CRADLE Events - The Cradle
CRADLE Events - The Cradle
CRADLE Events - The Cradle
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THE <strong>CRADLE</strong> BALL | Celebrates Diversity<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Cradle</strong> Foundation hosted its 12th annual gala, Home<br />
Is Where <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cradle</strong> Is, on Saturday evening, October 21,<br />
in the elegant Sidney Yates Gallery of the Chicago Cultural<br />
Center. Every aspect of the event – from the entertainment, to<br />
the food, to the wide array of items offered at our silent auction<br />
– reflected the diversity of our city and our <strong>Cradle</strong> families.<br />
<strong>Cradle</strong> Foundation President Brooke Voss with Ball co-chair Margaret<br />
Bengtson and chair Alyce Caspers<br />
Guests dined on gourmet ethnic fare representing the Chicago<br />
neighborhoods of Greek Town, Little Italy, Pilsen, Chinatown and<br />
the Gold Coast. Another highlight of the evening was the superb<br />
multicultural entertainment. <strong>The</strong> Chicago Lion Dancers snaked<br />
through the room to the beat of a drum, holding aloft a brightly<br />
colored lion’s head and tail. <strong>The</strong> South Shore Drill Team gave<br />
a thrilling performance of rifle and flag twirling set to hits from<br />
the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Russian folk dancers from Ethnic Dance<br />
Chicago and belly dancers from Namaste delighted the crowd.<br />
After dinner, Brazilian music group Chicago Samba took to the<br />
stage, performing traditional Latin dances and luring guests onto<br />
the dance floor!<br />
Fox News Chicago reporter and <strong>Cradle</strong> adoptive mom Anne<br />
Kavanagh emceed the evening’s program with skill and aplomb,<br />
sharing her own family’s adoption experience, conducting our<br />
exciting live auction, and introducing speakers. <strong>The</strong> room fell silent<br />
when a <strong>Cradle</strong> adoptive father got up to tell the amazing story of<br />
bringing his two children home from Guatemala. A <strong>Cradle</strong> baby<br />
adopted in 1946 paid eloquent tribute to his adoptive parents and<br />
his birthmother. <strong>The</strong> final speaker, a young <strong>Cradle</strong> birthmother,<br />
spoke openly and passionately about her decision several years<br />
ago to entrust her son to a couple better able to give him the life<br />
she wished for him. All three spoke about the wonderful support<br />
they received from <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cradle</strong>.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Chicago Cultural Center’s Sidney Yates Gallery provided a beautiful<br />
setting for the gala.<br />
We are grateful to <strong>Cradle</strong> Benefit Council Chair Alyce Caspers,<br />
co-chair Margaret Bengtson, and the entire committee for their<br />
hard work in planning Home Is Where <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cradle</strong> Is, which raised<br />
$130,000 for <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cradle</strong>'s programs and services. We would also<br />
like to thank all of our attendees, sponsors, item donors, volunteers<br />
and speakers, and everyone who supported the evening’s<br />
auctions and raffle. Congratulations to John Meany, winner of our<br />
$5,000 cash raffle!<br />
46 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Cradle</strong> Newsletter