Event: It was a fairytale masquerade ball for the Children’s Place Association (CPA) on April 22 inside the urban-chic Revel Fulton Market. Emceed by Marley Kayden of NBC 5, the ‘Once Upon a Time’-themed gala attended by 340 guests served as the storied background for raising critically-needed funds for this unique organization which provides essential assistance to children challenged by illness and extreme poverty.

Originally founded in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, for the past 26 years CPA has been working to help children with medical conditions get a new lease on life.

Cause célèbre:  “We go out of our way to bring in kids…who have been excluded from other Centers because of health or behavioral issues,” explained Cathy Krieger of Oak Park, president/CEO. The organization provides foster care for medically-complex children, houses 22 homeless families through their housing program, and serves another 48 families through their home-based program.

Unfortunately, Illinois’ lack of budget has left organizations such as CPA struggling to make ends meet. “We have a line item in the State budget - when there is a State budget - that pays for special health services for children in our Early Learning Center,” explained Krieger. 

Those services include a full-time nurse, mental health therapy, a nutritionist, medical director and transportation. “All those things are needed so that the kids can get a good start in life,” said Krieger.

Since opening in 1991, CPA has helped more 5,000 people and currently provides services for 350-400 Chicago-area children and parents. Its international initiative celebrates its tenth anniversary of providing vital help to vulnerable children in the Caribbean and Africa.

“In all the (services), we try to stabilize the kids and families to help them move into a better future,” said Krieger.

Bottom line: The event raised nearly $500,000 for CPA.