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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

A PIONEER PRESS PUBLICATION DFR | LSR

||| DEERFIELD

Not For Profit, a band made up of members from throughout Lake and Cook Counties who play charity events, hit the $1 million mark this year for money raised at various fundraisers since the bands inception in 2008. | Courtesy of Not For Profit

Not for Profit charity band reaches $1 million milestone

BY PAT KROCHMAL

pkrochmal@pioneerlocal.com | @patkrochmal

ot For Profit, a fitting name for a North Shore band that plays to attract money for charity, has just passed a major milestone. The band has made more than $1 million that has gone to more than 25 local charitable organizations since its 11 members, most from Lake County, got together in 2008. It started when I was invited to a party at the home of John Lyons, who lived across the street from me, said Steve Schwartz of Deerfield, a corporate sales director. He picked up an acoustic guitar and I picked up his sons bongos that were lying around and that is literally how the band started. We are all professionals in other fields, we all love music and weve all been playing music for more than 25 years, he added. We decided we wanted to give back to society and that the best way we could do it was through music, which we love. Most of the members had a background of playing music in their earlier years and several had been in bands. And at that

time, sons of Lyons and Tim Thompson, another Deerfield resident, were forming their own band called Minor Chaos, so their fathers decided to do the same. The band plays music from the 70s, 80s and 90s, including some originals, as well as rock n roll and the blues. The group also presents music made popular by The Jackson 5, Chicago, Bonnie Raitt, Johnny Cash and Kings of Leon. Not for Profit, which has even developed its own group of followers, has performed at places such as Cubby Bear North and Cubby Bear Chicago, the Art Institute of Chicago, Soldiers Field, Viper Alley, Gabes Backstreet Lounge and many other nearby locations. The members have also played benefits as far away as New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York and Milwaukee. And when the band played Sept. 21 at the VIBE in Highland Park, it was to raise money to memorialize the life of Eric Feinberg, who had cerebral palsy and died at 21. Erics parents, Beryl and Steven Feinberg of Northbrook, established The Eric William Feinberg Scholarship Fund at Keshet (3210 Dundee Road, Northbrook,

NOT FOR PROFIT BAND MEMBERS Steve Schwartz, Deereld, corporate sales director: drums and background vocals John Lyons, now of Lake Forest, attorney: lead guitar and vocals Angie Lyons, Lake Forest: lead singer and percussionist Tim Thompson, Deereld, nance professor: keyboards, guitarist, vocalist and music arranger; Jim Fitch, Lake in the Hills, manufacturing general manager: lead guitar and vocals Michael Willens, Morton Grove, registered pharmacist: saxophone Beth Bagg, Deereld, saleswoman: vocals and percussion Norman Friede, Bolingbrook, medical manufacturing: trombone Robb Calabro, Barrington, microbiologist: saxophone Rich Steiner, Deereld, real estate: bass Mark Zar, Highland Park, utility company project director: trumpet

IL 60062) with all the money they could raise going to send kids with disabilities to summer camp. We chose the band, because we knew how good and how much fun they were, Beryl said. But they were phenomenal. They played great music, and they were all nice, warm and friendly. In fact, they were so

good, we would like to use them again. Scott D. Lane, an uncle of Erics who helped put on the fundraiser, also praised Not For Profit. They donate their time and expertise, and do not earn a penny. Anyone can tell that they really care, he said. And they are great.