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The Cradle Foundation’s premier annual black-tie gala, chaired by Erin Dickes, who is also a member of The Cradle Associates professional board, was held on Saturday, September 27 at The Ritz-Carlton in Chicago. This year’s Ball was the centerpiece of The Cradle’s 85th anniversary celebration and a splendid tribute to Cradle founder Florence Walrath’s vision of a loving family for every child. “The Ball was an incredible success! The room was filled with new and exciting energy, as many of our guests had never been to a Cradle Ball and immediately became attached to our cause – the babies,” said Erin.
Thanks to title sponsor Northern Trust, and all of the evening’s other generous sponsors, auction donors and attendees, the Ball raised nearly $150,000 in support of The Cradle’s outstanding adoption programs and services.
An impressive turnout of 275 guests enjoyed the spectacular evening at The Ritz. Thanks to Tiffany & Co. for donating jewelry items for the Key for The Cradle game. Participants had the opportunity to purchase keys, and if the key they selected from a crystal bowl opened the lock, the winner could take out one of the boxes. With each success, a cheer went up through the room!
Janet Davies of ABC7 Chicago and Steve Cochran of WGN Radio did a superb job as celebrity emcees. Both have an adoption connection. Janet is Mom to two Cradle sons and Steve is an adopted person who told the group about his recent reunion with his birthmother. Janet and Steve auctioned off deluxe prizes. They also conducted a very successful revenue auction to raise funds for essential items such as special needs evaluations for Cradle babies, TV ads targeted to expectant women, and Nursery supplies like diapers and pacifiers.
Erin announced the recipients of the 2008 Silver Cradle, an award presented annually by the Associates to Chicago area companies that offer exceptional adoption-related benefits. This year’s ten recipients included Allstate Insurance, Baxter International, CB Richard Ellis, CME Group, W.W. Grainger, Inc., JPMorgan Chase, McDonald’s Corp., Northern Trust, Nuveen Investments and PricewaterhouseCoopers.
The Cradle extends its sincere thanks to Erin Dickes and The Cradle Benefit Council for organizing such a magnificent event, and to everyone who attended or volunteered at the Ball.
Thank you to our generous sponsors
Gold Sponsors ($6,000)Marge and Kevin Kellen
Silver Sponsors ($3,000)   A Friend of The Cradle Erin and Scott Dickes Andrea and Edward Herchenbach Martha King Mary and John Meany Michelle McKenna Larry Rubly Beth and Alan Singer Phyllis S. Thomas Virginia and Paul Uhlenhop
Bar Sponsor ($2,000) Geneva Investment Management of Chicago, LLC
Nursery Angel Sponsors ($1,500)
Mary and Geoffrey Bloom
Connie Perino Goggio
Corrine Reichert
Phyllis S. Thomas
Katherine Whipple
Winnetka Auxiliary of The Cradle
Bronze Sponsors ($800)
Pamela Amos
Amy and Clay Brock
CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc.
Paula and John Dix
Diana and Jerry Dutka
Glenn's Duxler Tire Co.
Trish and John Henry
Karla and Vincent Johnson
Janet and Stephen McDonald
Kathleen and William Myers
Barbara and Peter Sereda
Switchfast Technologies
Dennis Vickers and Vuthik Chhay
Tribute/Ad Journal - Full Page Ad ($1,000)
Geneva Investment Management of Chicago, LLC
Tribute/Ad Journal - Half Page Ad ($500)
Ardent Communications, Inc.
Clarity Group, Inc.
Evan B. Donaldson Institute
John J. Cahill Heating & Cooling
Presbyterian Homes
Constance C. Purdum
For more information about The Cradle Ball, please contact Bonnie Krasny, Events Manager, at 847-733-3234 or bkrasny@cradle.org
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2008 Silver Cradle Award. This award honors Chicago area companies that provide exceptional adoption benefits for their employees. The awards were presented at the 2008 Cradle Ball.
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