Chicago's LGBT community well-represented in One Man Chicago competition
Mon. July 12, 2010 5:46 PM
bryan herb
photo credit // onemanchicago.com
Online voting now through August 30th
Chicago, IL -
Twenty men in the Chicago area have been selected from hundreds of nominations and applicants to compete for the title of One Man Chicago.
On Thursday, Sept. 2nd at the Harris Theatre in Millennium Park, one of the twenty men will be chosen as One Man Chicago, who embodies the best of the Chicago area from the perspectives of community involvement, intelligence, personality and fitness.
Now through August 30th, anyone 18+ can vote for their favorite man and charity by visiting OneManChicago.com.
Chicago's LGBT community is well-represented in this first-of-its-kind professional search by a number of great candidates including Bryan Herb, James Goeke and Terrence Chappell.
"If I win, the Center on Halsted will get more exposure, and perhaps people who need the Center's services will know that it exists, and that they have a safe place in the community," said Herb, who selected the Center on Halsted.
Herb, from Zoom Vacations, is the gay travel expert for several gay online and print publications, including ChicagoPride.com. He serves on the Board of the IGLTA and was one of nine travel experts featured on the Travel Channel's Vacation Challenge.
Goeke, who co-founded and co-chairs the Junior Networking Committee for Vital Bridges has selected to affiliate with Vital Bridges, an HIV/AIDS service organization.
"I am elated to have the opportunity to spread the word about Vital Bridges' mission of providing nutritious meals and other health-related services for people living in Chicago with HIV/AIDS," said Goeke.
"I'm honored and excited that I was chosen as one of the 20 semi-finalists," said Chappell, ChicagoPride.com Editor-at-Large. "I'm definitely in the company of some great guys."
Chappell has selected Chicago Public School Arts Education as his affiliation.
The remaining finalists and their affiliated charities are: Cameron Croft, Alumni for Public Schools; Chris Conlu, Chicago Professionals for Youth; Daniel Balanoff, A Silver Lining Foundation; Desmond Kemp, The Passrite Education Foundation; Eric Lugo, Institute for Latino Progress; Jason Laws, Catholic Charities; Jason Schmitt, Paws Chicago; Jeremy Weisbach, Jimmy Insulin; Judson Kinnucan, Bin Donated; Michael Lorenzen, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; Matt Matros, Common Threads; Nick Karavites, Ronald McDonald House; Omar Barragan, Pilsen Neighbors Community Council; Philip Chang, Be Bright Pink; and Rob Calvin, Jobs for Youth.
Profiles and pictures of all 20 men and their affiliated charities are posted online at OneManChicago.com.
The semifinalists will participate in the ultimate event co-hosted by Ginger Zee of NBC Chicago and Kelli Zink of Celeb TV on Thursday, Sept. 2nd. During the finale event, five finalists will be announced and will undergo a series of qualifying rounds that include an informal interview, a pop culture and a style segment. A panel of local Chicago judges will select One Man Chicago from the five finalists. The winner and his affiliated charity split $5,000, and the winner also receives a TAG Heuer watch of his choice. The evening will showcase some of the finest live entertainers in town followed by the after-party at the Hard Rock Hotel from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The judges include: Amanda Puck, The Experiential Agency; Arturo Gomez, Rockit Ranch Productions; Barbie Adler, Selective Search; D.C. Crenshaw, Fete Select TV and Game Time Dine; Jason Erkes, Chicago Sport & Social Club; Jeff Riney, Equinox Fitness Clubs; Jerry Azumah, Premiere Athletes & ASAP; Jessica Zweig, CheekyChicago.com; John Allan, John Allan's; Jon Cotay, AKIRA; Jonny Imerman, Imerman Angels; Julian Posada, Café Media; Kenneth Lewin, Marshall Pierce & Company; Matt Lee, The Men's Book; and Michael Segobiano, City of Chicago.
The charities selected by the 20 finalists will receive an additional 30 percent of ticket proceeds. Tickets to the event are $35 per person for general admission and $55 per person for VIP admission, which includes preferred seating, a gift bag and a photo with the winner. Tickets are available at OneManChicago.com and the Harris Theatre box office.
In addition, a series of four ‘Meet the Men' happy hour cocktail parties at various Chicago locations will introduce the men to the community. The events are free and open to the public.
One Man Chicago Happy Hours:
Wednesday, July 28 (6 – 8 pm), JBar, 610 N. Rush Street
Tuesday, August 10 (6 – 8 pm), Rockit Wrigleyville, 3700 N. Clark
Thursday, August 19 (6 – 8 pm), John Allan's, 111 W. Jackson Boulevard
Wednesday, August 25( 6 – 8 pm), Market Bar Chicago, 1113 W. Randolph
On Thursday, Sept. 2nd at the Harris Theatre in Millennium Park, one of the twenty men will be chosen as One Man Chicago, who embodies the best of the Chicago area from the perspectives of community involvement, intelligence, personality and fitness.
Now through August 30th, anyone 18+ can vote for their favorite man and charity by visiting OneManChicago.com.
Chicago's LGBT community is well-represented in this first-of-its-kind professional search by a number of great candidates including Bryan Herb, James Goeke and Terrence Chappell.
"If I win, the Center on Halsted will get more exposure, and perhaps people who need the Center's services will know that it exists, and that they have a safe place in the community," said Herb, who selected the Center on Halsted.
Herb, from Zoom Vacations, is the gay travel expert for several gay online and print publications, including ChicagoPride.com. He serves on the Board of the IGLTA and was one of nine travel experts featured on the Travel Channel's Vacation Challenge.
Goeke, who co-founded and co-chairs the Junior Networking Committee for Vital Bridges has selected to affiliate with Vital Bridges, an HIV/AIDS service organization.
"I am elated to have the opportunity to spread the word about Vital Bridges' mission of providing nutritious meals and other health-related services for people living in Chicago with HIV/AIDS," said Goeke.
"I'm honored and excited that I was chosen as one of the 20 semi-finalists," said Chappell, ChicagoPride.com Editor-at-Large. "I'm definitely in the company of some great guys."
Chappell has selected Chicago Public School Arts Education as his affiliation.
The remaining finalists and their affiliated charities are: Cameron Croft, Alumni for Public Schools; Chris Conlu, Chicago Professionals for Youth; Daniel Balanoff, A Silver Lining Foundation; Desmond Kemp, The Passrite Education Foundation; Eric Lugo, Institute for Latino Progress; Jason Laws, Catholic Charities; Jason Schmitt, Paws Chicago; Jeremy Weisbach, Jimmy Insulin; Judson Kinnucan, Bin Donated; Michael Lorenzen, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; Matt Matros, Common Threads; Nick Karavites, Ronald McDonald House; Omar Barragan, Pilsen Neighbors Community Council; Philip Chang, Be Bright Pink; and Rob Calvin, Jobs for Youth.
Profiles and pictures of all 20 men and their affiliated charities are posted online at OneManChicago.com.
The semifinalists will participate in the ultimate event co-hosted by Ginger Zee of NBC Chicago and Kelli Zink of Celeb TV on Thursday, Sept. 2nd. During the finale event, five finalists will be announced and will undergo a series of qualifying rounds that include an informal interview, a pop culture and a style segment. A panel of local Chicago judges will select One Man Chicago from the five finalists. The winner and his affiliated charity split $5,000, and the winner also receives a TAG Heuer watch of his choice. The evening will showcase some of the finest live entertainers in town followed by the after-party at the Hard Rock Hotel from 9:00 p.m. to 12:00 p.m.
The judges include: Amanda Puck, The Experiential Agency; Arturo Gomez, Rockit Ranch Productions; Barbie Adler, Selective Search; D.C. Crenshaw, Fete Select TV and Game Time Dine; Jason Erkes, Chicago Sport & Social Club; Jeff Riney, Equinox Fitness Clubs; Jerry Azumah, Premiere Athletes & ASAP; Jessica Zweig, CheekyChicago.com; John Allan, John Allan's; Jon Cotay, AKIRA; Jonny Imerman, Imerman Angels; Julian Posada, Café Media; Kenneth Lewin, Marshall Pierce & Company; Matt Lee, The Men's Book; and Michael Segobiano, City of Chicago.
The charities selected by the 20 finalists will receive an additional 30 percent of ticket proceeds. Tickets to the event are $35 per person for general admission and $55 per person for VIP admission, which includes preferred seating, a gift bag and a photo with the winner. Tickets are available at OneManChicago.com and the Harris Theatre box office.
In addition, a series of four ‘Meet the Men' happy hour cocktail parties at various Chicago locations will introduce the men to the community. The events are free and open to the public.
One Man Chicago Happy Hours:
Wednesday, July 28 (6 – 8 pm), JBar, 610 N. Rush Street
Tuesday, August 10 (6 – 8 pm), Rockit Wrigleyville, 3700 N. Clark
Thursday, August 19 (6 – 8 pm), John Allan's, 111 W. Jackson Boulevard
Wednesday, August 25( 6 – 8 pm), Market Bar Chicago, 1113 W. Randolph