April 30

The Occasion: Chicago’s Civic Opera House was bursting at the seams with more than 1,000 supporters of the American Cancer Society’s Discovery Ball, an evening that featured a Tuscan countryside theme and Academy Award-winning film composer and singer-songwriter Randy Newman.

The Details: The event was chaired by David and Barbara Speer of Winnetka, and included more than 250 silent auction items and 10 live auction packages with items such as a new Lexus CT 200h and Tiffany & Co. necklace up for bid.

The End Result: A staggering $2.1 million was raised for the Illinois chapter, which fights for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community.

cancer.org

Photography by Bob and Dawn Davis