CHICAGO – July 8, 2015 – National mentorship organization Step Up will honor Allstate Insurance Company’s Vice President and Assistant Treasurer Stephanie Neely and Step Up alumna Paris Scales at its fifth annual Shine & Dine benefit. The August 13 event is expected to draw more than 700 guests to the Bridgeport Art Center’s Skyline Loft.
The red carpet evening will feature its first ever chef chair, chef/partner of Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Sunday Dinner Club’s Christine Cikowski. Along with seasonal fare from top Chicago restaurants, the event will welcome local professionals, all to benefit Step Up’s mentorship programs that propel girls from Chicago’s under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of professional women.
“We’re excited and grateful to celebrate the fifth year of Shine & Dine this summer,” the nonprofit’s CEO, Jenni Luke, said. “The culinary evening unites community influencers for a terrific celebration, but also raises vital funds that enable our mentorship programs for teen girls.”
Neely will be honored for her work that inspires women and girls. Scales, a member of Step Up’s Class of 2014 and now Kettering University’s Class of 2019, will also share her story during the event’s brief program.
Epicures including Bill Kim (bellyQ), Nicole Pederson (Found), and Erling Wu-Bower (Nico Osteria) will offer guests special tastings. Bang Bang, Farmhouse, Foiled, Honey Butter Fried Chicken, Kaiser Tiger, La Sirena Clandestina, Oak + Char, The Radler, Reverie, The Signature Room at the 95th, Troquet, and Vanille Patisserie will also host tastings. Detroit City Distillery, Lagunitas Brewing, Paramount Events and Lifeway Kefir are also on board to offer sips and hors d’oeuvres.
Tickets are available at suwn.org/sd or by calling 312.904.2000.
The event begins at 6:00 p.m. with a VIP reception featuring exclusive tastings and cocktails for VIP ticket-holders. General admission is at 7:00 p.m.
The event will be held at the Bridgeport Art Center’s Skyline Loft, located at 1200 West 35th Street in Chicago. Complimentary parking is available for guests.
Allstate Insurance Company returns to support the event as the first-ever presenting sponsor of Shine & Dine. Michigan Avenue is the event media partner.
Shine & Dine is chaired by Kathryn Walker of Old Town. Peg Rowe, chairs the Step Up Chicago board of directors, while Evanston’s Angela Elbert chairs Step Up’s national board of directors.
The event’s host committee includes Danni Allen, Dawn Jackson Blatner, Catherine DeOrio, Kristen Field, Diana Fujimura, Ty Fujimura, Jodi Fyfe, Bela Gandhi, Andrew Hayes, Jonny Imerman, Candace Jordan, Erica Bethe Kane, Stephanie Krol, Rebecca Kussmann, Rob McGhee, Stephanie Neely, Daphne Ortiz, Laura Schwartz, Leila Shin, Erin Shea Smith, Scott Smith, Erica Strama, Rebecca Taras, Elaina Vazquez, Kathryn Walker, Val Warner, Nicole Wetzell, Annette Winkelman and Amy and Chris Johnson.
ABOUT STEP UP
Step Up propels girls from under-resourced communities to fulfill their potential by empowering them to become confident, college-bound, career-focused and ready to join the next generation of professional women. Connect at suwn.org.
