Dear Friends,

Our son, Christopher, was taken from us abruptly by the recklessness of a drunken driver. We sadly know all too well the grief and sorrow related to losing a loved one. In the days following Christopher’s death we worked to find a way to honor his life and create a legacy of giving that would live on forever in his name. We have chosen to focus on helping children and supporting Chris’s true love — music.

We lived in the Chicago area for many years and found an opportunity to support both children and music through one of Chicago’s cultural treasures, the Old Town School of Folk Music. Six thousand students, half of them children, attend lessons at the School during a typical week. Hundreds of classes and workshops in instruments, vocals, dance, and theater are taught by a faculty of more than 200 musicians, dancers, singers and other artists. The School is also approaching a remarkable landmark, its 50th Anniversary in 2007.

The School’s music instruction programs are open to everyone and one of the School’s goals is to keep music education and participation accessible, regardless of a student’s or a family’s ability to pay. The School keeps tuition low and, of special interest to us-- provides financial aid to anyone who cannot afford lessons, providing over $200,000 worth of financial assistance last year.

The Old Town School is one of those special places that makes a difference in people’s lives, and we have set up The Christopher Saathoff Scholarship Fund at the Old Town School. This is a permanent endowment fund of the School, the proceeds of which annually and in perpetuity will support financial assistance for students.

As the School enters its second half-century, we invite you to join us in continuing Chris’s legacy by making a contribution to the Old Town School of Folk Music and directing it to The Christopher Saathoff Scholarship Fund. Contributions are tax deductible (the School is a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, tax identification number 36-2373635) and your gift will help make music or dance or singing lessons a reality for a student.

The world is less of a place without Chris’s presence. He was an intelligent young man with a kind and gentle soul as well as a passion and talent for music. All who knew Chris loved him and he is missed by so many wonderful friends and family. Thank you for your friendship and support of our efforts.

Sincerely,
Brad and Marlene Saathoff