Pearl Jam, Epstein make charitable donation

CHICAGO -- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Theo Epstein, Cubs president of baseball operations, visited the South Chicago Arts Center on Wednesday to announce a contribution of $130,000 from the rock band Pearl Jam and the Foundation to be Named Later in support of education and inspiring under-served young people in Chicago through the visual arts.

As part of Pearl Jam's upcoming sold-out concert July 19 at Wrigley Field, the band is donating $2 per ticket from their Vitalogy Foundation to benefit Chicago visual arts programs Marwen and South Chicago Arts Center. The city of Chicago made the recommendation of the visual arts programs to the band. Approximately $40,000 will be donated to each organization from the foundation.

Given the Chicago connection with the concert, Epstein's Foundation to be Named Later and Chicago Cubs Charities added to the contribution. The Foundation to be Named Later will contribute $15,000 to each organization and another $10,000 will be donated to each organization from Chicago Cubs Charities.

Marwen celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. The nonprofit organization is dedicated to supporting the development of Chicago's under-served youth in grades 6-12 through free visual arts, college planning, and career preparation programs. Students from 54 of the city's 57 zip codes and from more than 220 schools travel to MARWEN, where they take classes designed and taught by practicing artists.

The South Chicago Art Center's mission is to provide youth with an accessible, safe place to participate in quality visual arts programs.