Emergency Assistance Department

Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Department provides basic human
needs. Food is the most requested basic need. Other services include
emergency financial assistance, benefits screening, clothing, emergency
shelter, short-term case management, advocacy, and referrals.

The Illinois unemployment rate is currently among the highest in the
nation. The majority of jobs that pay family-supporting wages now require
some amount of postsecondary education, training, or certification. This
creates a significant obstacle for our clients who have less education or work
experience.

Last year, the Emergency Assistance Department served 2.2 million meals
through our nine food pantries and screened nearly 1,500 people for the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Your contribution gives people in need — people who live and work in your
community — help and hope.

Super Diamond – tribute to the much loved, international pop icon Neil Diamond – perform the timeless classics including “Sweet Caroline,” “America,” “Cherry Cherry;” “Song Sung Blue,” “Forever in Blue Jeans” and many more. Super Diamond’s success in America is unprecedented for a tribute band. With a nod from Neil (the man himself), Super Diamond has been embraced by the long time Neil Diamond fan-base and also found huge popularity in the hip rock clubs of America.

Over the last ten years, Super Diamond has consistently sold out shows at most of America’s coolest rock venues such as The Fillmore and Bimbo’s 365 Club in San Francisco, The House of Blues (located in multiple major cities across the US) Showbox Theatre in Seattle, Ogden Theatre in Denver, 930 Club in Washington DC, Irving Plaza in New York (to name but a few) and many festivals, fairs, theaters and performing arts centers. Super Diamond has also appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman, CNN, Fox News, VH1 and have been featured in Rolling Stone Magazine, Spin, The New York Times… and in July 2011 Super Diamond will perform with the San Diego Symphony during the Summer Pops Concert Series!

Super Diamond delivers a glittering performance of Neil’s power ballads and up-tempo hits with unrestrained enthusiasm! Every Super Diamond show is pure entertainment – classic music combined with fun, energy and passion – creating nostalgia for the good old days and excitement for today’s generation.

“GOOD TIMES never seemed SO GOOD”

Always a crowd favorite, the Art Show & Sale features original artwork, photographs and giclee productions by 15 locally and nationally recognized artists. Commissioned pieces will be available from a number of the artists participating, just inquire!

All of our artists are donating a percentage of their art sales to benefit Catholic Charities Emergency Assistance Programs. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for their incredible generosity.

If you are interested in participating as an artist in this year's Gala, please contact Andrea Young, Events Assistant, at ayoung@catholiccharities.net.

Any artwork submitted by June 5th will be juried for selection and artists will be contacted by July 1st.

Stay tuned for Silent Auction items and the opportunity to bid online!

Grand Raffle:

Tickets are $50 each or three for $100.

The Gala of the Arts Mandatum Award

The recipients of the 2017 Mandatum Award will be John Glunz, Joseph Glunz, Louis J. Glunz III, Barbara Glunz Donovan and Patricia Spencer, for their generosity and unwavering support of people in need.

The Mandatum Award, given annually at the Gala of the Arts, is the most prestigious honor that Catholic Charities awards each year and celebrates the awardee’s exemplification of Christ’s mandate to serve the poor with compassion and generosity.

Catholic Charities is honored to present this award to the Glunz family, who has made a lasting impact upon Catholic Charities and the thousands of families we serve.

PAST RECIPIENTS OF THE MANDATUM AWARD

2016 – Deacon Stan Strom

2015 – Mr. & Mrs. William L. Hardy; Mr. & Mrs. William J. Jovan; Mr. & Mrs.(†) James Serritella

2014 – The Women’s Board of Catholic Charities, Lake County Services

2013 – Mr. & Mrs. Michael A. Bilder

2012 – Mr. & Mrs. Richard J. Guzior

2011 – Mr. & Mrs. Charles W. Mulaney, Jr. 

2010 – Illinois Club for Catholic Women 

2009 – Most Reverend Timothy J. Lyne(†)

2008 – The De Santis Family Foundation
            Accepted by Kyle De Santis

2007 – Mr. & Mrs. Ronald P. Laurent

2006 – Mr. Salvatore C. Argento(†)
            Presented to Mrs. Sam (Mary Jean) Argento & son, Vincent Argento

2005 – Mr. & Mrs. John(†) Geldermann  

2004 – Mr. & Mrs. Richard W. Burke, Sr.

2003 – Dedication of the Mandatum Work of Art

2002 – Mr. & Mrs. Thomas W. Havey
            Mr.(†) & Mrs.(†) Richard Carrigan, Sr.
            INAUGURAL RECIPIENTS

Sponsorships are available by contacting Rose Marie Lesniak-Mendez at rmlesniakmendez@catholiccharities.net or registering below.

Download a Gala of the Arts Information Brochure

Download a Gala of the Arts Sponsorship and Ad Sales Commitment Form

If you would like to receive more information regarding the Catholic Charities Gala of the Arts, please complete the form below or, contact Rose Marie Lesniak-Mendez, Special Events Manager, at rmlesniakmendez@catholiccharities.net.

Mailing Address:

Catholic Charities
Gala of the Arts
721 N LaSalle Street, 4th Floor
Chicago, IL 60654

The 16th Annual Gala of the Arts will take place on Friday, September 8, 2017 at Navy Pier in the Grand Ballroom. The event will feature an exquisite Art Show & Sale, Grand Raffle, and a live performance by Super Diamond - The Neil Diamond Tribute. For more information, please contact Rose Marie Lesniak-Mendez, Special Events Manager, at 312-655-7290 or RMLesniakMendez@catholiccharities.net.

Register Here!

Donate Here!


DRESS
Black tie optional

LOCATION
Navy Pier is located at 600 E. Grand Avenue.

DIRECTIONS
• From the north, take Lake Shore Drive (US 41) to the Grand Avenue exit.
• From the northwest, take the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94) to the Ohio Street Exit, south on Orleans to Illinois Street and proceed east.
• From the west, take the Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) to Columbus Drive, north to Illinois Street and proceed east.
• From the southwest, take the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41), north to Illinois Street and proceed east.
• From the south, take the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-90/94) east to the Stevenson Expressway (I-55) to Lake Shore Drive (US 41), north to Illinois Street and proceed east.
• From the southeast, take Lake Shore Drive (US 41) north to the Illinois Street exit.