Olsen hosting second annual Shake the Lake fundraiser

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – For the second straight year, Bears tight end Greg Olsen will host a country music concert to help raise money for breast cancer research.

The second annual Shake the Lake Music Festival will take place on Thursday, May 27 at Joe’s Bar (940 West Weed Street) in Chicago. The concert will feature Grammy Award winner Darius Rucker and Matt Kennon.

“We feel good about the talent we’re bringing in this year,” Olsen said. “Darius is one of the top artists in music, period. We’re very excited to have him. And anyone who’s been to Joe’s Bar knows what kind of venue it is and what an experience it is. All the money goes to charity and it’s going to be awesome.”

In 2009, the Bears tight end created "Receptions for Research: The Greg Olsen Foundation" in honor of his mother, a breast cancer survivor. The organization was established to help provide hospitals, doctors and researchers the necessary resources to save those affected with various types of cancer.

Olsen’s foundation partners with organizations that have similar goals. Proceeds from the Shake the Lake Music Festival will benefit the Lynn Sage Foundation and the Susan Komen Foundation. The inaugural event last year featuring music by David Nail and Keith Anderson raised over $50,000.

“It’s a very important cause to me,” Olsen said. “It’s very close to my family. That’s why it’s a family-run organization. We work hard at it and we take a lot of pride in putting together events for people to have a good time. We also take pride in the fact that we’ve raised a large amount of money just having been around for a year. We hope everyone comes out. The money’s going for a good cause.”

In creating the Shake the Lake Music Festival, Olsen was determined to organize a unique charity event.

“It’s something that I would like to go to,” he said. “It’s a good time. You’re with a bunch of people in a small environment. You see top-notch entertainment and you know all the money goes to charities that help people. 

'I think the [charity] golf outings and dinners and everything else are good, but this is something different and something enjoyable and easy for everyone to do.”

Tickets cost $150 and include admission, an open bar and appetizers. Doors open at 7 p.m. Log onto www.joesbar.com to purchase tickets or for more information.

Click here to order Greg Olsen's proCane Rookie Card.



(chicagobears.com)