The Service Club of Chicago's Spring Luncheon: A master class in style and fundraising

The Service Club of Chicago hosted its annual Spring Hat Luncheon at the Ritz-Carlton May 13 and it was one for the ages! Every single guest brought their A-game as far as hats and style. It was a record-breaking, sold-out event (410 tickets sold!), that looked like it stepped right out of the pages of Bazaar magazine.

And, speaking of Bazaar, the keynote speaker figured prominently in this publication having had one of her dramatic chapeaux featured on the cover, no less! Famed milliner Kat Cole, founder and designer for Kat & Clarese Luxury Accessories, participated in an informative Q&A with beloved Windy City Live co-host Val Warner. They discussed the finer points of hat-making and how she gets inspired. During the convo, some of her designs were worn by models in fashions provided by Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue in a mini-fashion show.

The afternoon kicked off with a reception where guests mixed, mingled, admired each other’s hats and shopped a silent auction. A beautiful floral backdrop provided the perfect photo opportunity for the chic crowd.

The event was expertly co-chaired by Paula Borg, Kathleen Haines-Findley and Sherry Lea Holson. All three looked stunning – Sherry wore a high spray of white feathers on a headband; Paula was in a delightful polka dot headband with a huge pink bow that matched her dress, and Kathleen was a vision in fuchsia from head to toe. All head turners!

A live auction was conducted by our friend Molly Morse Limmer from Freeman’s | Hindman Auctions. She did a great job keeping the rather noisy crowd engaged all the while raising record funds. (There are still donations coming in but, right now, the event has raised over $300K!)

One of the surprise live auction items was dinner and cocktails with the Golden Bachelors, Pascal Ibgui, Jordan Heller and Michael Stevens. Denise Tomasello and Peggy DeVorse were the lucky winners! (They sold the package twice at $4600)

The event had so many moving parts, there was hardly time to eat lunch! Next up, was the announcement of the winners of the hat contest. There were five categories: Royal Ascot (won by Belvon Walker); Best Chapeau (won by Greg Hyder); Custom Creation (won by Cheryl Coleman); Chic Fascinator (won by Deonna Melton) and Flower Crown (Samantha Borland).

The Service Club of Chicago is one of the city's oldest nonprofits having been founded in 1890. It is an all volunteer, women-led organization that provides high-impact grants for tangible items that help or improve deserving nonprofits' needs in the areas of social service, health, education, cultural programs and more. The Service Club pays directly for the items being granted rather than giving cash directly to grantees.