Where can you find gangsters, flappers, The Blues Brothers, and a parade of restaurants all coming together for a good cause? Only at A Night in Old Chicago! The event was presented on Friday evening by United Way of La Porte County and it took place at the Blue Chip Casino’s spectacular Stardust Event Center.
This is the biggest event in Northwest Indiana for United Way of La Porte County. Nearly 600 people showed up, many dressed in 1920s garb. Dave Sisk, the Manager of Community Engagement for United Way of La Porte County was very pleased with the turnout.
“This is our biggest fundraiser. Early estimation is that we’ll raise over $70,000, just tonight. This is a nice night for people to come out and enjoy themselves all while giving back to the community,” Sisk said. “The turnout is great. It always is. It’s amazing that this community of La Porte County comes out to support United Way. This event helps us get to over a million dollars every year which we in turn put back out into the community to the 22 agencies that we sponsor.”
Upon entering the Stardust Event Center, the first things you notice are all the items available at the silent auction. Many businesses donated products and services for patrons bidding pleasure. Over 200 items were available to bid on. There was also a raffle. A few notable items in the raffle were a 1972 Mustang and an iPad. New mobile biding and state of the art technology was used for the silent auction to make the bidding and checkout process easier. Smartly dressed waiters and waitresses carried trays of gorgeous hors d’oeuvres, wines, and champagne. A professional photographer was available with a 1920s backdrop to guests so they could capture and keep the night’s memories.
Inside the large banquet hall, guests mingled and ate food that was offered from the restaurants that lined the perimeter of the room. Live entertainment was provided all night by "Me & The Boys", and The Blues Brothers. Flapper and gangster impersonators weaved their way in and out of the crowd stopping for a photo or to razz a guest.
One of those guests was Marie Foster, Fund Development Officer at Purdue University North Central. She was there to represent PNC and support United Way of La Porte County.
“We wanted to be a part of this. United Way does so many things to help out the community. Getting everyone together here to support each other and network is such a positive thing,” Foster said. “I love the 20s theme! It’s so fun!”
Food and beverage establishments include: Batch 19, Bit of Swiss, Blue Chip, Designer Desserts, Eli's Cheesecake, Galveston Steak House, Gino’s East, India House, Little Chocolates, Long Beach Country Club, Parea, Potawattomie Country Club, Rodini's, Strongbow Inn, Top Dog, United Beverage, and more!
Major sponsors for the event: Sullair and Blue Chip Casino.
Click here to view the first photo gallery!!
Click here to view the second photo gallery!!
Photos from second gallery taken by Richard Warner of LaPorteCountyLife.
To find out more about United Way of La Porte County, check out their website or go to their Facebook page!