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Carnaval raises $350,000+ for Chicago Lights at Fourth Presbyterian Church
David (from left) and Elizabeth Crawford and Sarah and Chris Pfaff, all of Glencoe | Photo courtesy of Chris Ocken, Ocken Photography
EVENT: Carnaval
BENEFITING: Chicago Lights at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago
DATE: March 2, 2012
LOCATION: Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Chicago
ATTENDED: 550
RAISED: $350,000+
Article Extras
Updated: May 21, 2012 8:24PM
Carnaval, is the annual gala celebrating and supporting Chicago Lights at Fourth Presbyterian Church. Chicago Lights, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit human service organization, changes lives through its seven programs that provide hope and opportunity to children, youth, and adults facing the challenges of poverty. The majority of funds raised at Carnaval support Chicago Lights; a portion of proceeds will benefit the Lorene Replogle Counseling Center and Center for Life and learning at Fourth Presbyterian Church.
This year’s gala supporting Chicago Lights was held on March 2 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and featured music from the Ken Arlen Orchestra and Peaches Staten. The live auction was conducted by Ron Magers, ABC-7 News anchorman, and featured several incredible prizes, including incredible getaways to Sonoma County, Honduras, Mexico, and Paris!
The silent auction was conducted on wireless touch-screen bidding technology provided by Auction & Event Solutions. The computers enabled absentee bidding for over 100 people and bidding on any item from any computer in the venue for the 550 guests in attendance. Also this year, several guests participated in the auction using their personal smart-phones via a website that interfaced with Auction & Event Solutions’ bidding system.
Over 100 people entered a drawing to win a “Technology Treasures” package that included an iPad 2, 13” Apple Macbook Pro, Bose Noise Cancelling Headphones, Wave Music System with iPod Cradle, Bose Wireless Mobile Speaker, and $1,500 American Express Gift Card. Sixty guests participated in this year’s Mystery Wine Sale—one lucky winner walked away that evening with a bottle of 1986 Chateau Mouton Rothschild.
More than $350,000 was raised at this annual gala that enables Chicago Lights to provide hope and opportunity to children, youth, and adults facing the challenges of poverty.
About Chicago Lights
Chicago Lights arose from the commitment of Fourth Presbyterian Church to social justice and compassionate service and was spun off as a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2004. Today, a professional staff and more than 1,000 dedicated volunteers work to provide hope and opportunity to over 5,000 of our city’s children, youth, and adults who face the challenges of poverty. Through supportive relationships and diverse programs, the organization lights the path toward self-empowerment by helping people thrive academically, secure economic stability, lead healthier lives, and build community.
For more information, see chicagolights.org.
