The “Heroes in the Fight Against Breast Cancer” honorees with Governor Pat Quinn
Last week we were honored to be invited to the "Pink is the New Black" social fundraiser hosted by Sonya Jackson’s organization Mantra For Good. Over 200 members of Chicago's who's who stepped out to the downtown Park Hyatt, resplendent in pink and armed with support for the evening's crucial cause: breast cancer awareness.
In a room that glowed in a deep fuchsia hue, the energy was palpable as guests prepared to honor the evening's honorees—14 inspiring women who are “Heroes in the Fight Against Breast Cancer”. High profile guests who were in attendance to support the event included Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Kevin Eubanks (formerly of The Tonight Show on NBC), Candace and Chuck Jordan, Lester Lampert, Julie Darling, Agnes Miles of ‘Love, Lulu Mae,’ and artist Rosemary Fanti. Guests enjoyed contemporary French hors d'oeuvres by Executive Chef Ryan LaRoche at NoMI and cocktails provided by Beam Global while visiting a stellar silent auction that offered everything from seats for Chicago sports events to stylish items from Chicago’s hottest stores and boutiques.
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Candid Candance's Candace Jordan, Mantra For Good's Sonya Jackson and Chicago NBC5's Catie Keogh
Before the honorees were announced, Chicago’s hottest spoken word poets Quraysh Ali Lansana and Kevin Coval commanded the room with a poem that touched on the journey of breast cancer and its impact, and brought many of the guests to tears (myself included!) Host and founder of Mantra For Good, Sonya Jackson, addressed the room on her own personal connection to the cause (mother Ann is a survivor and many friends and family have been touched by the disease) and encouraged the crowd to join her own “mantra” to create good in the world.
Poets Quraysh Ali Lansana (left) and Kevin Cova
Sonya Jackson
The Mantra For Good executive committee (Katie McLenaghan, Nicole Lee, JR Kerr, Kristen Stone, Lynne Bredfelt, DaVida Rice, Amanda Samuels, actress Regina Taylor, Mick Masuka, Maurice Wills) then unveiled a one-of-a-kind photo art installation by Chicago photographer Lori Allen of Lori Allen Photo Designs. The moving portraits of the evening's honorees truly captured their essence as survivors and will later be turned into a book with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization and other organizations serving women with breast cancer.
The photo art installation of the evening's honorees
The evening's "Heroes in the Fight Against Breast Cancer” included: Bright Pink’s Lindsay Avner, Carrie Birkel, Shannon Fairlamb, Cindy Geoghegan, NBC Chicago’s Dr. Sandy Goldberg, Ann Jackson, Mimi Horowitz, Teresa Lee, Kelly McCluskey, Irma Norris, Caren Helene Rudman, Kristi Stempien, Lisa Weier and author Suzanne Zaccone. Each woman was selected because of their connection to the fight against breast cancer and because in their own special way, each of them used cancer as a journey and a catalyst for creating good.
(from left): Nicole Lee, Katie McLenaghan, Sonya Jackson, Lynne Bredfelt and Rachel Schwanz
Kevin Eubanks
Second City Style girls Alia (in a 'Love, Lulu Mae' hairpiece) and Taneisha working the pink!
It was truly an honor and a treat to be surrounded by so many strong women and we thank the host committee including Katie McLenaghan, Sonya Jackson and Mantra For Good for inviting us to participate in such an amazing and successful event!
-Alia Rajput
Photo Source: Brad Siefert
