Chicago House luncheon brings fashionable attention to worthy cause
Mon. April 28, 2014 4:57 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
photo credit // anthony meade
Chicago House Spring Brunch and Fashion Show, Sunday, May 4, 2014
Chicago, IL -
It's that time of the year again to bring out those lightly dusted pastel colors, pinstripe shirts, bow-ties, and short shorts for nothing quite marks the beginning of spring as Chicago House's Spring Brunch and Fashion Show.
Already in its 27th year, this year's brunch will be hosted at the iconic Winter Garden Ballroom atop the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., on Sunday, May 4, 2014. Co-chairs Ted Grady (J&L Catering), Ross Slotten (Klein & Slotten Medical Associates), and Mallory Ulaszek (Roam Boutique) will welcome guests to a colorful day of fashion and service that all ladder up to this year's theme, vivid. Mark Pino, Manager of Special Events, believes that this year's theme will be an invigorating way to celebrate the good spring weather and Chicago House's mission.
"Past themes have been more specific. This year's theme sort of came just off the heels of this brutal polar vortex type of winter we had in Chicago. We wanted something bright, energetic, and exciting, but we wanted to keep it on the broad side," said Pino.
Related: Interview with Mark Pino
Guests will be treated to a dance performance and a runway fashion show with fashion partners: CRAM, Monarch Chicago, Roam Boutique, and Columbia College. In celebration of the recent passing of the freedom to marry bill wedding designs by MIRA Couture will be incorporated into the show. The brunch will also feature Chicago House's largest silent auction with over 100 exclusive gifts that include art, travel, and more.
Each year, Chicago House's CEO Rev. Stan Sloan presents the Spirit Award, which recognizes those individuals for their dedication and work in the community. This year's Spirit Award recipient is State Representative Naomi Jakobsson for her arduous work in Springfield on the Marriage Equality Bill even in lieu of her ill son at the time. Chicago House's former Manager of Special Events, Jeremy Hilborn, will be honored as well at the event for his 11 years of contributions and endless work for Chicago House's events and benefits. In particular, Hilborn is noted for helping to launch the organization's Speaker Series Luncheon, which recently featured Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
With this being Pino's first Spring Brunch and Fashion, the newly minted special events manager is looking forward to placing his own spin on the signature brunch while making sure attendees walk away feeling great.
"I want people to walk away with this magical feeling. Everyone at Chicago House has such an amazing heart. We are all dedicated and devoted to what we're doing. It makes all the work seem easy and worthwhile. So, for people to get that feeling, energy, and then to be able to walk away feeling great is what I want," said Pino.
Calendar: Spring Brunch & Fashion Show, Sunday, May 4
Already in its 27th year, this year's brunch will be hosted at the iconic Winter Garden Ballroom atop the Harold Washington Library, 400 S. State St., on Sunday, May 4, 2014. Co-chairs Ted Grady (J&L Catering), Ross Slotten (Klein & Slotten Medical Associates), and Mallory Ulaszek (Roam Boutique) will welcome guests to a colorful day of fashion and service that all ladder up to this year's theme, vivid. Mark Pino, Manager of Special Events, believes that this year's theme will be an invigorating way to celebrate the good spring weather and Chicago House's mission.
"Past themes have been more specific. This year's theme sort of came just off the heels of this brutal polar vortex type of winter we had in Chicago. We wanted something bright, energetic, and exciting, but we wanted to keep it on the broad side," said Pino.
Related: Interview with Mark Pino
Guests will be treated to a dance performance and a runway fashion show with fashion partners: CRAM, Monarch Chicago, Roam Boutique, and Columbia College. In celebration of the recent passing of the freedom to marry bill wedding designs by MIRA Couture will be incorporated into the show. The brunch will also feature Chicago House's largest silent auction with over 100 exclusive gifts that include art, travel, and more.
Each year, Chicago House's CEO Rev. Stan Sloan presents the Spirit Award, which recognizes those individuals for their dedication and work in the community. This year's Spirit Award recipient is State Representative Naomi Jakobsson for her arduous work in Springfield on the Marriage Equality Bill even in lieu of her ill son at the time. Chicago House's former Manager of Special Events, Jeremy Hilborn, will be honored as well at the event for his 11 years of contributions and endless work for Chicago House's events and benefits. In particular, Hilborn is noted for helping to launch the organization's Speaker Series Luncheon, which recently featured Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
With this being Pino's first Spring Brunch and Fashion, the newly minted special events manager is looking forward to placing his own spin on the signature brunch while making sure attendees walk away feeling great.
"I want people to walk away with this magical feeling. Everyone at Chicago House has such an amazing heart. We are all dedicated and devoted to what we're doing. It makes all the work seem easy and worthwhile. So, for people to get that feeling, energy, and then to be able to walk away feeling great is what I want," said Pino.
Calendar: Spring Brunch & Fashion Show, Sunday, May 4