Thank You from the Co-Chairs

On behalf of Friends of the Chicago River, we would like to express our sincere gratitute and thanks for your support of Friends' annual gala, the Big Fish Ball.

We are grateful for the generosity of our sponsors, guests, Friends' board of directors, the gala committee, volunteers, and local businesses for making this event a success.  

Robert Sit and Richard Wilson

About the Big Fish Ball

The Big Fish Ball is Friends' largest fundraising event that includes a fabulous cocktail hour that brings together 500 leaders and young professionals from the Chicago community to the river with an amazing opportunity to engage with river wildlife and a delightful three-course dinner and program that honors the recipients of the Chicago River Blue Awards, the highest achievement in river-sensitive designs along the river. The evening also includes a silent and live auction and a raffle featuring gifts and certificates from hundreds of local businesses. 

Your evening doesn't end at once the final music plays. You can make a whole night of it when you buy tickets to our special Shoreline Sightseeing After Party Cruise that immediately follows our gala. The cruise is a wonderful way to see the river and city’s amazing architecture in semi-darkness while sipping cocktails. 

To discuss sponsorship and table purchases or raffle/silent auction donations for 2019, please contact Kim Olsen-Clark at (312) 939-0490, ext. 19 or kolsenclark@chicagoriver.org.

Interested in volunteering next year?  We need greeters, raffle and silent auction volunteers, photographer assistants, and more! Contact Annette Anderson with any questions. 

It’s never too late to make a donation to support Friends. Click here to learn how your gift supports the Chicago River system. 

Photography: Ian Ace Photography, Jordan Avery, and Chicago Photo Concepts/Raf Winterpacht