Sax seeks toys, other gifts for Shriners, other charities

6-Dec-12 – Toys, food, and clothing are needed by Hotel Sax, which has taken on projects with three local charities. Through this week, the hotel at Marina City is accepting new, unwrapped toys for this year’s holiday party for patients at Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago.

It is the second year Sax has participated in the event. Located near Oak Park, the hospital is one of 22 non-profit Shriners Hospitals in the U.S. that treat children regardless of their families’ ability to pay.

“We feel honored to be a part of this event and to be able to help out wherever we can,” said Gully Nassiri (left), director of entertainment sales for Hotel Sax and “lead captain” of the toy drive.

By December 15, the hotel hopes to donate 20 boxes of non-perishable food to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. According to the non-profit food bank, the number of people seeking emergency food assistance has increased 59 percent since 2008 while food prices reached an all-time high in the past year.

And clothing is needed for a project with Cathedral Shelter of Chicago. The goal is to collect six boxes of new or gently used clothing by December 21.

Sax hires new general manager

After months of searching, Hotel Sax does finally have a new general manager. Mark Miller took over in late August. He is from St. Louis and attended St. Louis Community College.

On April 17, it was announced that Access Hotels & Resorts, based in the Dallas suburb of Irving, Texas, had taken over management of the 353-room hotel, owned by LaSalle Hotel Properties of Bethesda, Maryland. Thompson Hotel Associates had managed the hotel since November 30, 2009.

Acting as interim general manager for about four months was Chip Parmelee, president of a national consulting firm for the hospitality industry.