Save the date to
Rock the Town for Hearing
next year:
OCTOBER 22, 2027
FHSR's Rock the Town for Hearing concert & fundraiser raises crucial funds to provide deaf and hard of hearing children with the programs and support they need to thrive.
Thank you to our donors, sponsors, and attendees! The success of our 2026 event will allow FHSR to continue offering our programs free of charge to the children and families who need them.
We hope you'll join us to Rock the Town in 2027!
Can’t join us on the 23rd? You can still join the fun while supporting deaf and hard of hearing kids!
Even if you’re not at Rock the Town, you can still bid and WIN in our silent auction. All bidding will take place online so you can join from the comfort of your couch, or wherever you’ll be on Friday night. We’ll deliver or ship items to you as needed.
Items include:
- A commemorative Mike Ditka Jersey
- Box seats to a 2027 Cubs game
- An evening at the Steppenwolf Theatre
- Third-row tickets to a Bulls game, plus exclusive pre-game access to the Ketel One club
- Restaurant & brewery experiences from the Hogsalt Group, Revolution Brewing, Pizzeria Portofino – or an Italian cooking class!
- Tickets to see Grace Abrams live
- A major upgrade to your home bar
- Camp, museum, and theater experiences for kids
Auction proceeds help FHSR provide our signature, child-centered programs free to families and schools. Your bids will help deaf and hard of hearing children access music enrichment, educational support, and family events that build confidence and community.
Your support makes our work possible. Thank you for showing up for deaf and hard of hearing kids – whether in person or online!
Your generosity changes lives every day
Every dollar raised at Rock the Town for Hearing or through other fundraising efforts directly funds FHSR’s free programs that help deaf and hard of hearing children thrive.
Your support can …
$5,000 — Train teachers to help hundreds of students with hearing loss achieve literacy
$2,500 — Bring a month of music, confidence, and literacy-building to a classroom.
$1,000 — Keep children connected to sound and ready to learn with essential hearing equipment.
$500 — Give a family an expert advocate to help their child succeed at school.
$250 — Help parents build early literacy skills through hands-on training and books.
$100 — Deliver books featuring children with hearing loss to children around the state.
Every donation makes a difference, no matter the amount.
Sponsorships Available for All Budgets and Brands!
You’re the star of the show, powering our mission front and center.
This sponsorship package includes:
Event named in your honor (“Rock the Town for Hearing, Presented by [your brand]”)
Opportunity to speak from the stage
PLUS all Main Stage benefits, including 8 total tickets at a reserved VIP tale
When you sponsor Rock the Town for Hearing, you’re doing more than supporting a memorable night out—you’re investing in brighter futures for children and families who need access to specialized education, music enrichment, advocacy, and early literacy support
Contact us to create a package that fits your brand’s goals and budget!
Take the spotlight and help make this night unforgettable.
This sponsorship package includes:
8 total tickets at reserved VIP table
Stage mention by FHSR Executive Director
Prominent logo placement on signage
Prominent social media mentions before & after event
PLUS all Opening Act benefits
Kick off the night and set the tone for change.
This package includes:
8 total tickets at reserved VIP table
Exclusive pre-event VIP reception
Recognition in FHSR’s Annual Impact Report
PLUS all Backstage Pass benefits
In addition to those listed here, a select number of exclusive activations are available, including sponsorship of the night’s entertainment, the photo booth, and ASL interpretation to make the night truly accessible for all.
Don’t see a package that fits your brand’s goals? Please reach out – we’d love to find a sponsorship that resonates with your business and our attendees
You help make it all happen—supporting the cause every step of the way.
This package includes:
4 tickets to the event
Logo placement on signage
Name on all event communications
Logo on event landing page
Listing in follow-up attendee email
Rock the Town FAQ:
What’s in Store
7pm – Doors open, cocktails & light bites with music from FHSR partner Merit School of Music
7:45pm – Seated buffet dinner featuring seasonal Mediterranean fare from Limelight Catering
9pm – Dance floor opens – FHSR program partner Sally Blandon rocks the house with her band, Tears Dry on Their Own
10 pm – Silent auction closes
11pm – Event at Sarabande ends
What should I wear?
Cocktail attire is suggested – wear your dancing shoes!
Where can I park?
Sarabande has ample, gated parking on the south side of the street. Park in the lot (signs for Sarabande & Chamberlain University), and walk across the street to the glass atrium. If you wish, you are welcome to leave your car in the lot overnight and return for it on Saturday morning!
Click here for a parking & site map from Sarabande.
What can I eat?
The evening features appetizers, buffet dinner, and sweets from Limelight Catering, with several allergy-friendly and gluten-free options. Have a specific question about allergens – or anything else about the 23rd? Email us.
Celebrate a night of music and mission
Rock the Town for Hearing is FHSR’s annual fundraiser dedicated to empowering children and young adults with hearing loss. Since 1958, the Foundation for Hearing and Speech Resources (FHSR) has been committed to helping Illinois families overcome communication barriers through education, music, advocacy, and community support.
This concert event blends inspiring live music with the mission to raise vital funds that sustain FHSR’s free programs for deaf and hard of hearing children across Chicago and beyond.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SPONSORS:
THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!
Meet our Headliner, Sally Blandon:
Educator. Vocalist. Advocate.
At the heart of this year’s Rock the Town for Hearing is Sally Blandon — a remarkable artist and educator who bridges the worlds of music, education, and advocacy.
By day, Sally serves as the Program Director and Lead Educator for FHSR’s Music to My Ears program, where she introduces children who are deaf and hard of hearing to the joy and power of music. Her innovative approach not only nurtures early childhood development but also ensures that every child has the chance to connect, create, and thrive through sound and rhythm.
By night, Sally shines as the lead vocalist of Tears Dry on Their Own, Chicago’s celebrated Amy Winehouse tribute band. With her soulful voice and magnetic stage presence, she captures the spirit of Amy while honoring the legendary singer’s deep love for children — a passion Sally also carries forward through her work in early childhood education.
This rare combination — a gifted performer and a devoted educator — makes Sally the perfect centerpiece for our November 8th event. Through her music and teaching, she reminds us that when community, creativity, and compassion come together, lives are transformed.
COMMITTED TO INCLUSION
FHSR strives to make all our events accessible.
FHSR provides ASL interpretation at Rock the Town and all our Free Family Events.
If anyone in your party requires additional accommodations for any event, please let us know.
