A mouth-watering presentation of baby lobster tails, sushi, chilled shrimp and a carving station began the Gastrointestinal Research Foundation’s 36th annual gala Friday night at the Fairmont Hotel.
Guests were glad that food was served during the reception because the gala organizers planned a long, eventful evening before dinner.
First up were plaudits and speeches by co-chairs Michael Cogan and David Rubin, both attorneys. Then came recognition for the honorary chairman and co-founder of the organization, Joseph B. Kirsner, M.D.. And then there was the entertainment. As Stanley Paul and his Orchestra played, Brooklyn vocalist Julie Budd sang show tunes, followed by standup comedy from David Brenner, who began his routine with some gastrointestinal jokes.
By 9:30 p.m., the 500 or so guests settled in for a dinner of portobello mushroom salad and an entree of lamb chops and vegetables. A custard dessert with fruit ended the meal, but not the gala, which continued on until about midnight.
Organizers say money raised came to about $275,000, which will support the medical research conducted in the Gastroenterology Section at the University of Chicago Medical Center.
– The children of some of Chicago’s most notable families participated Saturday in The Children of Prentice Fashion Show, presented by the Chicago Maternity Center.
It was the first event of its type for the center, which is funding a Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Program at Prentice Women’s Hospital and Maternity Center. The fashion show, which was held at the Women’s Athletic Club, raised about $15,000.
Some of the kiddie models (who sashayed down the runway in clothes from Saks Fifth Avenue) were the offspring of Sheila and Christopher Kennedy of Kenilworth, WBBM-TV’s Linda MacLennan and David Rammelt, and Corey and Sally McPherrin of Chicago.
Jane Brown chaired the event; Saks’ Nena Ivon announced the fashions.
– About 650 people attended the Shedd Aquarium’s fourth annual gala, entitled “Seahorse Swing.” The May 9 black-tie dinner celebrated the opening of the Shedd’s new exhibit “Seahorse Symphony.”
The evening began with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, as TV personality Bill Kurtis emceed a live auction. Dinner–chicken curry soup, beef tenderloin wrapped in veal–was served around the coral reef exhibit. A sumptuous buffet of desserts followed the dinner.
In all, about $230,000 was raised for aquarium programming. Helping to organize the event were chairperson Ginny Foreman and co-chair Gisela Zech.
