The partner of the late dance publicist Eric Eatherly, Jay Leibovitz, has joined Eatherly’s mother, Nancy Follis, to launch a new scholarship for pre-professional male dancers at the Joffrey Academy of Dance,.
Eatherly—who was a publicist (vice president with The Silverman Group), writer (including with Windy City Times) and dancer—died in a car accident in his native Tennessee on Dec. 29, 2014, at age 35.
Donations to the Eric B. Eatherly Memorial Scholarship Fund will support the tuition for a male student on a professional track at the Academy of Dance, to be selected by Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, with a new recipient to be named annually.
Contributions are fully tax-deductible. Interested persons can visit Joffrey.org/support and include “Eric B. Eatherly Memorial Scholarship Fund” in the “Notes” field. Other options include calling 312-386-8974; or mailing a check to The Joffrey Ballet, 10 E. Randolph St. (with the fund on the memo line).