2026 Children’s Ball
Co-Chaired by:
Merritt and Adam DeWitt
Lisa and Seth Prostic
Saturday, December 12, 2026
6:30 p.m. Cocktails | 8:30 p.m. Dinner and Dancing
Hilton Chicago
720 South Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60605
Black Tie
Funds raised at the 2026 Children’s Ball will support the Children’s Research Fund’s $11.5 million commitment to Advanced Therapeutics at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute.
See the Impact of Your Support
Corporate & Individual Supporter Sponsorships as of September 8, 2026
Presenting Sponsors
Platinum Sponsors
Host Committee
Bayer Family Foundation - Matt Bayer and Joyce Yaung
Jennifer and Gerald Beeson
Meredith and Jack Callison
Marcia Davidson
Merritt and Adam DeWitt
Andy and Amy Gelman
Katie and Brent Gledhill
Aimee and Jim Gray
Alex and Emily Groden
Deneen and Tom Heneghan
Michael Hollander
Schuyler and Jonathan Levin
Laura and Craig Martin
Kacey and Daniel Martino
Laura and David McHugh
Nicole and Mike Nugent
Lisa and Seth Prostic
Dr. Elizabeth and Andrew Reyes
Cheryl and Craig Simon
John H. Simpson
Jen and Steve Skok
Devanee and Alex Washington
Gold Sponsors
Table Hosts
Elizabeth and Henry Appelbaum
Kristin and Jason Balon
Peter B. Bensinger, Jr. and Heidi Wagman
Sarah Bond and Brian Roche
Copaken Family
Kendall and John Delaplane
Donna G. Drescher
Marilyn Freund
Andrea and Jimmy Georgantas
Ana and Cory Gutterman
Sandi and Barry Hartstein
Dara and Scott Hessell
Debbie and Pran Jha
Dana and Michael Jones
Christy and Steve King
Kristi and Brian Matteoni
Suzanne and Kevin Mehta
Annie and Mike Murray
Phoebe and Michael Nitekman
Nina Pancoe
Linda and Howard Postal
Meg and Tim Shanley
Mimi and Steve Sherman
Matthew K. and Julie Simon
Rachel Drescher Smith and Zachary Smith
Anne and Darren Snyder
Amy and Jason Williams
Laura and Glenn Yaeger
Robin and Mike Zafirovski
Silver Sponsors
Arcadia
Belmont Bank & Trust
Deloitte
The Geesman Group at UBS
Gray Capital/Graycor
Huron
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Kirkland & Ellis
KPMG LLP
Lockton Companies
Mayer Brown
Miglin Properties LLC
Mortenson
Plante Moran
Rosecrance Behavioral Health
RSM US LLP
Wynnchurch Capital
Bronze Sponsors
Heitman LLC
Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants
Pekin Hardy Strauss
Ropes & Gray
Schuppan Family Foundation
ShipBob
Woodfield Lexus