In 2021 the Kiwanis Club of DeKalb, the DeKalb Rotary Club, and the DeKalb American Legion Post 66 are all celebrating their 100th anniversary of their founding. With that milestone in common, members of each organization have been celebrating their centennial year throughout 2021. In continuation of that celebration, there will be a community-wide anniversary celebration at the DeKalb Municipal Band Concert on August 3rd. The Municipal Band Concerts are held at 7:30 pm in Hopkins Park at the Bandshell.
“We are happy to join the Rotary and Kiwanis in celebrating their and our 100th Anniversary,” stated Michael Embrey, DeKalb American Legion Historian. “The acknowledgment that these three great organizations continue to provide support to various community projects is very satisfying for the entire membership of the DeKalb American Legion.”
In addition to this special concert to honor these three organizations, members of the Rotary and Kiwanis Clubs are selling raffle tickets as a fundraiser to support the philanthropic works in the DeKalb Community by both clubs. The winners will be drawn and announced at the concert on the 3rd. Four prizes will be awarded ranging from $200 to $1000 and only 500 tickets will be sold. Tickets are available for $25 each and can be purchased by contacting Rotary at https://dekalbrotary.org, or Kiwanis at https://dekalbkiwanis.org. Tickets will also be available for purchase at the Municipal Band Concerts on July 13, 20, 27, and August 3, or until tickets have sold out.
“The Rotary and Kiwanis organizations have a long history of support in the DeKalb community” stated Brian Corr, DeKalb Rotary President. “Funds from the sale of these tickets will allow both clubs to continue this tradition of supporting both the DeKalb Community and international charitable projects like scholarships, Meals on Wheels, literacy, clean water, and polio eradication.”
To celebrate the anniversary of these community organizations, Conductor Kirk Lundbeck has planned a special program for the Municipal Band Concert that will recognize and honor these clubs. Since no celebration is complete without cake, a cake will be served at the concert by members of the organizations at the Hopkins Park Shelter prior to the concert.
“What an amazing tribute to the long history in DeKalb of strong community organizations to have three of them celebrating centennial anniversaries in 2021,” said Mark Meier, DeKalb Kiwanis Club President. “And to celebrate this with the oldest continuous municipal band in Illinois seems fitting.”
Tickets for a drive-through dinner are also available to allow concertgoers to have dinner at the park. Inboden’s will be preparing a dinner that includes chicken or pork chop and sides at a cost of $15 (or $25 for two). Meals will be conveniently available for pick up at the Hopkins Park shelter from 4:30 to 7:00 pm on August 3rd.
Hopkins Park is located @ 1403 Sycamore Rd. DeKalb, IL.
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