St. Patrick’s Day traditions abound in Chicago and the Mercy Home for Boys and Girls is right in the swing. Each year, its “Touch O’ Green” post-parade festival treats Chicagoans to a celebration for a good cause. Saturday at the Chicago Hilton more than 3,000 people turned out for the festivities, including political figures Roland Burris and Paul Vallas and Bill Schock, president of the NFL Alumni Association of Chicago.
WJMK-FM 104.3 deejay Patrick O’Kelley, the master of ceremonies, kicked off the party by introducing the traditional Irish entertainment that was featured on two stages throughout the day.
Local Irish bands The Drovers and Bohola performed, along with the Irish dance troupe Mullaine and The Dennehy Dancers. Also featured were face-painters and jugglers for the kids and a raffle that offered two round-trip tickets to Ireland, golf for four at Wittaker Woods and a Waterford crystal shamrock.
Tickets were $40-$125 for adults, with children under 12 admitted free. Co-chairing the event were Rich Daniels, conductor of the City Lights Orchestra; Jack Hartman, executive vice president of construction, engineering and facilities for the Chicago Transit Authority; and Brendan Kelly, real estate broker for Kushman and Wakefield.
Sponsors were Mid-America Bank, Jewel-Osco, H&R Block, Pepsi, WJMK, O’Brien’s Restaurant and Poland Springs Water. Proceeds benefit Mercy Home for Boys and Girls.
– The Midwest Eye-Bank Chicago held its annual Gift of Sight gala Friday at The Ritz Carlton Hotel.
Some 200 patrons attended the affair, including television personality Bill Kurtis; Carol Prins, a member of the Steppenwolf Theatre board, and her husband John Hart; and Maya Polsky, president of Chicago Performing Arts.
A cocktail reception was followed by dinner and a program emceed by columnist Bill Zwecker honoring philanthropist Donna LaPietra for her contributions to the local community and her work with Midwest Eye-Bank. Florence Johnston, president of the eye facility, presented LaPietra with the 2002 Woman of Vision award.
The evening ended with dancing to the music of the Stanley Paul Orchestra. Tickets were $250-$350 per person. Co-chairs were photographer Victor Skrebneski and Beverly Blettner, real estate broker for Rubloff Properties. Proceeds of approximately $50,000 benefit Midwest Eye-Bank Chicago.
