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 Friday, April 10, 2026
Presenting Sponsor
Host Committee
Jennifer and Gerald Beeson
Meredith and Jack Callison
Merritt and Adam DeWitt
Andy and Amy Gelman
Katie and Brent Gledhill
Alex and Emily Groden
Kacey and Daniel Martino
Laura and David McHugh
Lisa and Seth Prostic
Cheryl and Craig Simon
John H. Simpson
Jen and Steve Skok
Devanee and Alex Washington
Gold Sponsors
Table Hosts
Elizabeth and Henry Appelbaum
Peter B. Bensinger, Jr. & Heidi Wagman
Kendall and John Delaplane
Marilyn Freund
Andrea and Jimmy Georgantas
Ana and Cory Gutterman
Dana and Michael Jones
Phoebe and Michael Nitekman
Laura and Glenn Yaeger
Silver Sponsors
The Geesman Group at UBS
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Bronze Sponsors
Heitman LLC