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Thursday, March 22, 2018

AmpliVox Supports 12th Annual North Suburban YMCA Strong Kids Fundraising Dinner




The North Suburban YMCA held its 12th annual Ken and Alta Thiel Strong Kids Fundraising Dinner on March 8, bringing the community together for an evening of games, food, and socializing to benefit the Y’s Strong Kids Financial Assistance Fund.

This year’s event, held at Pinstripes Bocce & Bowling in Northbrook, Illinois, raised $225,000, providing important funding that allows the Y to continue to offer impactful programs and services to all, regardless of financial need.


More than one out of five individuals at the Y – over 2,800 people – receive financial assistance through the Strong Kids Fund for afterschool programs, summer camps, swim lessons, and other wellness activities for all ages.

Since its inception, the Strong Kids Dinner has raised more than $3 million to help the community.

The gala’s theme “Be a hero!” encouraged guests to serve as everyday heroes for children in the community.

Ashley Blankstein-Delaney was awarded the NSYMCA’s Thiel Award for Leadership and Social Responsibility.

As director of business development and physician relations at Whitehall of Deerfield, Blankstein-Delaney has helped oversee Whitehall’s sponsorship of several YMCA community events, including Seniorpalooza, the Strong Kids Dinner, and Wheels vs. Wheels, an event that showcases the athletic potential of individuals with physical challenges or special needs.


The evening also honored local heroes from police, fire, and first responder departments.



For its annual fundraising gala, the North Suburban YMCA in Northbrook, Illinois turns to AmpliVox Sound Systems to make its auctions, presentations, and announcements intelligible to everyone.

AmpliVox portable sound systems provide outstanding audio coverage for this popular community event, which attracts approximately 500 guests to a massive 27,800 square foot venue with 20-foot ceilings.




As a Northbrook-based company, AmpliVox has deep roots in the community and has supported the Y for many years. AmpliVox has provided a wide assortment of sound equipment to fit the Y’s needs, from megaphones for sports and swimming events to portable systems and lecterns for programs. The Strong Kids Dinner raises particular challenges due to the size of the venue and the volubility of the audience.


"Intelligible sound is absolutely crucial to the success of this event," notes Don Roth, CEO of AmpliVox and a past YMCA board member.

"The Y needs everyone to be able to hear well in order to participate in the auction and engage in the other fundraising activities. There’s a great deal of background noise to overcome and a lot of space to cover."


AmpliVox came through for the Y with a sound design plan that met the challenges of the noisy space.

AmpliVox technicians laid out connected coverage zones that included powerful, unobtrusive units in strategic locations.

The plan used SW925 Digital Audio Travel Partner systems, augmented by S1297 Wireless Powered Dual Speakers and SC800 Titan Wireless Powered Companion Speakers.

Additional speakers carried sound to separate rooms, including the silent auction gallery and the crowded bar area.


Presenters spoke from an AmpliVox SN3500 wood and acrylic lectern on the stage which offered guests a formal and comfortable platform to share their stories about their experiences at the Y, and used wireless AmpliVox microphones to move freely and interact with the audience.





"We are always happy to support groups like the YMCA, who do such important work in our community," noted Roth.

"It’s exciting to see a challenge like this and know that we have the equipment to deliver great results. With the right planning, portable sound systems can enhance virtually any venue."


To learn more and donate to the NSYMCA Strong Kids Fund, visit http://nsymca.org/strong-kids.