Red Jacket Optional Raises Funds for Chicago Children’s Choir

On October 18, 550 of Chicago’s philanthropists and socialites came together to celebrate the Chicago Children’s Choir’s 57^th anniversary and to raise funds to support their mission. Stylishly decorated Raddison Blu Aqua Hotel served as a memorable venue for this gala.

The guests enjoyed a decadent cocktail hour, followed by dinner and performance by the choir members and the Voice of Chicago, as well as a debut performance by the Englewood Neighborhood Choir. The Choir honored John Hatherly, President of Wynnchurch Capital, and his wife, Christina. Christina Hatherly is a former Director of Choral Programs of Chicago Children’s Choir and she also served on its Board of Directors for six years. Josephine Lee, President and Artistic Director of the Choir, spoke about Christina and her many contributions.

The event was followed by an after-party where the DJ Matt Roan spun groovy hits, as guests enjoyed bubbly, and gourmet desserts sponsored by the Sugar Hills Bakery. There was an opportunity to network, and meet some of the Chicago’s well-known figures from Gov. Pat Quinn to Cubs President Theo Epstein, as well as other guests and the honorees.

All in all this notable event for a worthy cause raised a record $800,000 to further the Choir’s mission to unite children from diverse backgrounds, and to provide cross-cultural music education regardless of socioeconomic level.

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Leonard Mogul
kontinentmedia@gmail.com

Photos by Alex Riemann, Jeff Schear

ABOUT CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR

Giving children a voice – that is what Chicago Children’s Choir has been doing since 1956. Founded during the height of the Civil Rights Movement as a way to unite children from different backgrounds, Chicago Children’s Choir is a nonprofit organization committed to providing multicultural choral music education. The Choir raises $2 million annually in order to ensure that music is part of every child’s life. Under President and Artistic Director Josephine Lee, the Choir has received a Chicago/Midwest Emmy Award for the 2008 documentary Songs on the Road to Freedom and been featured in nationally broadcast television and radio performances, most recently on Oprah, NBC’s Today and the PBS series From the Top: Live from Carnegie Hall.

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