The Maryville Academy gymnasium rocked with cheers, applause and the enthusiasm of the 600 people attending, as the Blackhawks came out to support their annual ball, which raises money for the Chicago Blackhawk Charities, a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation that supports organizations such as Maryville Academy.
The Winter Ball VI featured a smashing array of silent auction items, from sports memorabilia to restaurant gift certificates to gift baskets.
Dinner was provided by the Outback Steakhouse, featuring, of course, steak and baked potatoes (with your choice of fixin’s — you don’t see that every night at a black-tie event!).
Benefit chair Marian Jana of Evanston and the Woman’s Board of Maryville organized the event, which witnessed elation, as each of the Blackhawks were announced, and solemnity, as a video was shown depicting some of the children who Maryville helps.
The Academy, headed by Rev. John Smyth and located in Des Plaines, is the largest care and educational facility in the state for mentally and physically abused children.
– Marianne Deson snared the spotlight Friday night as she was honored for her dedication to the University of Chicago Children’s Hospital Pediatric HIV Clinic.
The event was “Celebrate! Life is a Cabaret,” attended by about 300 people at the Four Seasons Hotel.
Deson, the founder of Friends Against AIDS, was feted by co-chair David Schwartz, who lovingly joked about the way she slashed undue costs of the benefit to maximize the proceeds (for example, his sister wrote the place cards to save money on calligraphy fees).
Cocktails began the evening, followed by dinner and a performance from cabaret artist Billy Stritch (who filled in for Julie Wilson).
Nearly $200,000 was raised through ticket sales and a live auction.
– The Chicago Symphony Associates helped raise more than $80,000 for the orchestra’s educational programs at their fourth annual Blue Note Ball.
The associates are volunteers who share a love of music, which was plainly evident at the ball. Four wildly different bands played: The Ray Bailey Quintet, The Blues Swingers, Bandoleros and The Robert Cornelius 7. And the dance floor rocked all night.
A buffet was set out, along with the requisite martini bar. Dan Lesinski of Chicago was the lucky winner of the night when his name was drawn to receive two United Airlines tickets to anywhere in the world.
More than 600 attended the Feb. 20 benefit, which was chaired by Jeff Keim, Aberdeen Marsh and Rich Thoroe.
