NEWS

INSIGHT: Successful Children's Museum Gala
By Marge Kullerstrand - margaret.kullerstrand@nwi.com

Chicago Children's Museum celebrated its annual Be A Kid Again Gala recently. The event drew more than 700 guests to Navy Pier's Grand Ballroom and raised nearly $1 million.

The evening's theme, Come Out and Play!, highlighted the power and importance of recreation. Centerpieces reflected the theme by offering each table a combination of pipe cleaners, pom-poms, chalk, crayons and paint brushes; all materials were donated for upcoming museum programming. Guests played with the centerpieces, doodled on their tables with sidewalk chalk and created boutonnieres out of pipe cleaners.

A silent auction featured a range of fabulous prizes, including trips to Scottsdale and Nantucket, fine wines and theater packages.
Guests dined on pesto crusted salmon and beef tenderloin medallions with a red wine demiglaze, and enjoyed cheesecake for dessert, generously donated by Eli's Cheesecake.

The exciting live auction facilitated by auctioneer David Goodman included a limited edition Van Cleef & Arpels vintage Alhambra diamond necklace and bracelet, a trip to Tuscany for two as the guests of international fashion icon Salvatore Ferragamo at his private estate, and an elite private party featuring performers from the new musical "Million Dollar Quartet."

The announcement of this year's raffle prize, a private dinner for eight with Top Chef winner Chef Stefanie Izard, concluded the evening. Co-chairs of the gala were Julie Latsko, William A. Lowry and Mary Tyree. Next year's event is set for Nov. 6.