About

Displaying the foundation’s commitment at Campus Colors

Barbara Rubenstein very much considers herself, her family, and her company a part of The Rory David Deutsch Foundation. “That tells you about the way The Foundation operates,” she says. “It creates a bond among people, and we are happy and proud to be a part of it and its mission.”

With her husband Neil, Barbara owns and runs Campus Colors, which is the nation’s largest retailer of collegiate licensed clothing. For more than six years, the company’s Highland Park store has made a priority of promoting the merits of The Foundation to its customers. “We not only highlight The Foundation’s events, but we also come up with Rory events of our own,” says Barbara. “Most of our customers are well aware of this, and look forward to new ideas we come up with.”

For several years the store coordinated a “March Madness” raffle. Customers who purchased $50 or more at any Campus Colors store were automatically entered into the raffle and eligible to win an autographed Michael Jordan jersey. A purchase of $100 or more was worth two raffle tickets, and so on. The proceeds of raffle ticket sales were donated to The Foundation. In 2006, this event raised $4,000. “The raffle was always a big hit, especially with kids” says Barbara. “With Michael not playing anymore, we have added other Rory tie-ins. We have sold Rory wristbands and Rory watches, which the kids love, and we have turned promotional posters into fundraising items.”

The posters the store receives are part of an annual promotional campaign for the national “Wear Your College Colors to Work Day.” These larger than life posters have featured celebrities such as country singer Kenny Chesney. “Instead of giving them away, we would take a $50 or $100 donation for the posters and pass that amount on to The Foundation,” Barbara says. “It’s all about finding unique ways to help celebrate Rory’s life and to help find a cure.”

Barbara is currently in the midst of putting together a Campus Colors promotion that ties in with The Foundation’s Family Event in November. “We’re really excited about this event,” says Barbara. “Last year’s was so much fun. My granddaughter, who was almost two at the time, was even out there dancing with the Highland Park Jammers. It was a great success. We will play a bigger role in it this year, and will have a prize that involves our stores. This charity is part of our business. Much more than that, though, it is part of our lives.”

With stores in Highland Park, Hinsdale, Naperville, and Chicago’s Water Tower Place, Campus Colors is the nation’s largest retailer of collegiate licensed clothing, representing over 250 colleges from coast to coast. For more information, call 847-433-2300.

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