💫 What’s a non-profit without an (un)gala?

You're invited. [View this email in your browser]( The UnGala is two weeks away! Chicago’s beloved alt-weekly has become a non-profit, and we need your support to celebrate our event that’s taking a fresh approach to an age-old tradition—the 3rd Annual Chicago Reader UnGala. Becoming a non-profit changed us. Do you remember when the Reader was a big, heavy book that you’d lug around? Back then, nearly half of the Reader was filled with classified ads, and those ads kept the lights on. By 2022, many classified ads moved online and COVID-19 was driving our ad sales ever lower. Chicago got close to losing its alt-weekly. This is when we transitioned into a 501(c)(3) non-profit called the Reader Institute for Community Journalism. A non-profit status saved us, but it brought changes. Now, we must fundraise in order to operate. More than ever, we are relying on our community's donations. At the heart of the Reader is the belief that every Chicagoan deserves access to free news. [On October 3rd, we’re hosting our biggest fundraiser of the year, the Reader UnGala.]( This is more than a celebration—it’s a commitment to keeping free, alternative news in Chicago, and we need your support. [GET YOUR TICKET TO THE UNGALA!]( The Reader UnGala guarantees the future of news media. The Reader was one of America's first alternative weeklies. Since 1971, the world has been watching as Chicago paved the way for free accessible news. We've consistently stayed on the cutting edge of equitable local journalism, and the UnGala is our new approach to raising money as a non-profit. In 2025, we plan to deliver 3.2 million copies of the Reader across Chicago. We hope to raise $180,000 from our UnGala to ensure boxes from South Shore to Rogers Park are filled with Reader issues. Your ticket makes sure we can reach our goals! Your ticket comes with: - After-hours access to the MCA, with DJ sets throughout the night - Unlimited drinks and light bites - Space to socialize with fellow Reader fans and staff - Chances to win tickets to exclusive Chicago experiences - That warm-and-fuzzy feeling of supporting our non-profit [JOIN US AT THE MUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART!]( Hope to see you there. - Team Reader [Facebook icon]( [Instagram icon]( [Twitter icon]( [LinkedIn icon]( [YouTube icon]( [Website icon]( [Logo] You received this email because you signed up for newsletters from the Chicago Reader. Want fewer emails from us? [Click here to choose what you want us to send you](. Or, [unsubscribe from all Reader emails](. We’ll miss you! [Sign up for emails from the Chicago Reader]( | [Forward this e-mail to a friend]( © 2024 Chicago Reader. All rights reserved. Chicago Reader, 2930 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 102, Chicago, IL 60616