Paddle power: Jackson Chance Ping Pong Ball funds NICU families' parking

The Jackson Chance Foundation, in partnership with SPIN CHICAGO, hosted its 9th annual Ping Pong Ball with 300 guests in attendance. Supporters had the option to compete in a ping pong tournament, games and bid on auction items at the 18,000-square-foot ping pong social club in the heart of River North. The nonprofit removes the financial burden of parking for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) babies and their families. 

The event raised more than $315,000 and featured Ping Pong Tournament winner Dwight Blackman. Other notables in the crowd included Kye Martin (NBC 5) who kicked off the VIP hour as emcee, Marion Brooks (NBC 5), Val Warner (ABC 7), Ryan Chiaverni (ABC 7), Jerry Azumah (former Chicago Bear), Jeremy Ross (WGN-TV), Pierre Thomas (former New Orleans Saint), Paris Schutz (WTTW), Chris Petlak (WTMX Radio), Violeta Podrumedic (WTMX Radio) and Nikki Belucci (WTMX Radio).

The Ping Pong Ball is a fun, interactive party benefiting families with critically ill infants in the NICU. A party and fundraiser all rolled up into one that featured everything from a table tennis tournament with special guests to culinary treats, cocktails, auctions, illustrations by Kristine Steiner and new this year, an embroidery swag station.

This year’s Ping Pong Ball chair and board member Ed Kruschka witnessed the power of Jackson Chance when his baby was in the NICU. Ryan and Kelli Swartzendruber also spoke to the importance of the Jackson Chance Foundation as this year’s mission family. Kelli Snider, of Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital of Chicago, was named the winner of the coveted 2023 Jackson Chance Foundation’s Owl Give Award. The Owl Give Award gifts an NICU staff member with an all-expense paid vacation. NICU families, friends, coworkers and employers nominate a deserving team member and the Jackson Chance Foundation board of directors votes on the finalists and winner. 

Carrie and Terry Meghie started the Jackson Chance Foundation in honor of their baby boy, Jackson Chance, who spent all but 48 hours of his short ten-month life in the NICU. Carrie and Terry were fortunate to have the resources and support to spend each and every day with Jackson while in the NICU. During that time, they witnessed firsthand how many babies were without their parents due to the high cost of parking and transportation.

The foundation provides complimentary monthly parking to all NICU families at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital and Rush University Children’s Hospital, which allows for free, round-the-clock access to their babies. The Jackson Chance Foundation hopes to expand to Comer Children's Hospital to help more NICU families. (Photos by Francis Son and Kristine Walton Photography)

About The Jackson Chance Foundation (JCF)

The Jackson Chance Foundation (JCF) nonprofit removes the financial burden of parking fees, giving every family the opportunity to be with their child. Through its NICU Transportation Program, they partner with hospitals to provide complimentary parking passes for families with critically ill babies in the NICU. By providing these passes, they ensure that each NICU baby receives their basic human rights: advocacy; support; and human touch 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In short, they give families access to the best hospitals, neonatal specialists, surgical abilities and nursing staff that they otherwise may have to turn down because of the high cost of parking. The JCF program is available at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Northwestern Prentice Women’s Hospital and Rush University Children’s Hospital.