Have a Heart

On Saturday night, some 530 guests headed to Navy Pier's grand ballroom to celebrate Valentine's Day at the Top Hat Ball. The fund-raiser benefited Marklund—a nonprofit that assists infants, children, and adults with developmental disabilities—and featured a red theme that translated into tropes both literal (red roses adorned each dinner table) and more abstract (performers from the experimental Redmoon Theater roamed the cocktail reception).

Before Saturday's happening, Top Hat Ball director Jeannine Zupo said that she expected a smaller crowd this year than last. "We're down about 130 guests," she said. "I've had some regular sponsors tell me that everything—including philanthropic dollars—has been cut this year. But the people who are able to come have been very generous."

One example of that generosity: a $20,000 sponsorship from Trust Company of Illinois. According to Zupo, the donation marks the largest that Marklund has seen in several years. "We also have a lot of new sponsors this year," she said. "There are some new faces that have bought tables for $3,000."

Of Marklund's success in securing—and keeping—corporate support, Zupo said: "We try to make sure that we're not asking the same donor for something once a month. We wouldn't ask the same company to support our poker event, our 5K event, and on and on. Instead, we do one big ask a year." 

Zupo added that she and the the Marklund staff aim to keep "top donors constantly in the know" about the nonprofit's latest happenings, sending out email blasts and newsletters to keep them connected with the cause throughout the year.