With nearly 600 guests in attendance, the Marklund Top Hat Ball netted approximately $450,000 in support of the organization that serves those with developmental disabilities. This amount is more than a 50 percent increase over the net raised at last year’s ball. Held Feb. 11, at the Chicago Marriott Downtown, the event took in a record number of donations during its live and silent auctions and direct pledge portion of the evening.
“We are so grateful to those who made our Top Hat Ball an evening to remember, and a night filled with generosity and love that will significantly touch the lives of those we serve at Marklund,” said Gilbert Fonger, president and chief executive officer at Marklund. “By giving, they get to be a part of what Marklund is doing to make a difference in the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities.”
Having “An Evening in Paris” theme, this 16th annual Top Hat Ball featured many tributes to the City of Light including a 16-foot Eiffel Tower replica, accordion- and violin-playing street musicians, mimes, a Julia Child impersonator, and street cafes offering croissants, cheese, wine and delectable dessert pastries.
Among those in attendance at the $300 per plate event were parents and guardians of Marklund clients, local dignitaries and politicians, including Geneva Mayor Kevin Burns, St. Charles Mayor Don DeWitte, and Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay, event chairs Carol and Mike Donohue of Geneva, Marklund board members and staff, and many other individuals from throughout the Chicagoland area who support the goals and mission of Marklund.
During the dinner, Fonger presented Chicago resident Andrea Billhardt with Marklund’s 2012 “Friend of the Year” award. Billhardt, whose son Tommy was born with developmental disabilities, has generously supported Marklund over the years even though her son passed away before ever receiving services from the organization. A former resident of the Tri Cities, she donated the resources several years ago to build “The Tommy Home,” one of the six 16-bed adult residential homes on Marklund’s Geneva campus, noting that Marklund would have been the place for Tommy to reside had he not passed.
In addition, Joel Thompson of Colorado, another longtime Marklund supporter and former “Friend of the Year,” addressed the crowd with a personal and often emotional recounting of his father’s longtime struggle as the main caregiver for his mother who was significantly disabled after having a stroke during childbirth. Providing financial support to the Marklund Volunteer Respite Training program, Thompson offered a $50,000 match during the evening’s direct pledge activity at the Ball.
“Giving begins with our hearts and our resources follow,” Fonger stated. “The generosity of our supporters enables us to continue providing almost $1.8 million in care above and beyond what the state funds.”
Photos from the event taken by Forest Park photographer Chris Guillen can be viewed through the Marklund website at www. Marklund.org.
