UPDATE 2016: The 5th Annual Kentucky Derby Gala will be held from 3-7PM Â on Sat., May 7, 2016, at Embassy Suites/Naperville. Stay tuned! The 2016 committee has been meeting since October 2015 to add new twists and turns to create the best time ever, including the Derby after Dark party.
And who said the Annual Kentucky Derby Gala, a Benefit for Hesed House, was about a horse race on the first Saturday in May? Hats off to fundraising!
Flash back to a good run in 2013!
For starters, individuals who arrived to enjoy an afternoon of Southern hospitality presented by Gerald Nissan Subaru Kia Hyndai, quickly discovered the fun began with hats— hats, hats and more hats in all colors, shapes and sizes.  Women and men interested could pick a number to participate in the hat contest, the event’s finale judged as entrants walked across the stage competing for bragging rights.
Chris Cash, one of dozens of women attired in plentiful polka dots, explained “Dots for Derby,” a long-standing tradition of women dressed in the repetitive pattern for good luck in the Run for the Roses.
As folks moseyed up to a replica of a thoroughbred horse to pose for photos, more than one person was overheard wondering, “Where did they ever find a life-size statue of a horse with a big wreath of roses and how did it get set in the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott?”
The program included the presentation of the 2nd Annual Humanitarian of the Year. This year’s award honored Kevin Fitzpatrick “for his selfless efforts to help individuals and families at Hesed House,” said Ryan Dowd, Executive Director of Hesed House for the past eight years.
Dowd also recognized Neil Gerald for stepping up as presenting sponsor for the gala. Without wanting to omit anyone, Dowd thanked everyone who had helped plan the event.
What’s more, Dowd said he wanted to find a distinctive way to recognize Master of Ceremonies Ray Kinney. Â Dowd’s hats-off tribute to Kinney provided a new headdress topped with a Kentucky Derby theme and emblazoned with the title, “MC Extraordinaire.”
Throughout the four-hour gala, folks mingled, listened to live jazz, enjoyed sampling a Southern menu at cuisine stations and Mint Juleps and Southern Bourbon Punch at libation stations, bid on silent auctions items and purchased 100 chances at $100 each to win an $11,000 pendant donated by Kevin Lydon of the Diamond Gallery.
A side benefit for Hesed House featured the “Secretariat Wine Pull.” For $50 or $20, revelers could select a bottle of wine wrapped in a commemorative sleeve that had been artistically decorated by youngsters living in the Transitional Living Community at Hesed House.
The camaraderie of guests and enthusiasm for the gathering paused only for two minutes for the running of the 139th annual Kentucky Derby at 5PM.
Thoroughbred Orb, in a tie as the favorite at the betting windows just prior to the race, rallied just in time in mid-stretch en route to a 2 ½-length victory over Golden Soul to win the $2,174,800 Kentucky Derby before a crowd of 151,616 on a rainy (and muddy for the horses and jockeys) Saturday afternoon at Churchill Downs—and another 300 folks under cover in the Grand Ballroom at the Chicago Marriott-Naperville.
 What a horse race!
Folks who watched the run on big screen TVs were agog as Orb came from behind in the mud, followed by all the other horses to win a victory for Stuart Janney III and Phipps Stable.
Then the benefit for Hesed House, Illinois’ largest homeless shelter outside of Chicago that served 1,371 homeless individuals in 2012, raced forward into full rein with a lively live auction featuring 16 gift packages for the 21 and over crowd.
What a hat walk!Â
The hat walk at the end of the event was judged by five impartial individuals, Beth DeGeeter, Greg DeGeeter, Ginny Gerald, Doug Pattison and Bob Johnson. As dozens of women and men strutted across the stage, winners were recognized for the most beautiful and unique hats.
Eric Junknickel was awarded the prize trophy in the “Unique Men’s Hat” category.
Same Saturday next year! Save the date!
As emcee Kinney checked the crowd, he encouraged attendees to save the date for the same time next year as “the best place to watch the Kentucky Derby.”
Though Kinney cajoled winners for their significant gains in the live auction, silent auction, diamond pendant game and Derby hat competitions, the biggest winner of the event was Hesed House.
As the final page of the program was written, organizers expressed their appreciation for compassion and kindness.
“Your presence and support foster hope for the most broken men, women and children in our communities—human beings reaching out to Hesed House to overcome homelessness, hunger and poverty.”
For more information about upcoming events,  visit www.hesedhouse.org.  The new website also provides an education about how Hesed House, working to end homelessness since 1983, has restored dignity, independence and hope to thousands of men, women and children in local communities.
The 2013 Kentucky Derby Gala CommitteeÂ
The 2013 Kentucky Derby Gala Co-Host Committee was comprised of Paula and Ray Kinney / Maclyn Group; Dawn and Dave Kelsch / Advanced Date Technologies; Mona and Hossein Jamali / Meson Sabika; Deanna and Anthony Losurdo / Hugo’s Frog Bar & Fish House; Tina and John McConnaughey / Cafe Buonaro’s; and Doug Pattison, Ginger Evans and Denise and Tom Falcone.
The Planning Committee that met for nearly a year— led by Hesed House Division Director of Resources Mary Ensor— was made up of Carol and John Ball, Hesed House Board of Directors; Kathy Birkett, Indian Prairie School District 204; Krissie Dowd, Hesed House; Christine Jeffries, Naperville Development Partnership; Catherine Milner, BMO Harris Bank; and Joan Oliver, Ginger Evans, Deb Scheckel, State Rep. Darlene Senger, Kelly Sebold, Colleen Turner.
For more information about upcoming events,  visit www.hesedhouse.org.
