Winning entries in the 2008 Faces of Evanston photo contest, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Evanston, will go on display Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Noyes Cultural Center.
The winning photographers will be honored with a reception at the Center, 927 Noyes St., from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“We were delighted with the number of entries this year,” said Dr. Stamata Blanas who originated the contest four years ago. “The enthusiasm of the photographers and the backdrop of Evanston’s beauty and excitement is evident in the entries,” Blanas added.
The reception will feature a quartet from the Evanston Symphony Orchestra, light food and beverages and a first-ever silent auction. The auction will benefit the Kiwanis Foundation which awards over $33,000 annually to deserving Evanston organizations, focusing on the needs of children.
The Kiwanis Club hopes to expand the reach of the contest in future years, reaching children who have responded to the various displays.
Auction items include many restaurant certificates, 4 box seat tickets to a White Sox game as well as an autographed baseball from American League home run leader Carlos Quentin, a Kerry Wood autographed Cubs baseball, a wine tasting and instruction, a stay at the Hilton Garden Inn, tickets to the Evanston Symphony and Northwestern football. An autographed copy of Rozelle by Evanston resident Jeff Davis will also be in the auction.
The photographs will be on display for two weeks before moving to First Bank & Trust, the McGaw YMCA and the Evanston Public Library. Last year the exhibit appeared in ten public venues.
Steve Dinelli and Andy Pakter won the $250 first prize. Ryan Gac won the $100 second prize. Hallie Redman won the $50 third prize. And Kelly Sill took the $50 special judges award.
Honorable mentions went to the following Christopher Cameron, Jennifer Frankfurter, Jim Kozar, Joe Simchak, Lars Mothander, Micky Propadovich, Misti Henderson, Paul Whittaker, Ryan Gac and Suanne Rayner
Lori Barrett received the Voice of the People award, for the most popular photo among people who rated the contest images on the Faces of Evanston website.