connect 2018 • 95 CHICAGO YOUNG LEADERS SOCIETY MARCH, 2018 The Chicago Young Leaders kicked off the St. Patrick’s Day season with panache on March 10 with the 8th Annual Green Gala. Nearly 200 guests generously raised a new record for the Green Gala. Pat Tully, the Vice President of Development, welcomed guests and offered an overview of the work of The Ireland Funds. Chicago Young Leader Chair, Abbey Canning, and Vice Chair, James Keeley, en- couraged guests to become involved in the Chicago chapter. The live auction included a trip to Ireland thanks to spon- sors United Airlines, Sheen Falls Lodge and Ireland’s Blue Book. New to the Gala was the use of mobile bidding for the silent auction. Suzanne Denihan, along with the rest of the Steering Committee, secured enticing prizes for guests to outbid each other to win. After viewing the latest Ireland Funds video, guests donated via their mobile phones in a live donation appeal, raising thousands of dollars for the work of The Ireland Funds in a matter of minutes. Donors for the appeal and auction were rewarded with green sunglasses. Signature Entertainment kept the dance floor packed until the after party began next door at Timothy O’Toole’s. Thank you to sponsors: The O’Halleran Family, CIBC, GCM Grosvenor, National Home Rentals, The Big Dog Fund, Breakthru Beverage, Patrick and Betsy Canning, Chez, Fifth Third Bank, First National Assets, Keaney Construction, Ireland’s Blue Book, Mayo Steel Erectors, MillerCoors, Mooney Family Foundation, Premier Catering and Events, Pine Valley One Real Estate, Rock Capital Partners, Signature Bank, Totem Lumber, and United Airlines. 1 Bridget Monahan, Dan Gibbons, Sarah Brennan, Suzanne Denihan, James Keeley, Abbey Canning, Kelly Cannon, Meghan Lee, Tristia Barrett, Annie Duffy, Nick Parrish, Pat Tully 2 Corey & Rachel Walz, Lindsey Lasater, John MacDonald 3 Pat Tully, Bridget Monahan, Garrett Hayes 4 Sarah Brennan, Alex Storm, Geoff Powell, Kelly Brennan, Meg Murphy 5 Alex Storm, Lauren Handzik, Molly Lamping, Caroline Berko, Meg Murphy, Sarah Brennan 6 Meghan Lee, Bridget Monahan, Suzanne Denihan, Pat Tully 7 Emmett Finnegan, Caroline Mazzone, Elizabeth Finnegan, Steven Mazzone 8 Ashley & Sean Rooney Photos: Datu Ramel Photography 1 2 3 4 5 8 7 6 Chicago Young Leaders 8th Annual Green Gala