AIDS Foundation of Chicago Gala Proves It Is the "Best Party in Town"

$540,000 Raised to Support HIV/AIDS Projects Throughout Chicago

Seven-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan brought the crowd of nearly 1,100 to its feet at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's (AFC) 11th annual "Not Just Song & Dance - The Best Party in Town" gala on May 5 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. The gala raised close to $540,000 to support HIV/AIDS care, prevention, education and advocacy projects throughout the Chicago area.

The evening began with guests enjoying cocktails and hors d'oeuvres, while listening to jazz vocalist Hinda Hoffman perform standards and jazz favorites. Guests entered to win extraordinary raffle prizes and bid on items in the "living" silent auction, a concept that featured volunteers wearing colorful and imaginative hats representing each silent auction item. The hats were designed and donated by Event Co-chair John Ansehl.

Guests were then ushered into the ballroom for welcoming remarks by AFC Board President Brandon Neese, AFC Executive Director Mark Ishaug and Event Co-chairs John Ansehl and Mary Lu Roffe. A video presentation of the photo-documentary, "Faces of AIDS," helped to remind the crowd of the purpose of the evening.

After dinner, Chaka Khan took the stage and had the crowd dancing and singing along to her soulful voice while she sang favorites "I'm Every Woman" and "Ain't Nobody."

After Chaka's performance, many guests wound down to the smooth sounds of Gershwin pianist and "International Steinway Artist" Kevin Cole performing the best of 20th century American music. Others opted to stay on the dance floor and move to the tunes spun by D.J. Neato Garrido.

Notable attendees at the gala included: Ethan Asch of Grace Restaurant, Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill), Sen. John Cullerton (D-Chicago), Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Rep. Connie Howard (D-Chicago), WLS-TV's Ned Jannotta Jr. and Erika Pearsall, Sen. Lisa Madigan (D-Chicago), Rep. Larry McKeon (D-Chicago), Sen. Barak Obama (D-Chicago) Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, Sen. Carol Ronen (D-Chicago) of Evanston and

Sen. Donne Trotter (D-Chicago). As well as Katie and Jim Law of Mayor Daley's office, entertainer Honey West, Barbara Turf of Crate & Barrel, Attorneys Laurel and Joel Bellows, Charles Feldstein of Charles R. Feldstein & Co., George and Margot Grieg of William Blair & Company, Dr. Jeff and Beth Kopin of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Piet and Rose-Marie Provo Kluit of AKZO Nobel, Jan Kallish of the Auditorium Theatre, Robert Perkins of Perkins Productions and David Savini of WMAQ-TV.

Dinner began with gulf shrimp and pesto-tossed baby mozzarella with fusilli pasta and micro field greens with creole remoulade. The main course of grilled petite filet mignon with portobello mushrooms merlot essence was paired with a spinach and pine nut stuffed chicken breast with char-roasted tomato butter sauce. Each table had its own unique edible centerpiece featuring "Not Just Song & Dance" cakes, along with various toppings so guests could "Create-Their-Own Palette Dessert Fantasies." Guests still longing to satisfy their sweet tooth could visit the expansive desert buffet offered later in the evening.

WPWR-TV Channel 50 Foundation and Abbott Laboratories returned as sponsors of "Not Just Song & Dance."

Funds raised through "Not Just Song & Dance" support the AIDS Foundation of Chicago's grantmaking program, which, since 1988, has provided nearly $10 million to support AIDS care, prevention, education and advocacy projects throughout the Chicago area. Established in 1985 to coordinate local response to the epidemic, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago is the largest source of philanthropic support for AIDS programs in the Midwest.

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