The Children’s Research Fund (CRF), an affiliated organization of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, hosted their annual signature black-tie event ‘The Children’s Ball’ on Saturday, December 6 at Hilton Chicago. The event’s co-chairs were Roxanne and Rocco Martino and Justin and Angela Dearborn.
The ball, celebrating the BIG DREAMS and BRIGHT FUTURES of the patients, physicians, research scientists at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, also celebrated the amazing efforts of the organization raising more than $2.7 million this year in support of pediatric medical research conducted at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.
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Before dancing began, guests had the chance to bid on exclusive items and packages including a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the renowned Paris workshop of jeweler Van Cleef & Arpels, a prized seat in the classroom of L’École, the one and only jewelry school of its kind plus two United Airlines Business Class travel vouchers; Set visit during filming of the popular NBC hit, “Chicago Fire.” 
The Ken Arlen Orchestra, kept the crowd dancing to pop classics and current hits all evening. 
The Host Committee were: David Herro & Jay Franke; Robin and Justin Sheperd; Marty and Amy Kaplan; Cari and Michael Sacks; Virginia Simmons and Mark Stainton; Jackie and Michael Ferro, Jr, Barneys New York.
Guests in attendance included: Pat Magoo-President and CEO of Children’s Memorial Hospital, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation President Francee Harrington and Vern Broder, Regina Cross (Goldman Sachs), Brad Jerol, Sheryl Dyer(Van Cleef Arpels), Pat & Kate Gibbons, David McHugh, Alexi Giannoulias and Jo Terlato, Ed & Mirja Haffner, Justice Anne and Alderman Ed Burke, Lori and Steve Gersten, Megan Murley and Ben Olsen, Alex Pissios (Cinespace Chicago) to name a few. 
Some of Chicago’s big name financial corporations including UBS,BMO Private Bank, Guggenheim Partners, Nuveen Investments were the event’s sponsors and donors.
Children’s Research Fund was established in 1951 as a private independent initiative to raise funds for innovative biomedical research. The organization’s executive committee, advisory board and junior board counts Sasha Adler, Julie Roth Novack, Peter B. Bensinger, Jr, Meredith Bluhm-Wolf, Anne Kaplan, Rachel Drescher, some of Chicago’s who’s who and rising stars as members.
*images: Courtesy
