Would you like champagne?
The IO Urban Roofscape at The Godfrey Hotel (127 W. Huron St.) was packed.
There was sequins. There was fur.
There was reason to celebrate at the annual Compassion, Fashion & Cocktails 2015. Girlfriends, business partners, and friends of friends came to support former Chicago Bear’s player, Isreal Iondije’s foundation on Thursday, October 29, 2015 from 5:30 – 10:00 pm.
Attendees take photos with former Bears NFL player, Israel Idonije. Photo: Cheri Eisenberg Photography
While he played the defensive end for the Chicago Bears, Idonije founded his non-profit in 2007. The Israel Idonije Foundation helps children in undeserved communities by providing programs focused on social and emotional life skills.
The Israel Idonije Foundation has served more than 7,000 individuals through its four core programs in Chicago, Winnipeg, and West Africa. Several attendees have continued to help the foundation through this annual event.
Attendees enjoyed complimentary champagne. Photo: Mulberry Street Media
To raise money and awareness for the foundation, Compassion, Fashion, & Cocktails was a multi-tiered event centered around an exclusive fashion show.
The event was complete with a private wine tasting with advanced sommelier Jim Bube from Heritage Wine Cellars, a champagne cocktail hour, and a raffle.
Local High School Senior Photographers:
An excess of photographers crowded around Isreal Idonije, who made himself available for multiple photo ops throughout the two and a half hour cocktail portion of the event.
Some of those photographers—five to be exact—were high school seniors at Community High School in West Chicago.
The Godfrey Hotel Photo: Mulberry Street Media
“We snagged some Portillo’s en route and shot pretty much straight through from 5:30-9:30,” said Dave Jennings, English and Broadcast Production teacher at CHS, and the sponsor of our school’s Photo Club, who saw an ad on Craigslist for charitable photography and created the opportunity for his Photo Club to capture the event.
All of the photos attributed to Mulberry Street Media were photographed by these five seniors in Photo Club.
The Fashion Show:
One of the most anticipated parts of the night was an exclusive runway show featuring designs from international designers, Zadig & Voltaire.
It was standing room only, as VIP attendees took their seats and other guests sandwiched in between dessert tables and behind photographers.
The fashion show at The Godfrey Hotel was standing room only. Photo: Mulberry Street Media
Eleven models displayed several casual, elevated looks with simple accessories like long scarves and fedoras. Successful Chicago entrepreneur’s such as coworking space, The Shift’s, Nicole Vasquez, modeled in this year’s fashion show.
Zadig and Voltaire model, Nicole Vasquez. Photo: Mulberry Street Media
Hair was styled by George the Salon– George Gonzalez and makeup was by Makeup by Aga, Aga Kaskiewicz.
Chicago Vendors Donate Appetizers:
Slagel Farms Pork Shoulders from Untitled Supper Club. Photo: Mulberry Street Media
Local Chicago vendors including Freshii provided fresh appetizers. Photo: Cheri Eisenberg Photography
After Compassion, Fashion, & Cocktails, there was an informal after party at Untitled Supper Club.
For more photos, visit Kurman Communications Flickr page.
Moxie Strategies, LLC produced the event. Kelley Speck, Anna Maria Viti-Welsh, Sam Yanover, Israel Idonije, Vanessa Garippo, Lema Khorshid Photo: Cheri Eisenberg Photography
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