The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum held its second annual Butterfly Ball Friday night with a guest list crawling with Chicago celebrities.
Some of the 600 guests spotted were Mayor Richard Daley, novelist Scott Turow, Renee Crown, Michael Christ, Bill Kurtis and Donna LaPietra, Sandra Crown, John and Alice Sabl, Francis and Nancy Klimley, chair Susan Stone, co-chairs Ann Gray and Judy Stewart, and Lewis Crampton, who announced that the gala evening raised $500,000.
A sea of champagne was served during the reception, while guests noshed on butterfly-shaped bread topped with salmon and perused the exhibits. Most popular was the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, where guests searched for Monarchs, Tiger and Giant Swallowtails and Painted Ladies.
The glass-walled dining rooms offered guests a lush view of the museum’s gardens. The menu was decadent: shrimp and mango salad followed by roast veal chops with Potatoes Anna, a sampler of English Stilton and a chocolate dessert with a butterfly cookie.
Butterfly pins by Neiman Marcus and pricey Longaberger baskets with napkins were given as parting gifts to each couple.
Tickets were $500 per person; the money raised will go toward operating costs.
– Colin Powell received a standing ovation Saturday night as the guest speaker at the Auxiliary of Evanston Northwestern Healthcare’s 28th annual gala at the Palmer House Hilton.
The retired general stayed away from politics, but addressed a number of other subjects, including the Gulf War, his role as chair of America’s Promise and the importance of programs such as Connections, which was the beneficiary of the $1 million campaign conducted by the auxiliary. The new program provides mental health and substance abuse counseling and other support services to troubled teens and their families.
The Star-Spangled Gala attracted 900 people, each of whom paid $250 to attend. Among those were: Sara Bangser, auxiliary president; co-chairs Judy Iantornoand Sue O’Callaghan; Dr. Louis Kraus, , director of child and adolescent psychiatry; social worker Sharon Weingarten; Stella Caprini, Jane Lipton; and Mark Neaman, president and CEO of Evanston Northwestern Healthcare.
Dinner was served in the ballroom, which was decorated, naturally, in red, white and blue. Guests dined on filet mignon as Bill Kurtis (subbing for an ailing Tim Weigel) conducted a live auction rife with interesting items, such as eye surgery, autographed Muhammad Ali boxing gloves, a holiday in Switzerland, a chocolatelabrador puppy and a trip to Hawaii.
The evening ended as guests mingled and listened to the Jimmy Damon Band.
– Chicago Commons’ recent benefit auction raised more than $195,000 for its programs. The 12th annual fundraiser, held at the Hyatt Grand Regency, was chaired by Bruce Bakerand Elise Mackevich Salchli.
Antonia Hernandezwas the evening’s guest speaker. She movingly described how the Chicago Commons’ Employment Training Center raised her reading and math levels and helped her get a job at the Chicago Children’s Museum.
Chicago Commons is a program that helps build self-sufficiency at key stages in life, from child development to job preparedness in Chicago’s most disadvantaged neighborhoods.
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