Front Row Foundation

October 15, 2008 – Wheeling, IL – On Tuesday, October 14, 2008, Carey Smolensky, president of Carey Smolensky Productions and Mobile Music Interactive Entertainment in Wheeling, partnered with the Front Row Foundation, a non profit organization that puts people braving critical health challenges in the front row of concerts, sporting events and live theater, to bring the thrill and excitement of “WICKED-The Musical” to thirteen-year-old Michelle Rappaport of Buffalo Grove. Michelle is battling the rare genetic disorder Familial Dysautonomia. Smolensky treated Michelle and her family to a day that will be treasured and remembered forever.

Melinda is 21-years old and was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of 8 months. Cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease which mainly affects the lungs and digestive systems. Melinda spends most of her day doing respiratory treatments to help her breathe properly. She has gastric tube feedings to maintain her weight and takes approximately 25 pills per day to keep lung infections under control. After finding out that Melinda is a HUGE Jimmy Buffett fan, Front Row Foundation and Event Coordinator Alicia Anderer, put Melinda, her mom Nancy and father Ian in the Front Row of the Jimmy Buffet Concert on June 26th 2007.

13 year old Leona Witherspoon from Philadelphia, PA had been fighting leukemia for some time when the Front Row Foundation received an email from her social worker Nicole Pier at Chop Hospital of Philadelphia. Nicole said that Leona loves music and more than anything wanted to see The Color Purple, the musical about love presented by Oprah Winfrey. Front Row Team went to work to make her wish become a reality.