Plus former President Clinton keynotes Illinois Holocaust Museum benefit; Giordano Legacy Ball honors Liz and Matt; Glitz & Glamour; A real life love story; The Main Event; Chicago Light's Gala of Hope; Award-winning Kitchen Chat TV; MoCP's DARKROOM; ULBGC'S Youth of the Year Dinner; Susan is Animaltarian of the Year; Outstanding Woman Award for Carol; FashionBar Chicago's Identity; Lisa's new gig; Chicago House's Rhapsody on the Runway; SOS Children's Villages benefit; RMHC Gala 2019; Emma loves DOGS; Videos and SO much more!
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The Flower & Garden Show ended yesterday and I hope you had a chance to see it! A true first look at Spring, the event debuted with "Evening in Bloom," its exciting opening night party that was a welcome introduction to
warmer weather and the promise of flowers and sunshine! The event attracted over 650 guests to Navy Pier on March 19 where they enjoyed stunning garden vignettes, delicious chef presentations and a unique fashion show, Hort Couture. Themed "Flower Tales: The Story Grows On", the event offered visitors a wide range of experiences, from the unique table presentations at Debi Lilly's DL Party Lab PopUp to various nonprofit displays that included an edible garden exhibit made of sweets created by the kids from After School Matters.
During the 30 minute fashion show, outfits created entirely from flowers and plant materials were presented by local designers that included Honey Street Flowers, Hedonia Flowers, The Flower Witch, Zins Flower
Shop, The Flora Culturist, Plump Chicago Floral and Events, St. Frimpong, Onyx Engobor, A Special Touch, Relics Vintage Rentals, Stodola Flowers and Decor, Soule Garden and Styled-It/Bayerly Breathing. (See finale here!) Congrats to Tony Abruscato (show director) and all involved! Honored to emcee this always exciting event! (Check Chicago Tribune here for expanded coverage and more great photos!) (Event photos by Mila Samokhina)
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It was a jam-packed crowd of over 2000 for the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center's Humanitarian Awards Dinner at the Hyatt Regency on March 31. To say it was an inspiring night is a gross understatement. Former President Bill Clinton was on hand to celebrate the Center's anniversary (he was on hand to open it 10 years ago too) and to honor Holocaust survivors (over 200 were in the audience). The Chicago Sinfionetta Project Inclusion Quartet set the tone for the evening playing soulful
melodies from the film "Schindler's List" as names and images of survivors scrolled across two oversized video screens. The Chicago Children's Choir lent their voices to the evening too singing special renditions of "One Day" (by Matisyahu) and "Hallelujah"
(by Leonard Cohen). The highlight of the evening, for me, was the speech delivered by Fritzie Fritzshall (Museum president and Holocaust survivor). Fritzie had spent two years at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp where her mother, two younger brothers and other family members were gassed. (To see this powerful video, click here) Fritzie shared her fears about anti-semitism and the sad fact that
it's still with us today. She urged the audience to "look our for your neighbors, speak out and never forget the Holocaust." John Ettelson, CEO William Blair, was the recipient of the Humanitarian Award. He spoke about the
Museum's mission to "remember the past and transform the future." Philanthropist Lester Crown introduced Governor J.B. Pritzker who conducted the conversation with Clinton. Their 30 minute convo touched on who helped shape Clinton's life (his maternal grandfather who taught him about civil rights); his greatest accomplishment while in office ("inclusive prosperity"); his biggest regret (not doing more to intervene in the Rwandan genocide) and his biggest fear for our country (cyber security). (To read/see more, check the Chicago Tribune here). (Photos by Mariah Smith)
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Congrats to Giordano Dance Chicago on its 2nd annual Legacy Ball! Over 300 supporters enjoyed an evening of surprising dance performances, fun and delicious food, a live auction and a special tribute to two longtime supporters, Liz and Matt Connelly. The dance party on steroids was held at the Ravenswood Event Center, which surprisingly is one of the few venues I
hadn't been to before. I loved it! Vintage cars and neon signs from the Hayes Collection lined the walls and circled the floor in this huge space allowing guests a walk down memory lane while they enjoyed the party. Buffets were lavish,
tasty and catered by REC to perfection. The Giordano Dancers thrilled the crowd at every turn performing favorite high-energy numbers throughout the night. Executive director Michael McStraw and artistic director Nan Giordano welcomed the crowd with Nan introducing her friends, the Connellys. A short video surprised the honorees with a special performance dedication. Choreographer Marinda Davis dedicated her
world premiere of "Flickers" to the happy and deserving pair. The evening concluded with a performance of "SOUL", choreographed by Ray Leeper, followed by a live auction conducted by Nick Coombs of Leslie Hindman Auctioneers. A highlight of the auction was a chance to star in a production number with the dancers that was won by board member Chris D'hondt for $7,000. Congrats to ALL! (To see/read fuller coverage, check Chicago Tribune here!)
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A Silver Lining Foundation hosted its annual "Glitz & Glamour" fashion 
show and luncheon on March 14 before a sellout crowd at the Peninsula Chicago. The event supported the nonprofit's mission to provide respectful and equal access to cost-free breast health testing through a network of partnerships with community, advocacy and healthcare organizations. Founder Dr. Sandy Goldberg's long time vision is to ensure that socioeconomic status doesn't affect an individual's ability to obtain timely breast health testing. The event featured a fashion show produced by ZZAZZ Productions with participating local designers and models bedecked in jewels from A. Marek Fine Jewelry. Designers included Mark Roscoe, Leandro Mulet,
Elda de la Rosa, Ricorso, Tamra Ellingson, Mira Couture, Sylwia Designs and Contessa Bottega. Emcees were Micah Materre and Paul Lisnek with Dr. Sandy serving as the inspiring guest speaker. The evening concluded with a powerful performance by Opal Staples. For more info on this worthy cause, please click here.
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It was a lovely affair as more than 120 VIPs raised a glass and toasted the whirlwind romance of local PR maven and CEO of Agency H5, Kathleen Henson, and Chris Sarpy, a health-tech sales executive and recent transplant from Dallas at the elegant DL Loft. Guests gathered in the stylish studio space of celeb event planner Debi Lilly of A Perfect Event, who curated an elegant evening of light bites, Champagne
and (the couple’s favorite) particularly potent old fashioneds. When they weren’t congratulating the happy couple, guests snapped photos in front of a floor-to-ceiling white rose flower wall or next to the fireplace, which had been stuffed with white and gold balloons. Henson’s close friends Dorri McWhorter (CEO of the YWCA), Courtney Wright (CEO of Gemini Builds It) Ellie Forman (VP of Community Relations of Mesirow Financial) and Heidy Best (renowned stylist) took the mic to deliver heartfelt (and occasionally tearful)
toasts to the betrothed. Henson and Sarpy’s love story is one for the books. The two met in Summer 2018 and quickly hit it off. A dinner in Chicago led to an unusual second date: A weekend getaway in Paris. From there it was time to introduce the families: her five kids (aged 10 thru 19) and his one son, 12. A family vacation to Mexico and countless
trips back and forth between Chicago and Dallas later, the pair knew it was real love. They got engaged at the very place they first serendipitously met through a mutual contact when Sarpy dropped to a knee at local hotspot Prime & Provision. The two plan to tie the knot in summer 2019. Guests included Bela Gandhi and husband, Andrew Annacone, Dr. Lauren Streicher, Susanna Homan, Noren
Ungaretti, Rochelle Trotter, Zak Stemer, Whitney Reynolds and husband, David Heiner, Jaime Laurita and husband, Rich Lane, Abigail Zoe Martin and husband, Leo Anguiano, Amy Dordeck and husband, Steve Dolinsky, Jamie-Claire Flaherty, among others. Here's to a lifetime of happiness!!!
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The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago hosted its 4th annual Patrick J. Ryan Main Event at Drury Lane in Oak Brook Terrace. The ballroom was turned into a boxing ring with a mini-casino for more than 800 guests. Proceeds from this February 1st event directly benefited the Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) Program created for children and youth who have endured the loss of
a loved one to suicide. LOSS provides its members with education, therapy, group support and hope for the future.The event was established by former
Attorney General of Illinois Jim Ryan and his wife Marie and their family, after the loss of their son, Patrick J. Ryan, to suicide. Jim and Marie Ryan also served as co-chairs for the event again. Boxing has been a family tradition for the Ryans, starting with Jim Ryan Sr., who won the Middle Weight Golden Glove Championship in 1964. His sons, John (Chief of Staff at Catholic Charities), Jimmy and Matt Ryan, all grew up boxing. The program provides individual, family and group counseling for children and youth, as well as consultation for caregivers and key family members and, since 2010, has supported nearly 300 children. (Photos by John Reilly Photography)
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The Chicago Lights Gala of Hope raised over $700,000 for youth development and social services on March 1 at the Radisson Blu Aqua. Led by co-chairs Brian Van Klompenberg and Jen Kurth
Van Klompenberg, the gala brought together 500 guests for a night of philanthropy and fun. Stacy Jackson, executive director for Chicago Lights, said, "We believe that every child deserves quality educational opportunities and access to arts learning and that all young people deserve a path to a good job and satisfying career. We believe that adults who have found themselves in the midst of hard times deserve to be treated with dignity as they rebuild their lives." Attendees enjoyed an elegantly-decorated space courtesy of Revel Décor, a seated dinner, a live auction 
conducted by Ron Magers (for the 14th year in a row!) and dancing to the fabulous Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra (for the 15th year in a row!) The event supports the life-changing youth development and social service programs of Chicago Lights, a nonprofit at Fourth Presbyterian Church, that has served over 50,000 people since the inception of its first program and annually serves over 4,000 children, youth, and adults in the city. A portion of the proceeds also benefit the Replogle Center for Counseling and Well-Being at Fourth Presbyterian Church.
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What a thrill appearing on the award-winning Kitchen Chat TV show hosted by Margaret McSweeney with celebrity Chef Jaime Laurita! The show was filmed in the elegant Viking Showroom at the Merchandise Mart, which was designed by Laurita as well as other locations across the country. Jaime serves as a brand ambassador and they are very lucky to have this one man dynamo–he does it all from cooking to designing to hosting his own show on TLC, "Make This Place Your Home." I had a blast chatting about my
passions and projects but, the most fun, was cooking with JAIME, who has worked for top stars including Madonna,
Sting, Aerosmith, the Rolling Stones, Prince, the Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more. He's an author, graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has his own Italian food and wine lines. Whew! Anyway, of course I was nervous, but Jaime can make a cat in a room full of rocking chairs feel calm. I'm definitely not a "cook" but I do love to cook and my fallbacks are always things I learned in the kitchen with my Mama Mary Johnson, who was like a second mother to me. She was born in 1903 in Tupelo, Mississippi and taught me all about authentic Southern cooking–dishes that included Navy beans and cornbread, greens, black-eyed peas, fried green tomatoes, fried chicken and so 
much more. On this day, I even brought her Griswold cast iron skillet from the 1930s as a good luck charm and it worked! My chicken turned out fantastic! It's a simple recipe that I will share when I receive the show video but, suffice it to say, Jaime "Jaime-ized" it to make it even more delectable and I can't wait for you to see it! On another fun note, the show just won TWO Taste Awards recently in Beverly Hills!
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The Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College Chicago (MoCP) hosted DARKROOM, its annual benefit auction on February 28 at Venue SIX10. The event brought in over $230,000 to support the museum's exhibitions, collections and community engagement initiatives. Highlights of the night included a conversation
between MoCP chief curator and deputy director Karen Irvine and artist Lalla Essaydi about her photographic contributions. A ceremony honored Essaydi with the Silver Camera Award, followed by a rousing Raise the Paddle, that brought in over $20,000 to support MoCP education
initiatives, including expanded teen programs and a bus subsidy program aimed at bringing more Chicago Public School students to the museum from underserved communities. Co-chaired by Ted Keim and Marisa Murillo, with honorary co-chairs Bill and Vicki Hood, DARKROOM 2019 hosted over 300 guests, who enjoyed a celebration of photography while supporting the Museum of Contemporary Photography, the only museum of its kind in the region. The Museum at Columbia College is the world’s premier college art museum dedicated to photography. As an international hub, the MoCP generates ideas and provokes dialogue among students, artists and diverse communities through groundbreaking exhibitions and programming.
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More than 200 guests joined the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs for their annual Youth of the Year Dinner, sponsored by Disney and Toyota, held at the Union League Club of Chicago on February 28. The exciting Clemente Drumline kicked off the evening's festivities that included a program celebrating youth who have overcome enormous odds and
demonstrated exceptional character and accomplishments. Beginning at the club-level and continuing through the state and regional competitions, BGC members compete for Youth of the Year honors. The five regional winners will meet in our nation’s capital in
September where they will compete for the National Youth of the Year title. This year was extra special because 2019 is the Union League Boys & Girls Clubs BIG 100th anniversary of serving Chicago youth! Winners this year included Ruben, a 17 year-old Barreto Club member, won the ULBGC Youth of the Year and Jazmine, a 13 years-old Wentworth Club member, won the Junior honor. Ruben will represent ULBGC at the state competition. (The Union League Boys & Girls Clubs is a separate organization from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago. Both are chartered by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America.) (Francis Son photography)
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Congrats to much loved philanthropist Susan Gohl on yet another honor! The Humane Society of Naples honored her with its Animaltarian Award (isn't that adorable?!) for her support of animals in need at the Naples Yacht Club. Susan, you're a wonder! Thanks for all you do for so many! She will also be honored at the Service Club of Chicago's annual Hat Luncheon, this year themed "A Royal Garden Party" on Friday, May 17 at the Drake. More details here!
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Congrats are also in order for Carol DiFrisco who recently received the Outstanding Woman Award at the Daley Center on March 14. In honor of Women's History Month, Carol was presented with the award in honor of her excellence in music and the arts by the Honorable Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Other proud honorees were Regina Taylor, Jackie Taylor, Marti Lyons, Yasuko Oura, Sureya Perez, Myrna Salazar, Kim Stratton and Jimalita Tillman.
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FashionBar Chicago will present "Identity," a series of 5 fashion shows 
and a marketplace, beginning March 31 thru April 7 at Water Tower Place. The Trans Media Fashion show will donate a portion of the proceeds to the Howard Brown Health center and its VOICES program. (For tickets/more info, click here: http://bit.ly/2HnIbsT)
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Congrats to the Chinese American Service League on its 40th anniversary of devoted service to its community! Join them at their annual gala on May 9 at Morgan Manufacturing! Tickets/details here!
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Join Orphans of the Storm Animal Shelter at its annual fundraiser "Wags and Whiskers" on April 9 at Ravinia Green Country Club. The 
nonprofit will celebrate 91 years of serving Lake County! This event is always a fun night of cocktails, dinner and an amazing silent auction all to fund its mission to shelter orphaned dogs and cats, provide the best care possible and place them into loving, forever homes. Individual tickets are $250 (Sponsorships available). Call the shelter directly to purchase tickets at 847-945-0235.
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Huge congrats to the much loved Lisa Fielding! We will be hearing her beautiful voice as the new co-anchor (opposite Keith Johnson) on WBBM Newsradio weekdays from 3-6 pm! So happy we'll be hearing more from her. Woot! Woot!
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Chicago House and Social Service Agency will host Rhapsody on the Runway, a fashion show supporting the agency's efforts to help people living with HIV/AIDS by providing housing and support services. The event will take place on Sunday, May 5, at the Harold Washington Library. For tickets/more info, click HERE: http://bit.ly/2YbzJSH
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So excited and honored to be a "Luminary" and brand ambassador for this year's "Dining & Conversation," the May 1 signature fundraiser for SOS Children's Villages Illinois, a nonprofit that provides foster care for at-risk youth. Other "luminaries" will include actors Christian Bale and David 
Eigenberg , Leslie Hindman, authors Gillian Flynn and Scott F. Turow, Lou Canellis and Star Jones, among others! Celebrity chefs will include Tony Priolo, Ryan Pitts, George Jewell, Dan McGee, Kevin Cuddihee and Graham Crowe, among others. For tickets/more info, click here) #raisingsuperheroes
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Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana will host its annual gala on Saturday, April 27, at the Geraghty! The event will support local RMHC Houses and their wonderful efforts to keep families of critical ill children close. For tickets, more info, click here!
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Little Emma Mertens is a 7-year-old Wisconsin girl who is terminally ill. All she's asking for is letters from dogs! Rooney has already sent his to: Emma Mertens, P.O. Box 230, Hartland, WI 53029. Hope your dog will do the same! Arf! Arf! #EmmaLovesDogs
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Don't miss the next Randolph Street Market coming March 30/31! This always delightful adventure in vintage features over 125 vendors offering everything from antiques to fashion to unique accessories and so much more! The RSM is the largest market of its kind in the Midwest. The Indie Designers market boutiques offer unique Chicago-designed fashion direct from local designers. Art, jewelry and decor made by local crafters are also popular at the market. Hope to see YOU there! For tickets, more info, click here!
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Celebrating 50 years of PRIDE, Chicago will host the first-ever "Pride in the Park", on June 
29 in Grant Park, the event will feature live musical performances by international and local talent, fireworks and more! Get more exciting deets here!
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Spring has sprung after, what seemed to be, a verrrrrry long winter! I hope you've packed 
your heavy coats and boots away and are getting ready for some much needed warmer weather! Here's to an exciting spring in Chicago!
Love, as always,
Candace
Candace@CandidCandace.com
P.S. Baby elephant discovers his trunk….so adorable! (To find out how you can help save these noble creatures, click here.)
