CRADLE Events - The Cradle

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