The ballrooms at the Chicago Hilton and Towers last weekend were brimming with black-tie guests at two high-profile events.
The Chicago Urban League welcomed about 2,500 guests to its 38th annual Golden Fellowship dinner on Saturday night. Among the various African-American business leaders and politicians were Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Bobby Rush, Secretary of State Jesse White, league president and CEO James W. Compton and dinner chair William Morrison.
The evening got underway with cocktails and a silent auction, including vacations to Aspen and Jamaica and sporting-event tickets, such as skybox seats for the Chicago Bulls.
Guests gathered in the Grand Ballroom for dinner and entertainment from the R&B group The Whispers and a comedy set from A.J. Jamal.
The night wasn’t over, however, as guests moved to the Continental Ballroom for dancing to the Morris Ellis Orchestra.
Tickets were $350 per person. Final proceeds from the dinner are not in yet, but money will be used for the general fund of the league, which works to eliminate racial discrimination and for equal opportunity and parity for African-Americans and other minorities.
– On Friday night, Sister Mary Roch Rocklage was presented the Sword of Loyola at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine’s annual award dinner.
Rocklage, board chair for the Sisters of Mercy Health System-St. Louis, was given the honor because of her dedication in promoting health causes among medically underserved populations.
Dr. Joseph Simone, medical director of the Huntsman Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City, received the Stritch Medal for his work in making major changes in the treatment of childhood leukemia and lymphoma.
The Stritch Medal is presented to a Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine alumnus or faculty member for achievements in the medical field.
The awards were bestowed in front of about 1,400 guests at the 48th annual dinner, one of Chicago’s oldest and largest benefits.
Twenty-three Stritch Junior Service League boys and girls served as honor escorts for distinguished guests.
Afterwards, guests danced to the Stanley Paul Orchestra.
About $800,000 was raised for Stritch School of Medicine, located on the campus of Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.
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