Event News
Thank you!
Thank you for an incredible evening! Through your generosity, we raised an unprecedented $1.5 million at Red Jacket Optional 2019, with contributions still coming in.
Dear Friends,
Thank you for an incredible evening! Through your generosity, we raised an unprecedented $1.5 million at Red Jacket Optional 2019, with contributions still coming in. Your support influences 5,200 youth through meaningful education during the school day and safe spaces after school. Because of you, young people like Jamion have the courage to create their own vision and act to change the world.
A special thanks to our Event Co-Chairs Ellen-Blair Chube, Mike Teplitsky and Kala & Mike Moynihan and Design Chair Thomas Kehoe and so many others for ensuring the success of our gala.
On behalf of the entire team at Chicago Children’s Choir and our Board of Directors, thank you for making our dreams a reality.
With gratitude,
Josephine Lee
President & Artistic Director
Chicago Children’s Choir
About Tonight's Honorees
Bob and Rose Fealy were captivated by Chicago Children’s Choir from the moment our singers took the stage 12 years ago at Red Jacket Optional. The musical talent, poise and presence of the young singers performing inspired them to get to know CCC better.
Bob and Rose Fealy were captivated by Chicago Children’s Choir from the moment our singers took the stage 12 years ago at Red Jacket Optional. The musical talent, poise and presence of the young singers performing inspired them to get to know CCC better.
Bob and Rose soon learned that thousands of young people across Chicago are brought together by a relatively small team of artists and administrators, meaningful programs and a powerful mission. They have been a part of the CCC family ever since.
Bob and Rose Fealy at Red Jacket Optional.
Bob has served on the CCC Board of Directors since 2011 and remains on the Board following his four-year tenure as Chairman. Under Bob’s leadership, CCC has deepened its impact throughout Chicago and raised unprecedented levels of philanthropic support through the Raising Voices Campaign, a $12 million comprehensive fundraising initiative to elevate the voices of Chicago’s youth.
When asked why they continue to support CCC, the Fealys share that they could never turn their backs on the young people who have provided so much joy, love and inspiration to them and the city of Chicago. They are proud to support an organization committed to inspiring and changing lives through music.
In addition to their support of CCC, the Fealys have been incredibly active in Chicago’s business and philanthropic scenes. Rose has built a successful career in finance, operations, client service and human resources in both nonprofit and private sector organizations and she is the Chief Financial Officer of the Museum of Science and Industry. Bob is a highly successful businessman who has led many early stage technology companies, has advised countless organizations through board service and has founded multiple companies including his most recent startup, ALUMinate.
CCC is proud to honor Bob and Rose Fealy for their many years of support and extraordinary commitment to raising our family of 5,000 voices across Chicago.
Plating Excellence: World-class food for 600+ by BOKA Catering Group Executive Chef Giuseppe Tentori
Learn how BOKA Catering Group Executive Chef and RJO Head Chef Giuseppe Tentori plates world-class food for 600+.
A master of simple, exquisite cuisine, Chef Giuseppe Tentori has earned critical acclaim in Chicago’s culinary scene after moving from Milan, Italy to the states at 19. Chef Tentori was named “Best New Chef” by Food & Wine magazine in 2008, he has received numerous nominations for "Best Chef: Great Lakes" by the James Beard Foundation, three-stars from the Chicago Tribune and the Chicago Sun-Times and four-stars from Time Out Chicago. Under Tentori’s leadership as executive chef at BOKA Restaurant, BOKA earned four Michelin-stars in a row, solidifying the restaurant’s status as one of Chicago’s most sought-after tables. Soon, Chef Tentori will reprise his role as Head Chef of Red Jacket Optional (RJO) for a third year.
Chef Giuseppe Tentori
Chef Tentori and BOKA Catering Group first served RJO during Chicago Children’s Choir’s 60th anniversary season, creating a fine dining experience for a record-breaking evening of $1.25 million raised for CCC. His imaginative cuisine coupled with his admiration of CCC make RJO a noteworthy experience for our attendees: “I love that Chicago Children’s Choir is such a unique organization and what they’re doing for the children is very amazing.”
The first course at RJO 2017. (Photo: Marcin Cymmer)
Last year’s inspired meal at RJO included a first course of red and yellow tomato, mozzarella mousse, endive, radicchio and balsamic pearl followed by an entrée of short ribs, grits, grilled broccolini, roasted carrot risotto tart, whipped ricotta and grilled vegetables finished with a carrot sauce. This menu takes time to prepare, so we asked Chef Tentori how he and his team coordinate a masterful meal for each of our 600+ guests at RJO:
“People think catering is very easy, but there are a lot of moving parts,” Chef Tentori explained. For RJO, some of these challenges include: ordering the food, coordinating the restaurants to cook the food and scheduling nearly 50 chefs and 100 servers from the BOKA Restaurant Group to staff the event. Before Chef Tentori and his team can even begin preparing the evening’s fare, they must transform a portion of The Geraghty into a working kitchen.
Chef Tentori’s team puts the finishing touches on the dessert for RJO 2017. (Photo: Marcin Cymmer)
The place settings at RJO 2017. (Photo: Marcin Cymmer)
Chef Tentori and his BOKA Catering team work extremely well together each year to prepare a meal of the highest quality for our guests at RJO and he looks forward to another fantastic gala in support of Chicago Children’s Choir.
Tom Kehoe Returns to RJO as 2018 Design Chair
What began as teenager buying flowers for his mom transformed into an industry leading career for Tom Kehoe, President of Kehoe Designs and recently named 2018 RJO Design Chair.
What began as teenager buying flowers for his mom transformed into an industry leading career for Tom Kehoe, President of Kehoe Designs and recently named 2018 RJO Design Chair. After finishing college, Kehoe bought the flower shop he once worked for as a delivery driver and found his way into the event industry. He established his own event design firm in 1995 and 20 years later opened The Geraghty, a state-of-the-art events venue Kehoe named after his beloved mother, and home to RJO for the third year this fall.
Tom Kehoe (Photo: Dennis Kwan Photography)
“Custom activations are our forte. We love nothing more than meeting with clients to hear what vision they might have for their event, and then seeing the look on their faces when they walk into the space to see their dream realized,” Kehoe remarked while leading a tour of his design studio, an eclectic labyrinth of covetable furniture, florals, art and sculptures, styled into vignettes which give clients a small taste of what’s possible at Kehoe Designs. And with an in-house staff comprising artists, carpenters, scenic designers, audio-visual professionals and more, the possibilities are virtually limitless.
“We handle a range of events, from an intimate dinner party at a private home to a three-day event on the beach for 3,000 guests where we actually changed the color of Lake Michigan,” Kehoe said. That wide span of capabilities made RJO a perfect fit for Kehoe, who recalls his first encounter with Chicago Children’s Choir around 2014: “The first performance I saw was of three soloists, and I cried at each one. To hear their personal stories, sense their passion, and witness their talent firsthand brought me to tears. Such a moving experience.”
The opening cocktail reception area at RJO 2017. (Photo: Marcin Cymmer)
Tablescapes at RJO 2017 contained features reminiscent of music notes. (Photo: Marcin Cymmer)
Kehoe and his team of designers and specialists first took on RJO during Chicago Children’s Choir’s 60th anniversary season, designing a gala experience that resulted in a record-breaking $1.25 million raised for CCC. His boundless creativity and passion for CCC’s mission continue to make RJO a standout event for our guests each fall. “The ripple effect that happens is profound. CCC impacts not only the nearly 5,000 kids participating, but their families and the communities they live in as well,” Kehoe marveled.
As for what’s in store this year, details are still under wraps, but guests are sure to be thrilled. Kehoe looks forward to yet again playing an integral part in RJO: “When you hear about the amazing success achieved by RJO...and you know you were able to contribute to it, it’s such a rewarding feeling and you’re just thrilled to continue to be a part of it.”
RJO 2018 Honors Bob & Rose Fealy
Red Jacket Optional returns on October 19 honoring outgoing Board Chairman Bob Fealy and his wife Rose for their extraordinary commitment to CCC.
Red Jacket Optional returns on October 19 honoring outgoing Board Chairman Bob Fealy and his wife Rose for their extraordinary commitment to CCC. Under Bob’s leadership, CCC has deepened its impact throughout Chicago and raised unprecedented levels of philanthropic support through the Raising Voices Campaign, a $12 million comprehensive fundraising initiative to elevate the voices of Chicago’s youth.
“My term as Chairman has been an extremely fulfilling experience in service of a mission in which I truly believe, and I’m proud of what our CCC family has accomplished together,” Bob said.
Bob has served on the CCC Board of Directors since 2011 and remains on the Board following his four-year tenure as Chairman. We look forward to celebrating Bob and Rose’s dedication and generosity this fall at Red Jacket Optional.