Nearly 1,100 guests gathered at the Hilton Chicago for the 60th annual Children’s Ball. The Dec. 1 gala raised a record-breaking $3.8 million in support of the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.
The Children’s Research Fund’s (CRF) annual event supports CRF’s five-year, $10 million commitment supporting the various critical research initiatives at the Manne Research Institute.
“It is only with their generosity that the CRF is able to continuously support the comprehensive projects taking place within each pillar of the Manne Research Institute’s basic science, translational research, clinical trials, health effectiveness, and health services and policy research,” says Donna G. Drescher, chairman of the Children’s Research Fund.
Presented by The Boeing Company, the evening included decadent cocktails and appetizers paired with a musical performance by former Lurie Children’s patient Matthew Jazwinski and his jazz quartet, Mateyko.
The evening continued with more music from the Becca Kaufman Orchestra, a seated dinner and program, live auction and paddle raise, and, of course, dancing. Ava Blaser, a friendly face and patient from Lurie Children’s, performed a dance with her sister Emma Blaser. Dr. Thomas Shanley, chief research officer at Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, shared the institute’s newest clinical research with the audience.
Guests were welcome to explore the “Research Lounge” in the Grand Ballroom, fully staffed with researchers ready to share the groundbreaking work being done.
The Children’s Ball 2018 co-chairs included Chris Keogh, Holly Maloney, Matt Maloney, and Trish Rooney, as well as Drescher.
Along with the presenting sponsor, Boeing, the evening was made possible thanks to CBRE, GCM Grosvenor, and Goldman Sachs.
Emily Stone is Associate Editor at Make It Better. She earned a degree in journalism from Elon University in North Carolina. Along with writing, Stone has a passion for digital storytelling and photography. Her work is published in Chicago Athlete Magazine. Stone is a supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Stone is a fluent Spanish speaker who in her free time loves a good dance class.