More than 900 of Chicago’s movers and shakers attended the seventh annual Tickled Pink charity bash held on February 24 at River East Art Center. Guests enjoyed dining on hors d’oeuvres and late night munchies, dancing and sipping delicious cocktails including the signature Tickled Pink-tini. The event raised more than $50,000, with proceeds benefiting the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization. Tickled Pink was founded and led by event chair, Jodi Fyfe. Fyfe started Tickled Pink as a fun way to raise awareness and support for Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization in memory of her cousin Carrie Kenney.  Tickled Pink welcomed celebrity guest emcee Susanna Negovan, Editor-in-Chief of Michigan Avenue Magazine.

“We are thrilled to have had the most successful Tickled Pink event so far,” said Jodi Fyfe, Tickled Pink event chair and Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization board member.  “We worked very hard this year to produce an event in a larger space to accommodate more people, with more amazing food, alcohol, entertainment and décor than ever.  We all had one goal in mind, to raise funds for breast cancer, and we couldn’t have done it without our generous sponsors, both new and old!”

At the event, guests sipped on delicious cocktails (including the famous Tickled Pink-tini!) and dined on hors d’oeuvres by Paramount Events, Purple Pig, Heaven on Seven, Terzo Piano, IPO, Bon Appetit, Phoebe’s Desserts and Rivers Casino, along with sushi from Macku plus late night munchies by many more of Chicago’s favorite restaurants, including Homerun Inn Pizza. Partygoers also had the opportunity to schmooze with Chicago celebrities who served as guest bartenders and helped fundraise at the event. As always, Tickled Pink’s dance floor was the place to be seen with The Hat Guys and the sounds of DJ Surami from Fig Media keeping the crowd dancing all night long!

Local celebrity friends who sold everything from pink boas, raffle tickets and beads included: Dina Bair, Randi Belisomo, Erin McElroy, Frank Holland, Jae Miller (WGN-TV); Susan Carlson, Dana Kozlov, Mike Puccinelli, Susanna Song and Derrick Young (WBBM-TV); Stefan Holt, Lauren Jiggetts, Natalie Martinez, Alex Perez, Anthony Ponce, Alicia Roman and Cheryl Scott (NBC 5); Jessica Zweig, Joran Thompson and Emily Liftman (Cheeky Chicago); Marissa Conrad, Kevin Aeh, Lauren Capobianco, Mark Bieganski and Matt De La Peña (Time Out Chicago); Kori Chambers, Anna Davlantes, Tammie Souza and Mike Tobin (WFLD-TV, Fox News); Cindy Chiang and Ernie Halvorsen (Amazing Race winners); Gina Ferraro (US99.5, WGN); Trent Erikson (WBBM Radio Personality); Andrea Metcalf, Anthony Rinehart and Nicole Jorvix (NBC’s ‘Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is”), Jason Goff (670 The Score/CBS Radio); James Rhine and Orlando Saez (3 Guys in A Booth), John Garcia (ABC 7), Savannah B. Van Cartier (Baton Club).

Everyone had the chance to win big with amazing raffle packages, including:
Date Night: Tequila Tasting & Dinner for 2 at Salud Tequila Lounge; 2 Club Level Tickets and Parking Pass to Bulls Game; 2 Tickets to a WXRT Concert; Marriott Magnificent Mile Overnight Hotel Stay; Polished Nail Salon (valued at $1,000)
Wine & Dine Chicago: Private Wine Tasting Party at Your Home for 10 and gift cards to the following Chicago restaurants: The Purple Pig; Heaven on Seven; Terzo Piano; Gibson’s Steakhouse; Quay; Lettuce Entertain You; Rockit Bar & Grill; and Underground (valued at $1,400)
Los Angeles Getaway: 2 Roundtrip Airline Tickets on United Airlines; Beverly Hills Hotel Two-Night Stay and Lunch at the Polo Lounge; Spago Beverly Hills Gift Card; ESPON Zone LA Live Gift Card (valued at $3,500)
Ultimate Girls Night Out: Mario Tricoci Package – 4 Makeup Bags, 4 Manicures, 4 Eye Shadows, 4 Lip Glosses; InterContinental O’Hare Hotel Overnight stay; Dinner for 4 at Rivers Casino; Table & Bottle Service for a Thursday night with Security and Limo Transportation to/from your home at Boardroom Nightclub; 2 Cheeky Chicago Cards; Muse Clothing Store Gift Card; Tom Ford Sunglasses; and Dyson DC41Animal Vacuum Cleaner (valued at $2,700)
Ultimate Guys Night Out: Public House Private Party for 10 – Open bar and appetizers for 1 hour; Bull and Bear; Private Party for 10 – Open bar and appetizers for 1 hour; Goose Island Private Tour and Tasting for 4 with Brewmaster; Ping Pong, Bags & Bottle Service Package at Market; Hilton Overnight Stay; Hollywood Casino Overnight Hotel Stay and Dinner for 2 at Final Cut Steakhouse; ID Home and Eyeware Gift Card; $100 Gift Card to Spexx Eyewear; Universal Sole Athletic Package

Tickled Pink is made possible by the generous support of the following sponsors: Paramount Events, Hospitality One, Labriola Bread, Spexx Glassware, Halls Rental, MillerCoors, Hope Estate Wine, Spindrift Soda, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Lulu B Sparkling Moscato, Private Label Linens, Fig Media, What2Design, Maggie Rife photography, Stephanie Krol Public Relations (SKPR), River East Art Center, UV Pink Vodka, Pretzel Crisps, Phoebe’s Desserts, AF Services, Gregg Helfer, Sound Investment, Revel Décor, The Underground, IPO, Beauty on Call, United Airlines, Cheeky Chicago, Art-Flo.

About Tickled Pink
In February 2004, Carrie Kenney lost her seven year battle with breast cancer at the age of 35. One year later, her cousin, Jodi Fyfe gathered a group of close friends and colleagues to start Tickled Pink Chicago in honor of Carrie. Carrie was a fun-loving, young woman who was diagnosed at the age of 27 and looked to Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization for information. She found answers to her questions but also found unwavering support from women who had also battled breast cancer and could relate to her experience first hand. After Carrie’s death at the tragically young age of 35, Jodi was determined to make a contribution to the organization that had given so much to her cousin when she needed it most. Jodi began by forming a team for the 2004 Y-ME race but she wanted to find another way to remember the vibrant, fun-loving person who inspired her so much…and so Tickled Pink was born! In February 2005, Tickled Pink threw its first party and raised $35,000! Every year the party and team of individuals that came together to ensure no one has to face breast cancer alone has grown and to date has raised more than $800,000 for Y-ME. For more information, please visit www.tickledpinkchicago.com.

About Y-ME
Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is the only place in the world where someone touched by breast cancer can call – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year – to talk to a breast cancer survivor and be understood in 150 different languages. For more than 30 years, Y-ME has been working to assure that no one faces breast cancer alone. Talk to a peer counselor at 1-800-221-2141, or visit y-me.org.

Photos from the event below are brought to you by Fig Media.  Thank you, Fig Media!

Relive your summer camp days with a city twist at the 4th annual Children’s Oncology Services, Inc. (COSI) Campfire Ball on May 21. Enjoy all your camp favorite snacks along with some spiked bug juice served up by local celebrity bartenders- and don’t worry, we’ll also have plenty of s’mores! Before the nights over you’ll be dancing to some hot tracks mixed by DJ Phiction and belting out our favorite camp songs with some very special guests: our campers!

The event will feature special guest appearances by former Chicago Bear Jerry Azumah and The Score’s Dan Bernstein (WSCR-AM). Emceeing the event is Nina Chantele of 103.5 KISS-FM and 107.5 WGCI-FM.  Nina will be joined by fellow KISS-FM jocks Angi Taylor and Jordan as guest bartenders.  Other guest bartenders to date include: Susan Carlson (WBBM-TV), Kori Chambers (WFLD-TV), Saran Dunmore (NBC 5 Fitness Club Coach),  Trent Erikson (WBBM 780) and Gina Ferraro (US99.5, WGN-720 AM, TV’s ‘Nude Hippo’ on NBC), plus Cheeky Chicago’s Jessica Zweig.

How could this event get more exciting? Well, just look at some of the amazing prizes we have up for auction: a beautiful leather Coach handbag, 10th row seats at the July 1st Crosstown Classic at Wrigley Field, and a leather blazer by Theory, and many, many more.  The event will also feature the wildly popular Digital Photobooth by MVS Studio (http://www.thedigitalphotobooth.com/).

“This is one of our favorite fundraisers since its inspired by our biggest program that we run for the kids at Children’s Oncology Services…summer camp!” said Rachel Drescher, event chair of Campfire Ball and camp counselor.  “Through Campfire Ball guests will get a glimpse of the important work that Children’s Oncology Services does all year long for children with pediatric cancer.”

Adventure to COSI’s chic version of summer camp to help make this summer special for a child with cancer. Sponsors include: William Grant & Sons, Crown Imports, Hart Davis Hart, Fiji Water, Cork Catering, Old Style, Theory, City Swarm, and 103.5 KISS-FM

WHEN:      Saturday, May 21
7 p.m.-11 p.m.

WHERE:     Venue One
1044 West Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60612

PRICE:  $75 advanced ticket, $100 at the door
Admission supplies an open-bar and heavy appetizer selection.
To buy tickets or for more information, please visit www.onestepcamp.org/events/campfire-ball.php or call 312.235.6836