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Top Hat Ball Leadership
Event Chairs
Sandy & Mike Herlihy
Event Committee
Ana Armbruster
Lindsey Burnette
Carie Carney
Lauren Crittenden
Will Dale
Cayla Dodaro
Carol Donahue
Courtney Farrell
Mackenzie Grodecki
Mike Herlihy
Sandy Herlihy
Laura Karlins
Tim Kueker
Juliana Leone
Michelle Mattia
Natalie Miller
Kate Moore
Binna Porter
Jacqui Ramsey
Catie Schmidt
Max Schmidt
Dennis Szarzynski
Peggy Szarzynski
Paul Toback
Jennifer Turcich
Sue Wick
Abbie Winfrey
Jeannine Zupo – Director of Signature Events
Friends of the Year
2024 — Jackie and Frank Murnane
2023 — Catie and Max Schmidt
2022 — Sandy and Mike Herlihy
2021 — Peg and John Haskins
2020 — Becky and John Duffey
2019 — David Pierro
2018 — Jeanne and George Webster
2017 — Aon
2016 — Karen J. Golden
2015 — The Foglia Family Foundation
2014 — Bud and Jim Porter
2013 — Carol and Mike Donahue
2012 — Andrea Billhardt
2011 — Gary, Jean & Beth Lederer
2010 — George and Pam Rion
2009 — Greg Osko
2008 — Jim and Lynn Armbruster
2007 — Joel Thompson
2006 — Robert Paddock/Paddock Publications
2005 — Bruce Jensen and Gail Ludewig/Total Works
2004 — Kevin Acker/West Suburban Bank
2003 — Senator James “Pate” Philip
2002 — Everett Van Der Molen
2001 — Congressman Henry Hyde
2000 — Robert Bernard
1999 — Dennis Langley and Peter Cyrus
1999 — Senator Steven J. Rauschenberger
1998 — Robert Smetana
1998 — Gwendolyn S. Henry
1997 — Father John Guiney
1996 — James D. Anderson
1995 — Jean Jordan
1994 — Jim Ford
1993 — Dennis Zimmerman
1992 — Michael Brenan
1991 — Richard Theriault
1990 — Gale Sayers
1989 — John P. Frazee
1988 — Birger Nyborg
1987 — Paul Greening
1986 — Thomas O. Myers, Jr.
1985 — Doris Whitney
1984 — Erhardt Weidmann
1983 — Richard Rathman
1982 — Edwin Deicke
1981 — Hiriam Sibley
Top Hat History
The ball was established in 1997 when donors Jim Ford and Len Patyka chaired Marklund’s first-ever black tie gala. The event was held at the Shedd Aquarium and netted $50,000, a great accomplishment for a first-year event! The ball immediately outgrew the Shedd space the following year and has moved to many venues since then, including the Field Museum, Union Station, Navy Pier, and Marriott hotels.
Since its inception, the ball has raised more than $11,237,000 in net proceeds, which has supported Marklund’s general operating and endowment funds.