Chicago's Top 100 Events 2018 - Benefits

#1 Benefit
“Impact From Every Angle” was the theme this year featuring highlights that included a performance by Stage Factor aerialists, as well as Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat. The event raised $3 million and welcomed close to 800 guests at the Swissȏtel. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois was the presenting sponsor. Next: April 27, 2019

#2 Benefit
This year’s annual fund-raiser at Wintrust Arena raised over $3.2 million. Around 750 guests attended the gala, themed “It Takes A City.” More than 150 teens performed during the evening, and guests were also entertained by Deonte Baker, a former American Idol contestant, and alumnus of the organization’s programs. New this year, a video backdrop of the skyline enhanced the evening’s performances. Next: Fall 2019

#3 Benefit (up from #4)
The 2017 gala brought out more than 1,800 attendees and raised $5 million to impact the lives of people with type 1 diabetes. Held at McCormick Place, STYX performed hits like “Come Sail Away” and “Lorelei.” The 2018 event will feature the Barenaked Ladies. Next: December 8, 2018

#4 Benefit
In 2017, the Field Museum raised $2.2 million at its annual gala, themed “Ancient Mediterranean Cultures in Contact.” This year, the museum is celebrating its 125th anniversary in grand style with a reception, seated dinner, and dancing. The Marshall Field V Award for Distinguished Leadership will be presented to the Grainger Foundation and Juli Plant Grainger. Next: October 20, 2018

#5 Benefit (new to the list)
The premiere award gala for the restaurant industry, which is committed to Chicago through at least 2021, drew more than 2,000 people to the Lyric Opera of Chicago in May. The event theme, titled “Rise,” featured Carla Hall as emcee and was noted for the diversity of its winners: 11 of the 15 winning chefs were either a person of color or a woman. The foundation’s mission is to nurture chefs by providing scholarships for culinary students and hosting industry awards, among other initiatives. Next: May 6, 2019

#6 Benefit
More than 800 guests came out for the 36th annual event held at Navy Pier, raising $2.78 million to support research as well as education and community programs fighting heart disease and stroke. The evening featured cocktails, an elegant dinner, and silent and live auctions. Guests continued the night at Navy Pier’s Lakeview Terrace with live music and dancing. Next: April 6, 2019

#7 Benefit
Hosted by actor Jon Hamm this year’s event raised more than $2 million to support Make-A-Wish Illinois. Held at Navy Pier, 900-plus people attended the event, which was presented by GATX Corporation. Over 700 Illinois children will receive their wishes this year. Next: Spring 2019

#8 Benefit
Celebrating the 56th annual dinner, around 1,600 supporters helped raise $2 million to celebrate an organization supporting Chicago’s African-American community for the past 101 years. The event was hosted by comedian Damon Williams and guests were treated to a special performance by Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds. The 2018 event will return to the Hilton Chicago with the theme #CurrentSituation: Our Race to Equity. Next: November 3, 2018

#9 Benefit
The 20th anniversary welcomed more than 650 guests for the Butterfly Ball. The event raised more than $2.3 million for science education that is crucial to Chicago area students and teachers. Next: May 3, 2019

#10 Benefit
The 2018 black-tie gala, titled “Underwater Beauty,” entertained 600 of Chicago’s philanthropists. The event raised $1.9 million to support conservation efforts. Guests enjoyed a night of dinner and family-style dessert and took home gift bags that contained stainless steel straws for the Shedd’s #SheddTheStraw campaign. Next: Spring 2019

#11 Benefit
This year’s event celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 8 Mission for the 38th annual ball, raising more than $2 million. Some 700 guests enjoyed a night of cocktails, dinner, and dancing while Apollo 8 crew members, including astronauts Colonel Frank Borman, Captain James Lovell, and Major General William Anders, joined in on a discussion with emcee Bill Kurtis. Next: Fall 2019

#12 Benefit
Underwritten by Rolex, the event raised more than $1.1 million for the Alzheimer’s Association with some 700 guests celebrating at the 31st annual ball. The theme was “Pure Imagination” inspired by Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, and the association honored the family of Gene Wilder, who starred in the iconic children’s film. Journalist Natalie Morales of NBC was honored with the Caregiver Award. Next: May 4, 2019

#13 Benefit
More than 800 revelers came and celebrated the Lincoln Park Zoo’s 150th anniversary, hosted by the women’s board. The grand black-tie event, Zoobilee, was held on the zoo grounds and raised $1.2 million to help fund new zoo initiatives and buildings including the Searle Visitor Center. Next: Summer 2019

#14 Benefit
Novelist Judy Blume and astrophysicist and Nova host Neil deGrasse Tyson received the 2018 Carl Sandburg Literary Award, while poet and novelist Erika Sánchez received the 21st Century Award at the dinner, held at the Forum at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Nearly 1,000 supporters at the event helped raise a record-breaking $2.4 million, up from last year’s take of over $1.8 million. Next: Fall 2019

#15 Benefit
Hosted by the Adler Planetarium’s Women’s Board, and known as their biggest fund-raiser of the year, the gala brought in more than $2 million. This year’s honor went to Captain James A. Lovell, Jr. who received the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award. Next: Fall 2019

#16 Benefit
In 2017, the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science honored Jeffrey S. Aronin, C.E.O. of Paragon Biosciences, at the gala, which had “Breakthrough” as the theme. This year, Michael Polsky, the founder of Invenergy, will be honored with the 2018 Leadership Award at the event, held at the Geraghty. Next: November 3, 2018

#17 Benefit
Some 525 guests attended the annual gala hosted by the Women’s Board and Board of Trustees of the Chicago Zoological Society, raising $1.3 million. During cocktails, supporters socialized with many of the zoo’s animals, from a Humboldt penguin to a Burmese python. After dinner, the crowd gathered to play casino games such as blackjack and roulette. Next: April 27, 2019

#18 Benefit
In 2017, the annual gala featured the theme “Stories: Rewriting the Possibilities” and was held at the Hilton Chicago, raising $3.75 million to help support the Children’s Fund at the Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. The event will return for its 60th year in 2018 featuring a night of cocktails, dinner, and dancing. Next: December 1, 2018

#19 Benefit
One of the city’s most exciting culinary events invites guests to indulge in creations of well-known local chefs. More than 900 people attended the gala at Navy Pier to support cystic fibrosis, raising in excess of $350,000. In 2019, the event will move to the Field Museum and guests will get the opportunity to dine next to Máximo, the world’s largest dinosaur. Next: February 1, 2019

#20 Benefit
The Midwest Regional Office of Unicef hosted the 11th annual celebration at the Geraghty. Some 500 guests helped raise $1.1 million for the organization’s global mission. The evening featured a seated dinner and entertainment from Musicality and Ken Arlen Evolution Orchestra. Next: April 6, 2019

#21 Benefit
The gala raises money to help keep families together who are caring for sick children. More than 750 supporters came to the sold-out event, raising $1 million, which broke the organization’s fund-raising records. The total eclipsed the $945,000 raised in 2017 and $500,000 in 2016. Next: April 27, 2019

#22 Benefit
In 2017, the gala raised nearly $600,000 with more than 400 of Chicago’s philanthropic leaders attending a night of cocktails, dinner, and dancing. The 33rd annual Casablanca-theme event will remain at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in 2018. Next: November 3, 2018

#23 Benefit
The black-tie event with the theme “Color in the Garden” brought in nearly $1 million, and more than 400 guests experienced display gardens that were influenced by the color wheel. The night kicked off with cocktails in the Crescent and Heritage Gardens and made its way to a tented pavilion on the Esplanade for a colorful night of dinner and dancing. Next: June 21, 2019

#24 Benefit
In 2018, the “Believe” event, held at the Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, raised more than $1 million to continue the woman’s board’s work to help some 18,000 youth across Chicago. In 2019, the organization will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Next: June 7, 2019

#25 Benefit (new to the list)
This year’s benefit theme, titled “An Evening of Whimsy,” will return to the Art Institute of Chicago with cocktails in the Chicago Stock Exchange Trading Room, followed by a seated dinner in Griffin Court for some 400 philanthropists. In 2018, the woman’s board dedicated $450,000 that will benefit the Rush Education and Career Hub. Next: October 19, 2018

#25 Benefit
“Green Eggs & Glam” was the theme for this year’s ball at the Geraghty. Some 900 guests attended the event and raised more than $300,000 for Chicago’s Gateway Green. Celebrity guests included Chicago Fire’s Taylor Kinney and former Chicago Bears player Israel Idonije. Redfoo (LMFAO) was the headline entertainment for the evening. Next: September 2019