Event Co-Chairs Cassidy Neveux (left) and Karyn Kruschka with President Renee Stock, center.
Event Co-Chairs Cassidy Neveux (left) and Karyn Kruschka with President Renee Stock, center.

The 70th Annual Gold Coast Fashion Show celebrated seven decades of fashion and philanthropy while launching the Children’s Service Board’s largest fundraising commitment to Lurie Children’s to date: $5 million over four years. Longtime partner Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue presented more than 50 runway looks across two milestone fashion shows—one during the day at The Drake and another in the evening at The Geraghty. Together, the events raised $1.86 million for Lurie Children’s Chicago Institute for Fetal Health, helping provide critical support to families navigating high-risk pregnancies and complex fetal conditions.

Children's Service Board members.
Children's Service Board members.
Stephanie Guerrieri and Jen Weitz.
Stephanie Guerrieri and Jen Weitz.

The event was hosted by the Children’s Service Board, led by President Renee Stock, with Co-Chairs Karyn Kruschka and Cassidy Neveux. The 60-person Children’s Service Board is dedicated to supporting vital programs at Lurie Children’s through philanthropy, fundraising and volunteerism.

Anne Brinsmade, Cassidy Neveux (Event Co-chair), and Joanna DeFelice.
Anne Brinsmade, Cassidy Neveux (Event Co-chair), and Joanna DeFelice.
Maro Zrike, Sofia Colucci, Annalisa David, Nadia Cobalovic, Briar Radtke.
Maro Zrike, Sofia Colucci, Annalisa David, Nadia Cobalovic, Briar Radtke.
Richard and Holly Duran.
Richard and Holly Duran.

More than 600 guests attended the Gold Coast Fashion Show at The Geraghty in Pilsen, kicked off with a lively cocktail reception featuring food stations manned by popular Chicago restaurants, including the Alston, Le Colonial and STK. Following the reception, guests were invited to a seated fashion runway presentation curated by the Children’s Service Board’s longtime partner and exclusive retail sponsor, Neiman Marcus Michigan Avenue. Building on the success of the luncheon show the week prior, Neiman Marcus presented an evening-focused production.

Enjoying the reception were Rachel Pasquini, Kacky Fetzer, Emily Flaherty, Liz Fetzer, and Alona Gornick.
Enjoying the reception were Rachel Pasquini, Kacky Fetzer, Emily Flaherty, Liz Fetzer, and Alona Gornick.
Erin Gilfillan, Tracy Michaels, and Renee Stock, Kathy Mellon.
Erin Gilfillan, Tracy Michaels, and Renee Stock, Kathy Mellon.

The Lurie Children’s commitment will support groundbreaking research and perinatal mental health, while helping families in need with expenses such as parking, meals and transportation while receiving critical care. CIFH is the leading fetal center in Illinois and one of only a handful of medical centers in the world with the expertise to treat life-altering conditions before babies are born. Support from the Gold Coast Fashion Show will help ensure mothers and families experiencing high-risk pregnancies receive compassionate, comprehensive and personalized care throughout every stage of their journeys — from initial diagnosis and delivery to newborn care and decades of pediatric care.

Shabeena Alam, Shamim Patel, Nazia Raoof, Sadaf Siddiqui.
Shabeena Alam, Shamim Patel, Nazia Raoof, Sadaf Siddiqui.
Jeffery Stegenga, Pam Stegenga, Karyn Sathy, Anup Sathy.
Jeffery Stegenga, Pam Stegenga, Karyn Sathy, Anup Sathy.
Stefanie McDonald, Erin Gilfillan, and Danielle Hoeg, with Kathy Mellon.
Stefanie McDonald, Erin Gilfillan, and Danielle Hoeg, with Kathy Mellon.

One of the highlights of the evening occurred when Lurie Children’s patient, Mila, took to the stage with her big brother, Gianluca. Mila, now eight-years old, was the first fetal surgery, while in utero, for spina bifida.

Nidhi Patel and Nadia Cobalovic.
Nidhi Patel and Nadia Cobalovic.
Samantha Cohen, Hailey Nesci and Grace Dillon.
Samantha Cohen, Hailey Nesci and Grace Dillon.

Photo Credit: Sean Su of Purple Photo Group