Benefits Chicago 2019

This year’s benefit, held at the Hilton Chicago, had the feel of a lavish garden party. Designers from HMR took the “Where Hope Grows” theme to heart, erecting a candlelit “garden of hope” at the cocktail reception and filling the dining space with willow-branch chandeliers. The event drew some 800 guests, and raised $2.1 million. As usual, it drew strong corporate sponsorship from the likes of Salesforce. At the after-party, the Barenaked Ladies performed. Next: April 18, 2020

See more: How Event Design Brought the American Cancer Society Gala's Mission to Life

The 2019 event drew more than 750 civic, corporate, and community leaders to the Wintrust Arena. During the event, corporate sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois lit up its landmark headquarters building to display the words “After School Matters.” The event featured performances from children who participate in the charity’s programs; there was also a gallery that showcased the teenagers’ artwork. The event raised nearly $3 million. Next: September 2020

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Actor and foodie Jesse Tyler Ferguson was the host of 2019’s award ceremony, which took place at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The glitzy evening, which drew 2,000 guests, presented awards in categories such as Restaurant, Chef, and Restaurant Design. A reception offered snacks from top chefs from around the country, and during the award show V.I.P. guests were treated to a multi-course dinner in the mezzanine boxes. The megawatt event is considered one of the most prestigious in the international culinary community. Next: Spring 2020

The 2018 event, held in December at McCormick Place, raised a record-breaking $5.4 million and drew some 2,000 guests. The Barenaked Ladies performed; the night also featured a massive silent auction, dinner, and speeches. This year, the benefit will feature a performance from Third Eye Blind. Next: December 14, 2019

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Some 2,000 guests—250 of them area Holocaust survivors—made it out to this moving event. Honoring former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel, the luncheon also featured speakers including the city’s current mayor, Lori Lightfoot. It raised $4.8 million for Holocaust education and efforts to spread awareness surrounding antisemitism and other forms of hate. Next: Fall 2020

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The 60th annual Children’s Ball raised a record-breaking $3.8 million and drew more than 1,100 guests. With the theme “I’m In,” the ball included a cocktail reception with a jazz quartet featuring a former Lurie Children’s patient. There was also a speaking program, a seated dinner, and dancing. A new feature was the “Research Lounge,” where guests could interact with researchers from the Manne Research Institute. Next: December 7, 2019

Held at Navy Pier’s sprawling Grand Ballroom, the black-tie benefit drew some 1,000 guests and raised $2.9 million. Kehoe Designs washed the room in thematic red decor. Next: April 4, 2020

Some 900 guests attended the event on Navy Pier, which raised a record-breaking $2.7 million. The evening featured cocktails, dinner, dancing, and live entertainment from comedian Seth Meyers. Next: May 16, 2020

More than 1,500 guests attended this event at the Hilton Chicago last year. The black-tie dinner raised more than $2 million to support the league’s work in facilitating housing, jobs, and more. Comedian Damon Williams hosted the event for the seventh time, and the night included a keynote speech about racial inequality, as well as an award presentation. Next: November 2, 2019

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The 2018 dinner showed record-breaking success, drawing 1,000 guests and raising $2.4 million to support the library’s learning initiatives. (For perspective: The total raised in 2018 marks a 27 percent increase over the 2017 dinner.) Author Judy Blume was in attendance, on hand to accept the Sandburg Award. This year’s event honored Game of Thrones author George R.R. Martin. As usual, thematic decor included dinner tables decked with library lamps and books. Next: Fall 2020

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The 70th annual event drew 500 guests to the Hilton Chicago for an evening that celebrated seven members of the woman’s board—known as the Magnificent Seven—who have held their posts for more than 30 years. The evening included cocktails, dinner, dancing, and a live auction, and raked in a record-breaking $2.68 million to support local youth. Next: June 6, 2020

Last year’s glitzy benefit—which included cocktails, dinner, and dancing—raised $2.1 million for the Chicago institution. The event celebrated the museum’s 125th anniversary and drew roughly 600 guests. There was also a Gala After-Party, which members of the museum’s associate board were invited to attend. Next: October 19, 2019

With butterfly-strewn decor from HMR Designs, the springtime benefit raised $2 million and drew 650 guests. During cocktail hour, guests explored the museum’s latest exhibits; then, it was onto a three-course dinner from Calihan Catering. The night concluded with dancing to the live band Maggie Speaks. Next: Spring 2020

The 2019 event marked the 25th anniversary of this black-tie gala. Dubbed Reflections, the evening drew more than 630 guests and raked in $2 million for the Chicago institution. Highlights included animal encounters, oyster-shucking demos, and a seafood dinner. Next: Summer 2020

With the playful theme “Electric Eclectic,” the 39th annual ball celebrated the convergence of art, science, and technology. Offering cocktails, dinner, entertainment, and dancing, the event also featured an energetic after-party with fun snacks, including liquid-nitrogen popcorn and donuts dipped in edible metallic paint. Next: Fall 2020

The planetarium’s largest annual fund-raiser, hosted by the women’s board, celebrated its 25th anniversary this year. Some 600 guests attended the black-tie affair, which included a cocktail reception, dinner, dancing, and a jazz lounge in the Sky Theater. The event also nodded to the 50th anniversary of Apollo 11 by featuring astronauts in conversation. The ball raised $1.8 million. Next: Summer 2020

The 2019 gala returned to the Hilton Chicago, where some 600 guests gathered to support the association. With a “Key to Our Future” theme, the event had decor inspired by the famous “Love Lock” bridge in Paris. The cocktail reception was inspired by the Moulin Rouge and featured violinists in showgirl attire. The event raised some $1 million. Next: May 9, 2020

The 2019 ball was dubbed “A Feathered Affair” and featured decor inspired by flamingos. (Some guests’ pink outfits followed suit.) Offering dinner, dancing, and a sprawling silent auction—not to mention carousel rides—the whimsical evening raked in $980,000 and drew 700 guests. Next: July 10, 2020

Celebrating advances in scientific innovation and entrepreneurship, the 2018 gala took place at the Geraghty. The evening included an award presentation to Michael Polsky, founder and C.E.O. of the clean-energy company Invenergy. During the cocktail hour, some 620 guests learned about the Institute’s latest research breakthroughs via on-site exhibits. The event raised $1.3 million. Next: November 2, 2019

Dubbed “Roaring Whirl 2019,” the event had a 1920s theme that was carried through in the Flower Firm’s decor. Some 600 guests attended the black-tie dinner dance, which lets guests mingle with some of the zoo’s residents—including a porcupine and an anteater—during cocktail hour. The night raised more than $1.4 million. Next: Spring 2020

The 12th annual gala brought the charity’s mission to life via interactive stations that focused on areas of a healthy childhood, including nutrition and education. During a seated dinner, Audrey Hepburn’s granddaughter Emma Kathleen Hepburn Ferrer gave remarks about her famous grandmother, who was a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador. The evening, which drew 500 guests, also included dinner and dancing; it raised $1.15 million. Next: Spring 2020

Titled “One Step Closer,” the gala took place at the Geraghty. In keeping with the theme—and the charity’s logo—the 700 guests were invited to wear red footwear. Other whimsical perks included late-night snacks of McDonald’s cheeseburgers and a photo backdrop that looked like a house with a bright red door. The event raised more than $1 million for the second year in a row. Next: May 2, 2020

With a “Casablanca” theme, the gala took place at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. Roughly 400 guests participated in live and silent auctions; there was also dinner, dancing, and a video presentation. The evening raised more than $700,000 for emerging technologies in women’s healthcare. Next: October 26, 2019

The institution’s biggest annual fund-raiser drew 375 guests this year, and raised nearly $700,000. Playing off the garden’s “Bees & Beyond” program, the evening had a “pollinators” theme. The specialty cocktail, for instance, was dubbed “The Birds and the Bees.” And inside the dinner tent, decor from Revel featured summer flowers that attract pollinators. Next: June 19, 2020

More than 600 guests attended this food-filled fund-raiser, which took place this year at the Field Museum and raised $260,000. The event offered 35 chef-tasting stations, table service from 15 local chefs, and a silent auction with culinary-theme offerings. There was more food and drink to come at an after-party called Nightcap, which served pastries and creative cocktails. Next: February 8, 2020

Held at the sprawling Middle Eastern restaurant Alhambra Palace, this year’s ball had an “I Dream of Greenie” theme and drew some 1,000 guests. Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz was the featured entertainer, and 25 local restaurants provided snacks. There was also charitable casino gaming. The evening raised more than $200,000. Next: Summer 2020