The 22nd annual William C. Staszak Gala on April 16 was a great party and successfully raised funds for OPEF’s free in-school programs. Many thanks to our fabulous attendees, sponsors, and donors for supporting this event and Oak Park public school kids.
Musical entertainment was provided by the talented duo of Jodi and Dave Walker, performing jazz, R&B and blues standards. We also celebrated the 25th anniversary of Science Alliance with a potato shooter and a brief lesson in air pressure. Thanks to long-time Science Alliance partners 4th-grade Beye teacher Paul Manus and IIT professor Dr. Ben Stark for sharing a bit of the magic that they bring each year to their students.
A big shout out to OPEF Board Fundraising Chair Lisa Kitzman, event co-chairs, Carrie Cotter and Kandy Shapiro, and their band of smart and hardworking auction committee members: Christine Baker, Stephanie Kiesling, Andrea Lofgren, Julie Mann, Susan Raphael, Jenna Russell, Erica Schulze, Inga Simitz, and Gina Ulrich.
Many thanks go to our photographer, David Layden, who captured the fun with these great photos.
It really does take a village! Many donors and local businesses helped to make the event a success, including our platinum sponsor Marion Street, gold sponsors Lakeview Bus Lines, Robbins Schwartz, and STR Partners LLC, and finally our silver sponsors Bulley & Andrews, Canon Solutions America, Community Bank of Oak Park River Forest, and Precision Control Systems.
We very much appreciate the generous auction item donations from the following individuals and businesses:
93XRT Chicago’s Finest Rock
Tom and Deb Abrahamson
Arlington International Racecourse
Art Institute of Chicago
Arthur J. Gallagher
The Asaro Family
Avenue Ale House
Krissy Baker
The Barre Code
Ken & Tammy Barrett/Strategic Hotels Corp.
Book Table
Boy Scouts – Troop 16
Carrie & Matt Cotter
Central Standard Distillery
Chicago Architecture Foundation
Chicago Bears
Chicago Children’s Theatre
Chicago Cubs
Chicago History Museum
Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co.
Chicago White Sox
Chicago Wolves
Classic Cinemas
Laura Connolly
Cook Illinois Corporation
Cooper’s Hawk Winery
Core Power Yoga
Dailey Method
Mary DeGrazia
Steve & Laura Derks
Barbara DiEugenio and Milos Zefran
DJ Mick
Scott Eddy
Exit Strategy Brewing Company
Field Museum
Steve Fisher
Fleet Feet
Nora Flynn
Frame Warehouse
Garden of Yoga
Gem
Geppetto’s Toy Box
Giordano’s
Girl Scouts – Troop 40617
Mitch & Jill Kramer Goldstein
Grand Wailea Resort
Heidi & Jeff Groulx
Jackie Fields Design
John G. Shedd Aquarium
Tye Johnson
Mary Ann & Dan Jordan
Gretchen Junker
Jen Kellogg
Kinslahger Brewing Co.
Kris Kotte/Bon Appetit Mgmt
La Bella Pasteria
Lake Street Kitchen + Bar
Legacy Sports
Lemon Tree Occupational Therapy
Let’em Play
Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises
Meg Liebreich
Little Gem Café
Live Fresko
Lou Malnati’s
Marcus Hotels & Resorts
Marion Street
Dennis & Mary Ann Marks
Maya del Sol
Margot McMahon
Scott & Julie Moller
Moxie Girl Knitting
Museum of Science & Industry online
Nando’s Peri Peri Chicken
New Rose Catering
Marty & Mary Lou Noll
Oak Electric
Oak Park Festival Theatre
Oak Park Jewelers
Only She Boutique
Parenthesis Family Center
Park District of Oak Park
Lisa Parker
Pet Emporium
Poor Phil’s
Precision Control Systems
Q-BBQ
David Raskin
Bobbie Raymond
Cate & Chip Readling
Red Hen Bread
Riot Fest
Room & Board
Jenna Russell
Peter Sagal/Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me
Salerno’s
School of Rock Oak Park
Stephen & Mary Jo Schuler
Scratch ‘N Sniff
Second City
Shedd Aquarium
Spikeball
Cecily Strong
Amanda Sudimack/Artisan Events
TeeTee’s Sweets & Treats
Ten Thousand Villages
Tesori
Three Queens Maple Syrup
Mark & Bernadette Trinka
United Center
Urban Till
Jodi & Dave Walker
Chris Ware
Warped Tour
Winberie’s
Bruce & Kim Wojack
Sallie Wolf
Wolfpack School of Basketball
Woodchuck Cidery
Special Thanks to:
Racine Danish Kringle
Prints on Chocolate
Production Displays & Graphics