Philanthropy and Style Meet at Girls On The Run Chicago's 15th Annual Gala at The Drake Hotel

By Ogilvie Zavala | Arts and Society Editor

On Friday, November 21, 2014, the Girls On The Run Chicago (GOTRC) hosted their 15th Annual Sparkle and Shine Gala at The Drake Hotel in downtown Chicago. The event, which was filled with some of Chicago's finest representing a wider-range of industries, brought together philanthropy and style.

The gala, which began promptly at 8pm, consisted of some savory special features, including beer, delish wine, and craft cocktails along with passed hors d'oeuvres from The Drake Hotel.

The evening began with guests mingling with old and new friends over tasty hors d'oeuvres, which included mini burgers and cheese burgers, tuna delights, and chicken satay. To wash it all down, attendees took full advantage of the open bar, which included custom-cocktails specifically made for the event.

Guests had the opportunity to engage in a very special silent auction, which included gift packages from the Chicago Athletic Center and Lululemon, among others. The impressive selection of items was definitely a highlight of the evening.

Girl Power, one of the custom-cocktails of the evening, was a favorite among the crowd. Not too sweet, but just potent-enough to be appropriate for a gala, this elixir truly was a sensation among younger attendees.

Maureen Hartigan, Governing Board President for GOTRC and Jen Dawson, the Governing Board Vice President, expressed their gratitude for such a wonderful attendance and encouraged guests to participate in the evening's developments, including a high-profile raffle that included a trip for two to Sonoma, California. 

Throughout the evening, attendees secured their item of choice from the silent auction via text message. Everyone appeared to enjoy the diverse selection of items present, and many made it a priority, in between enjoy the evening's succulent food and beverage options, to support scholarship programs for GOTRC's young women.

Girls On The Run Chicago is an after-school program that uses the power of running to education and prepare young women from 3rd-8th grade for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living. The organization encourages participants to create and participate in sustainable values and well-being with regards to emotional, social, mental, and physical development. Since 1999, GOTRC has served over 44,000 girls from across Chicagoland.

During the gala, many positive comments were mentioned about the organization and the evening's developments. Some of the most popular themes included the wonderful turnout for the event, the importance of keeping young women focused and full of self-confidence, and importance of giving back and fundraising.

PdM is confident in stating that the GOTRC's 15th Annual Sparkle and Shine Gala was a success. Proceeds from the evening directly support the program's participants. After many participated in the silent auction, engaged in the highly-anticipated raffle, and took full-advantage of the diverse networking, guests let loose with a little boogie. The music created a fun ambiance that was only enhanced by a Girl Power craft cocktail, or two.

Congratulations to Girls On The Run Chicago and their wonderful endeavors. We wish you plenty of success in 2015 and cannot wait until next time.

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