Fundraiser

Non-Profit Events

Dancing with the C-U Stars 

​Events at Refinery was proud to partner with local organizations to host “Dancing with the Champaign-Urbana Stars” Event to benefit the Don Moyer Boys and Girls Club!

Samuel P Banks reviewed Events at Refinery
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" ​As Executive Director of Don Moyer Boys & Girls Club, our organization and has worked with the Refinery to hold our Dancing With the CU Stars Gala and fundraiser for the past 5 years. We’ve been very pleased with how the staff at the Refinery have worked with us to create an environment and Gala experience that’s elegant, entertaining, and memorable for everyone involved with our event. Each year the refinery staff has worked closely with our our Gala planning team to make DWTCU Stars bigger and better. The responses to our needs, accommodations for our dancers, and the experience created for our guests has been at the highest level. Our Boys & Girls Club Dancing With the CU Stars Gala has earned the reputation as the best and most fun fundraiser in town. Thank you Refinery for helping to make that happen!!!!"
​Keller Williams Cash Bash has been an annual event the past 6 years. The event has grown rather quickly year after year. The first year’s goal was to raise $40,000. In 2018, our goal was $250K and year to date we have helped raise over $700,000! Our goal is to hit 1 million with our 2019 event!
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The featured speaker at the 2018 event was Staff Sergeant Jack Schumacher. He enlisted as an Infantryman in the United States Army in 2005.  He deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from October 2006 to December 2007 and later in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from February 2009 to May 2009. On May 28, 2009, Schumacher was manning a .50cal machine gun on a mounted patrol when his unit encountered a complex ambush in southeast Afghanistan.  During the ensuing firefight, Schumacher was injured when a RPG round penetrated his vehicle and detonated on his right leg, resulting in the loss of his limb.
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Schumacher’s recovery took place at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C.  He credits the service of the many men and women who helped him with his rehabilitation.  Schumacher emphasizes, “I will be eternally grateful to all the people that I met at Walter Reed.  No matter how broken I felt, someone was always there to put me back together physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  The examples of selfless service, compassion and strength that I saw on a daily basis are lessons that I consciously hope guide me for the rest of my life.”

All proceeds benefit the Chez Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education. The center itself can house up to 14 veterans for a year while they pursue their degrees from the University of Illinois all while taking advantages of the many resources at the center specially designed for Wounded Veterans.