For the 27th annual Snowball gala, 1,800 young professionals converged on the Great Hall at Union Station on Feb. 7 for a blowout bash of fun, food and dancing to support programs at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. Presented by the Junior Council, the party raised more than $200,000 — its largest donation to date — for pediatric and adolescent HIV/AIDS programs at the hospital.
Partygoers snapped photos in front of a 12-foot-high sign spelling out “Snowball for the Kids” in bright white lights as they sampled tastings from more than 25 restaurants. Specialties included ahi tuna tostadas from Summer House Santa Monica, mini chicken potpies from Tippling Hall, duck and pork belly cassoulet from Mon Ami Gabi and Maine lobster dim sum from Roy’s restaurant. Frontier served “Nashville-style hot, fried alligator legs” for the more adventuresome foodies.
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Creatively decorated food stations were scattered throughout the space and included a bourbon whiskey tasting bar from Buffalo Trace Distillery and a dramatic ice bar carved by ice sculptor Nate Johnson.
This year’s Snowball had a record-breaking silent auction that raised more than $40,000 and included signed sports memorabilia, dining certificates, trips, artwork, jewelry and more. Highlights included two guitars, one signed by two-time Grammy-nominated hometown band the Plain White T’s, and another signed by the Country Music Association Awards’ 2014 Vocal Duo of the Year, Florida George Line’s Brian Kelley and Tyler Hubbard.
Dr. Ram Yogev accepted the $200,000 check on behalf of Lurie Children’s Hospital onstage before guests danced into the wee hours to popular local cover band Rod Tuffcurls and the Bench Press.
“This gala is a great night of fun that enables us to give back to the hospital and our mission to provide funds that ensure all children with HIV/AIDS, regardless of their ability to pay, have access to high-quality pediatric health care,” said Kate Frankenberg, Junior Council president.
Freelance writer Candace Jordan is involved with many local organizations, including some whose events she covers.
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