The Auditorium Theatre’s ADMIT ONE program provides free tickets and transportation to Chicagoland organizations and community groups with limited resources for experiencing the performing arts. While the Auditorium is closed to the public due to COVID-19 and we are unable to welcome our ADMIT ONE partners to our theatre, we wanted to spotlight the incredible work of these organizations.
USO of Illinois works with service members and their family throughout the state. Started in 1941, the USO is a private, civilian non-profit organization dedicated meeting the needs of the military community, both at times of war and at times of peace. USO of Illinois Programs Manager Carrie Norwood shared more about the organization and about what ADMIT ONE has meant for the USO community.
Tell us a bit about your organization/group and the community you are serving.
Since 1941, the USO’s mission has been to strengthen America’s military service members by keeping them connected to family, home, and country throughout their service to the nation. Annually, the USO of Illinois serves nearly 350,000 active duty, National Guard and reserve military, and military family members throughout the state with access to five USO military instillation and airport-based centers and hundreds of community connection and military family programs.
What is something interesting or unique that people may not know about your community?
Worldwide, the USO has 250 locations on seven continents in 15 countries!
How did you hear about ADMIT ONE?
The USO has a deep connection to the Auditorium Theatre, as the space had been a USO center, supporting service members during WWII. The Auditorium Theatre has an incredible reputation of bringing the best of educational entertainment to Chicago, so we reached out to the ADMIT ONE program team to begin the relationship with their community initiative and USO Military Youth Programs!
What shows has your community attended through the ADMIT ONE program?
Trinity Irish Dance Company in February 2019 and Disney in Concert: Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas with the Chicago Philharmonic in November 2019!
What has ADMIT ONE meant to your community?
USO of Illinois Military Youth Programs bring military youth together to show there are other kids living a similar life. By working with community partners [like the Auditorium], we create recreational, educational, and cultural opportunities that build bonds within a military family and show appreciation to the littlest heroes.
How can people help or support your community?
By visiting USOofIllinois.org and clicking the “Donate” button to make a gift and by learning more about how to support service members and military family members.
