In July, Ravinia Festival held its annual fundraising gala hosted by the Ravinia Women’s Board and raised nearly $785,000 for the festival’s REACH TEACH PLAY education programs. REACH TEACH PLAY serves more than 75,000 people each year, ensuring that many area schools and communities receive equitable access to music. These programs include starting and maintaining elementary school orchestras in Chicago Public Schools and Lake County schools, with Ravinia supplying teachers, instruments, and other needs. The evening’s performance, led by Ravinia’s Chief Conductor Marin Alsop, featured American actor and singer Leslie Odom Jr. as a soloist. ravinia.org