On June 27th, the Chicago Parks Foundation will celebrate the magic of the parks and the people who bring them to life at our inaugural gala.
Hosted at the Obama Presidential Center, The Parks Gala will mark one of the first major celebrations within this historic new landscape - and the first ever for our amazing parks.
Since 2013, the Chicago Parks Foundation has served as the nonprofit partner that connects communities with the private support their public parks need.
We invite you to learn more about joining us at The Parks Gala and Parks After Dark.
Program
5:30PM NELSON MANDELA SKY ROOM
~For Presenting and Premier Sponsors Only~
Exclusive pre-gala welcome reception with House of Suntory Japanese whisky toast
6:30PM HOME COURT
Lively “Birdland” cocktail and hors d’oeuvre reception followed by a magnificent seated dinner and awards
9:30PM PARKS AFTER DARK
Join us for our after party including a grand dessert buffet, dancing, and Grammy Award-winning DJ Peter CottonTale!
Honorees
Carey Pinkowski
Carey has served as CEO of Chicago Event Management and Race Director of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon for over 36 years. The Chicago Marathon brings more than $600 million in revenue to the city and to hundreds of nonprofits via their dynamic charity program, which gave the Chicago Parks Foundation a critical running start and continues to support us today.
Tracy Raoul
Tracy serves as President of the Jackson Park Golf Association and was inducted into the African American Golfers Hall of Fame in 2024 along with her husband, Philip. A true community anchor, she creates opportunities for young people in Jackson Park to experience the transformational power of golf.
Tatsu Aoki
Tatsu is a Chicago-based multi-instrumentalist, educator, filmmaker and creative improviser trained in traditional Japanese music. For over a decade, Tokyo-born Aoki has been instrumental in providing enhanced cultural experiences at the Osaka Garden through traditional Japanese arts as founder and Executive Director of arts non-profit Asian Improv aRts Midwest. Jackson Park’s Osaka Garden is a living symbol of peace and a model for international exchange, gifted to the parks during the 1893 World’s Fair.
Co-Chairs
Jennie Rosenthal
Christy Webber
Emcees
NBC 5 Anchors Marion Brooks & Alex Maragos
Contact
Sonia Horvath Seis
Deputy Director
events@chicagoparksfoundation.org
THE PARKS GALA
Presented by Chicago Parks Foundation
Saturday, June 27, 2026
Event Location
Obama Presidential Center
Home Court
6121 S. Stony Island Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637