ballad with equal power and grace

Granted political asylum in July 1990 and US citizenship in 1999, Sandoval and his family now call Miami, Florida home. A protégé of the legendary jazz master Dizzy Gillespie, Sandoval was born in Artemisa, a small town in the outskirts of Havana, Cuba, on November 6, 1949, just two years after Gillespie became the first musician to bring Latin influences into American Jazz. Sandoval began studying classical trumpet at the age of twelve, but it didn’t take him long to catch the excitement of the jazz world. He has since evolved into one of the World’s most acknowledged guardians of jazz trumpet and flugel horn, as well as a renowned classical artist, pianist and composer.

Sandoval was a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning group Irakere, whose explosive mixture of jazz, classical, rock and traditional Cuban music caused a sensation throughout the entertainment world. In 1981, he left Irakere to form his own band, which garnered enthusiastic praise from critics and audiences all over the world. Sandoval was voted Cuba’s Best Instrumentalist from 1982 to 1990. For more information go to www.arturosandoval.com .

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