CATHOLIC CHARITIES' SPIRIT OF ST. NICHOLAS BALL; BREAKTHROUGH BALL; DORRI DOES TEDXCHICAGO; LUXEHOME CHILLS; FRENCH PASTRY SCHOOL NEEDS OUR HELP; GIORDANO DANCE CHICAGO'S LEGACY BALL; DONNA AND BILL (FINALLY!); THROUGH THE DECADES WITH BILL KURTIS; "LETTIN' THE GOOD TIMES ROLL"; ROONEY "CHARMS" CONCHA; CHRISTMAS MEMORIES; LINCOLN PARK ZOO'S BREWLIGHTS; WINTER GETAWAY; FUN VIDEOS AND SOOOO MUCH MORE!
Gateway for Cancer Research (Gateway), a non-profit dedicated to funding transformational cancer research, hosted its 26th Cures Gala, “Gateway to OZ,” held on November 18, in the Grand Ballroom at McCormick Place in Chicago. With more than 800 guests in attendance, the event included an exuberant
performance from Chicago’s Gus Giordano Dance School, whose students led the way down the Yellow Brick Road to an evening of star-studded entertainment worthy of the Emerald City. Other performers included Matteo Bocelli, 
son of Andrea Bocelli, who appeared in his inaugural Chicago performance; Billy Gilman, the youngest singer to ever reach #1 on the Billboard Top Country Album charts; Pia Toscano, American Idol finalist and
Laura Bretan, America’s Got Talent finalist and “Golden Buzzer” winner and opera singer. Guests then danced the night away to a show-stopping performance by pop legends and event headliners,
Earth, Wind & Fire. “Gateway to Oz” showcased a number of the 57 clinical trials currently underway, including one spearheaded by Dr. Nilofer Azad of
Johns Hopkins University for her patient Rukhsana Siddiqi. Dr. Azad is conducting a trial on pancreatic adenocarcinoma and evaluating the benefits of a molecular therapy with epigenetic modulating drugs in high risk patients. The goal is to see a reduced reoccurrence of pancreatic cancer and reduced side effects for an improved
quality of life. At the gala, Dr. Azad, Ms. Siddiqi and her family shared her success story from the Gateway-funded trial. Guests enjoyed a custom culinary experience of OZ, inspired and designed
by Chef Markus Ford. A live auction featured The Gateway to OZ Experience in the “Emerald City,” Sydney, Australia, and a priceless “Go Cubs Go” Meet-&-Greet opportunity with Chicago Cub Anthony Rizzo that was conducted
by premiere “auctiontainer” Letitia Frye. Exclusive silent auction packages included a Napa Valley wine trip
as well as an exquisite art-deco diamond bracelet. The event, co-chaired and presented by Richard J Stephenson (founder and chairman of Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) and Gateway for Cancer Research); Dr. Stacie J. Stephenson (CTCA Chairman of Functional Medicine and member of the Gateway Board of Directors) and honorary chair Jim Gordon (founder/managing partner of The Edgewater Funds) raised over $3.5 million. Proceeds 
from the event specifically support crucial Phase I and Phase II patient trials across all cancer types, including breast, blood, lung, brain, pancreatic and pediatric cancers. Since Gateway for Cancer Research was founded 26 years ago, more than 3,600 patient lives in 150+ Gateway-funded clinical trials at institutions worldwide have been directly impacted, and many more cancer patients have benefited as a result of the critically important work.
Catholic Charities hosted its 28th Anniversary Spirit of Saint Nicholas Ball to benefit the children served by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago. Held at the Hilton Chicago on December
1, more than 1,300 guests attended this black-tie event featuring entertainment by the Ken Arlen Orchestra. The Ball celebrates the life of Saint Nicholas, a fourth century bishop, and the
generosity and care towards children that was illustrated during his lifetime, becoming a model for Santa Claus! Each year on December 6th, his feast is commemorated all over the world. This year, guests brought toys to donate towards the
Celebration of Giving drive that brings joy and hope to families who might not otherwise be able to celebrate the holiday season. Hosted by Most
Reverend Blase J. Cupich, Archbishop of Chicago and Rev. Monsignor Michael M. Boland, President of Catholic Charities, along with chair couple Mr. and Mrs. Michael O’Grady, the evening included
dinner, dancing and late night sweets. “Each year, nearly 300,000
children are supported by Catholic Charities programs. "We would not be able to provide quality after-school care, counseling services, housing and so much more without the support that is shown at the annual Spirit of St. Nicholas Ball,” said Monsignor Boland. A record-breaking $1.7 million was raised to support the children served by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago offered through Catholic Charities including its nine child development centers, after-school programs, counseling services, and teen parenting centers.
The Women's Board of the University of Chicago Cancer Research Foundation, together with Ogilvy & Mather, Ralph Lauren and Verdura, hosted the 51st Breakthrough Ball at the Four Seasons Hotel on November 11. Over 500 guests
joined forces for the evening in support of cancer research, participating in a paddle raise and bidding on silent and live auction packages, including an exquisite 18 karat gold Curb-Link bracelet from luxury jeweler
Verdura and a shopping spree, paired with a one of a kind dining experience, from Ralph Lauren. Following cocktails, guests were treated to a passionate performance by Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Colbie Caillat. The celebration continued as guests dined amidst the glow of
candlelight and danced late into the evening to beats provided by DJ Megan Taylor. Co-chaired by Elizabeth Ryan and Karen McEniry, the event raised $1,500,000 for the
continued support of cancer research at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. For over 70 years, the WB of UCCRF has been providing seed-funding to support cutting edge research at the University of Chicago
Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. This support provides new tools, talent and technologies that have lead to breakthroughs in the treatment of cancer. To date, the Women's Board has raised over $19 million for innovative research at the University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. (Photos by fig media)
Everyone who knows Dorri McWhorter, loves and admires her, as I do. As an engaged community leader and CEO of the YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, Dorri knows a thing or two about corporate social responsibility. Watch her TedXChicago talk below as she challenges that charity and philanthropy, although important, don’t go far enough to actually affect change in our communities. She says, in order to do so, the corporate world must embrace a social enterprise mindset. Great job Dorri, of course!
More than 2,700 guests gathered at the state-of-the-art LuxeHome boutiques on the first floor of the iconic Merchandise Mart to celebrate CHILL, an International Wine & Culinary Event on November 9. The epicurean event, held in cooperation with Wine Spectator Magazine,
brought together culinary delights from more than 50 of Chicago’s top restaurants, including Café Spiaggia, Beatrix, Hampton Social, Maple & Ash, Mi Tocaya Antojeria and the Mart’s own
Marshall’s Landing, and more than 150 wines, spirits and beers from around the world. The night was accompanied by music from Piano Trends Dueling Pianos and a lively Mariachi band, who entertained guests while they crossed paths
with the elegant “Table Ladies” offering sweet treats, “Lampshade” Dancers, and the futuristic “Kegways” zooming through the crowd serving beer. The event raised more than $250,000 to benefit The Lynn Sage Foundation, the Respiratory Health Association and Saturday Place. To raise additional
funds, there were also two silent auctions and multiple raffles taking place throughout the evening. Over the past 11 years CHILL has raised more than $1.5 million to support its Chicago-area charitable partners. LuxeHome is the world’s
largest collection of premier boutiques for home building and renovation located on the first floor of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. With more than 125,000 square feet of showroom space featured in over 35 boutiques, LuxeHome is host to the finest products for home building and renovation from the most recognized and respected manufacturers worldwide.
The French Pastry School needs our help! Due to some bad practices, we are on the verge of losing this school and all the good it does for the city. The FPS is a great asset to the food industry, the community and especially to the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC), that it has collaborated with for a number of years. (FPS represents over 80% of CCC's pastry graduates, more than 50% of its culinary school graduates and over 9% of all
Kennedy King College graduates). As the only school of its kind in the country, it offers a world-class education that ensures that students are equipped to achieve excellence in the pastry, baking, and confectionery arts. I was given a tour by Maria Pappas, who is also a huge fan of FPS, and discovered all the good they do. For the past 17 years, FPS has always done its best to work
with Kennedy King College and City Colleges of Chicago in the spirit of its collaboration agreement, despite the many obstacles they have encountered from CCC over the past 7 years. On June 27th, they were abruptly notified by CCC that the building is being sold, that there is a strong buyer in place, and that they would have to vacate as early as January 2018 without any plan in place for FPS. CCC has not offered any concrete transition plan for the
school and the short sale timeline will force it to shut down permanently. They are asking for our help by sending a short email of support, if you're so inclined, addressed to the following: the CCC Board, Alderman Reilly, and the Mayor's office. (wmassey3@ccc.edu, eswanson5@ccc.edu, cduque1@ccc.edu, dgriffin69@ccc.edu, dgriffin69@ccc.edu , k_kent@ccc.edu, mlawson9@ccc.edu, dtelman@ccc.edu, dcampos3@ccc.edu ,brendan.reilly@cityofchicago.org, nuntida@ward42chicago.com, gabie@ward42chicago.com , jdeal@cityofchicago.org, lindy.mcgruire@cityofchicago.org) THANKS FOR ANY SUPPORT YOU CAN PROVIDE and good luck to its dedicated co-founders Sebastien Canonne and Jacquy Pfeiffer!
I hope you can join me for Giordano Dance Chicago's Legacy Ball on Saturday, February 10! This big event will be a party like none other as we celebrate 55 glorious years, dance the night away
to DJ Matthew Harvat with the Giordano stars, 
enjoy delicious food from Jewell Events Catering and drink the night away at Chez, 247 E. Ontario Street! I'm humbled to be the honoree and honorary co-chair for this fun night to benefit this world-class dance company! I hope you can ALL join me! (For tickets, $250, and more info, please click here!)
And for some of the happiest news around, congrats are in order for longtime lovebirds and media giants Donna LaPietra and Bill Kurtis! After 40 years of togetherness, they made it official on Wednesday, December 13, and tied the knot in an intimate ceremony (only 8 close friends) officiated by their friend Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke. Appropriately, their wedding song was Etta James' "At Last." Donna "pleaded her case" to Anne about why she and Bill should be married with an 8 minute
presentation of photos and memorabilia as evidence. LOL! A display of family photos "watched" over the proceedings from the judge's podium as the beautiful bride walked down the petal-strewn white carpet. Donna wore her mother's wedding ring and her grandmother's engagement ring and Bill wore his dad's WWII military ID bracelet. A gorgeous bouquet was
courtesy of longtime friend/floral designer Bill Heffernan. Later in the evening, the newlyweds dined at Chicago Cut so they could look out at the views of the city they both love so much. They met at Channel 2 when he was an anchor and reporter and she was a writer and executive producer. As reported by Mike Sneed, Donna said, "He's still the front guy and I'm still the producer and what a great relationship we've had!" And in the words of the great Irv Kupcinet, "long may they love!" (See romantic video here!)
On Monday, December 18, I hope you can catch "Through the Decades," hosted by newlywed Bill Kurtis. The show will feature an interview with Playboy editor Jeff Cohen and me about the memories we share of Hef and the magazine. It will air at 6 am, 6 pm and 9 pm Central time on Comcast channel 338, WOW 172, Cablevision 112, RCN channel 75 and channel 2.2.
If you REALLY want to get into the festive holiday spirit, then don't miss Steve Abrams' and Kicky Productions' brand new cabaret-concert, Lettin’ the Good Times Roll, featuring the dynamic duo of E. Faye Butler, Felicia P. Fields along with a host of renowned musicians in a very special limited engagement (only 9 performances at The Biograph Theater, 2433 N. Lincoln Avenue in Chicago!). The production, directed by Kenneth L.
Roberson, features these award-winning entertainers in a fun and electrifying cabaret full of jazz, gospel, blues, musical theater tunes and bawdy hits with lots of sass, banter and hilarious inside stories that only these two Chicago power house divas can deliver. This limited run will also include a special New Year’s Eve celebration hosted by these electrifying talents who are also great cooks! Following the December 31 performance, E. Faye and Felicia will usher in the New Year with a limited ticketed “After Show” party that includes special guests, DJ and DINNER cooked by E. Faye & Felicia, themselves! Tickets for Lettin’ the Good Times Roll are now on sale exclusively through Victory Gardens box office by calling 773-871-3000 or online here. Ticket prices start as low as $15, and the production runs through January 7, 2018, on Fridays and Saturdays at 8 PM, Sundays at 3:30 PM and the special New Year’s Eve performance beginning at 8PM. I know tickets won't last for these fun-filled performances! It was so uplifting, just what everyone needs now!
Rooney would like to send a very special thanks to Concha Charm and co-founder Cheryl Arts for his sparkling, beautiful new Concha Collar! These unique designs come in a variety of colors and weights for every breed and, most exciting of all, watch for a new Rooney Charm coming soon, with proceeds to benefit his favorite charity, PAWS Chicago, of course! Arf! Arf!
The 4th annual BrewLights, presented by Louis Glunz Beer and the Auxiliary Board of Lincoln Park Zoo, featured local craft, seasonal, and international beers on tap throughout the zoo during ZooLights on December 7. Over 5,000 beer enthusiasts and holiday revelers came together to sip and savor specialty brews, support Lincoln Park Zoo and enjoy more than 
2.5 million luminous holiday lights shining down as the animals roamed through their exhibits! The evening also included photo opps with Santa at the Helen Brach Primate House, free rides on the AT&T Endangered Species Carousel, and more! This year’s event raised more than $225,000 in support of the zoo’s capital campaign, The Pride of Chicago. The BrewLights celebration also honored the 23rd anniversary of ZooLights Presented By ComEd and PowerShares QQQ by Invesco.
Former alderman Bob Fioretti hosted his annual Christmas luncheon for children in the west and south side neighborhoods of Chicago on December 16. Generous donations of "cheezeborger, cheezeborger, cheezeborgers" from Billy Goat Tavern and holiday presents from ABOMA Chicago, (the Apartment Building Owners and Managers Association that represents over 600 high-rise and walkup residential buildings in
the Chicago Area), presented by Santa himself, made the afternoon very special for the kids and their families. NBC-5 Chicago even dropped by to capture some of the magic displayed on the little faces throughout the restaurant. Thanks for all you do in the communities Bob! It doesn't go unnoticed! (Photos by his adoring wife Nicki Pecori Fioretti, who said, "I had a ball visiting with the kiddos! And the parents were so grateful!)"
And now for some thoughts about the holidays. When I was younger, it was all about the gifts–the latest handbag, a piece of jewelry or a rare book would make me scream with joy. However, now that I have all of these things, my desires have become a lot more simple and, I think, much more in keeping with the true spirit of the season. One of my favorite things to do is visit each and every department store in town to check out the holiday trimmings–not to buy anything but
just to soak in the atmosphere. I love watching the kids' eyes light up over a new toy or a visit with Santa. I especially love the festive spirit that can still be found in the Walnut Room at Macy's on State Street. Granted, the decor is not what it used to be when it was Marshall Field's, but it still holds a certain
magic. The Christmas gifts, trees and ornaments that can be found in abundance on the 5th floor, remain the best selection in town. These walks down memory lane are especially poignant because I remember the joy it would always bring to my mom. She was a true Christmas girl through and through so it's no wonder I'm filled with holiday spirit, and then some. When we would visit 
these bedecked and bedazzled stores, she would stop at every little object that sparkled and ooh and ahh over it–now I do the very same. I love the holidays in New York too. There are no windows in the world that rival Bergdorf Goodman's during any
season! But when we traveled to Paris for Christmas, I was a bit disappointed in the decor we found there. Since it hardly ever snows, they flock the trees with white bunting but it was never the same as the real thing. Back at home, I just love staring at my Christmas tree ornaments over a glass of Pinot Grigio because each one holds a treasured memory. One of the first ornaments my mom gave me when
Chuck and I were married was a little, miniature Barbie doll dressed exactly like the one she gave me when I was little. My cousin Cindy Groce recently told me my mom was frantic to find it for me before she visited us one Christmas. The story made me cry and now I
treasure it even more. I also love the ingenuity of some of our little "tree miracles" like the clock-work Polar Express ornament that has a tiny little train running in and out of a tunnel or Tweety Bird singing from a gilded cage. I also love the automated Winnie-the-Pooh ornament that has Pooh serving Piglet cookies out of an oven. And then 
there are the ornaments that represent trips or important places in our lives. There's one from Notre Dame (Chuck's alma mater) and, of course, a Dupo High School ornament! I have
intricate ones featuring the Rockettes from the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and also one from a favorite NY spot, the "21" Club. But the ones that really mean the most are more personal like the hand-knitted ornament that my 1st grade teacher, Edna Faulkner, gave me. I also treasure one created by my late half-sister, Shirley Mobley, of a little post
office where my dad worked. And even though it can be very sentimental and emotional, Christmas is still my favorite time of the year. We play Christmas discs constantly and candles smelling of pine fill the air. Even the terrace looks festive with four 
brightly lit trees and a wreath! Christmas, for me, means making memories that will last a lifetime. And even though so many loved ones are missing physically, they are all with us in spirit, especially during this time of the year. Yes, Santa has been very, very good to me and I'm so grateful. I hope you're feeling the same holiday joy!
Until next year, that's it for Candid Candace! I hope you've enjoyed the newsletters! On our winter get-away this year, we will be joining Playboy's Chief Creative Officer Cooper Hefner for New Year's Eve in Los Angeles, celebrating a friend's BIG wedding at the Breakers in Palm Beach, heading to SoBe for some more fun in the sun and then, on the drive back home, stopping at Graceland, home of the KING! So please stay tuned for all the fun news from these adventures! I hope you and your loved ones have the Merriest of Christmases and the Happiest of Holidays, now and always!
Love always,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
P.S. This video won't make you smile, it will actually make you cry. It will also make you think. Anyone who says animals don't feel, should just disappear now. Watch Mama, a dying 59 year-old chimp, when she recognizes a long lost friend.
Merry Christmas to you and Chuck! Have fun and stay Healthy. So much fun to see our former patients Heinz and Marianne Kern, and Laura Sage in your column and posts and also my dear friends Mike and Linda Choiros pictured in your Candid Candace for the Boys Club. They are such a great couple and do such wonderful works!! Cudos to you for your VERY dignified reporting of Hef’s memorial. I felt like I was actually there. Much Love, Laurie