On June 27th, the Chicago Parks Foundation had the honor of hosting our inaugural Parks Gala with an incredible showing of support.

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.

This was the first gala for Chicago's parks - a celebration of the power of public-private giving, and the way it helps create the magic we enjoy every day and every season in our city’s 600+ parks.

Thank you to everyone who celebrated with us and to all of our donors, partners and sponsors who made it possible!

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

Ticket sales are now closed.

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

For Presenting & Premier Sponsors
Nelson Mandela Sky Room,
Museum Tower
6001 S. Stony Island Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637