foster a child
join our team
donate today

Heart of Gold Ball

Heart of Gold Ball

The 2025 Heart of Gold Ball will be held on Friday, March 7, at Rockwell on the River in Chicago. The theme is ‘A Child at Heart’ and reflects our hope that each child we encounter is given the chance to connect with their inner child, and that with Hephzibah’s guidance, will have every opportunity possible to experience a happy childhood. If you are interested in information about Heart of Gold Ball 2025, contact Whitney Gravely.

View Image Gallery

Interested in Sponsorship Opportunities? Becoming a sponsor for the Heart of Gold Ball offers an excellent opportunity to promote your business while supporting Hephzibah at the same time!

Sponsor the Heart of Gold Ball
In-Kind Donation Form

2025 Award Recipients

Every year at the Heart of Gold Ball, awards are given to honor those who have made a lasting impact on the lives of Hephzibah children and families.

2025 Heart of Gold Award

Northwestern Medicine

In addition to its international acclaim as a top provider of health and medical care, Northwestern Medicine is also celebrated as a leading community health advocate, delivering services throughout the state to improve the health status of individuals and their communities. For many years, Northwestern Medicine has been one of Hephzibah’s most generous partners providing both essential financial support for traumatized children living in Hephzibah Home and valuable volunteer support. Throughout the year, teams of employees help with projects ranging from decorating the home for the holidays to sorting gifts for children in foster care to serving Sunday Suppers at Hephzibah Home.

2025 Heart of the Home Award

Kids Resale Event Managers

 
Since 2017, a dedicated, hardworking team of women has volunteered tens of thousands of hours sorting, tagging, and selling mountains of gently used clothes, toys, books, and games, for one of the community’s most highly anticipated events – the semi-annual Hephzibah Kids Resale Event. Under the leadership of the Resale Event Managers, to date, the events have raised nearly $250,000 to support Hephzibah programs. And Hephzibah isn’t the only winner. Families can purchase quality, affordable clothing, toys, and accessories for their children, along with the added benefit of helping our environment by diverting thousands of pounds of clothing from landfills.
 

2025 Community Partner Award

Oak Park School District 97

 
In 1974, Hephzibah established the Day Care Program to meet the community’s growing need for enriching, nurturing, and affordable childcare. In the past 50 years, the program has grown exponentially and consistently adapted to meet the changing needs of the community – and we did it all with the support and partnership of Oak Park School District 97. Today, more than 800 elementary school-aged children participate in Hephzibah’s After School Program held onsite in each of the eight Oak Park elementary schools throughout the academic year, and the full-day Summer Day Care Program held at Lincoln School.
 

2025 Heart of Gold Information

Event Forms

In-Kind Donation Form

To donate an auction item for the Heart of Gold Ball 2025, please download THIS FORM, fill it out, and email to Whitney Gravely.

Heart of Gold Ball Committees

Honorary Committee Members

Mary & William DiSomma
Michelle Durpetti & Collin Pierson
Jodi Fyfe & Devon Quinn
Maria Garvy

Heart of Gold Ball Host Committee Members

Emily Carroll
Amy & Tim Davis
Robin Titus-Schwadron
Kristina Woodward

Hephzibah Board of Directors

Hephzibah Board of Directors

  • Lisa Azu-Popow, Treasurer
  • Jennifer Ellis-Jackson, President
  • Lisa Emerson, Immediate Past President
  • Amy Muran-Felton, Secretary
  • Donna Rolf, Vice President

Hephzibah Board Members

  • Gal Apeloig
  • Greg Flinn
  • John Ide
  • Jennifer Ierardi
  • Alex Leibowitz
  • Kenna MacKinnon
  • John McConville
  • Lynde O’Brien
  • Marcia Preston
  • Rondell Richardson
  • Peter Senechalle
  • Byron Taylor
  • Farah Usmani
  • Craig Williams
  • Jon Yates
Previous Heart of Gold Award Winners

The Heart of Gold Award honors individuals, organizations or corporations who have exhibited outstanding personal or professional achievement affecting disadvantaged children on a local or national level.

2024 Paul M. Angell Family Foundation
2023 The Coe Family and the Be the Boat Fund
2022 Senator Don Harmon / T. Kendall & Patricia Hunt
2021 Mary & Bill DiSomma
2020 The Chicago Bears
2019 Jodi Fyfe
2018 Retail Properties of America, Inc. (RPAI)
2017 Mary Anne Brown
2016 Bryan and Amanda Bickell Foundation
2015 Jeff Mauro
2014 Hinsdale Junior Woman’s Club
2013 NOW Foods
2012 Oak Park-River Forest Community Foundation
2011 Lerner Family Foundation
2010 The Western Auxiliary
2009 Mr. John Buck, The John Buck Company
2008 Hedge Funds Care
2007 General Electric Company
2006 Oak Park Auxiliary Board
2005 David Crumbaugh
2004 Jennifer Capriati
2003 Dave and Lynde O’Brien
2002 Kim Lutz
2001 Ina Broeman
2000 Ron Fox
1999 Leo Burnett Company, Inc.
1998 Dennis Kenny
1997 Carol Lingenfelter

Previous Heart of the Home Award Winners

The Heart of the Home Award recognizes outstanding service and commitment to Hephzibah Children’s Association. This award honors those who have supported Hephzibah’s mission through a particular project or program.

2024 Eric Friedman
2023 Megan Scheck
2022 NA
2021 Gene & Georgetti & The Durpetti Family
2020 9.11 LemonAid
2019 Hephzibah Heartmate Volunteers
2018 Susan Ellefson & The Peninsula Chicago Hotel
2017 NA
2016 In memory of Jane Hedges
2015 Kathy Nugent
2014 Brian Druley and Susan Stark
2013 Hephzibah Huskies
2012 Jan Maxson, Director of Hephzibah’s Day Care Program
2011 Anne Boyle & Susan Reich
2010 Amy and Jim Laurenzo
2009 Mr. James Van Vliet & Mr. Michael Flynn – The Avis Budget Group Budget Rent-A-Car, O’Hare
2008 Keith Elkins
2007 Oak Park Women’s Guild
2006 Mike Cardamone
2005 Mark Shaker
2004 Bob and Jeff Ebert

2024 Heart of Gold Ball Silver Sponsors

2024 Heart of Gold Ball Table Sponsors

Sign Up Now to Learn More about Hephzibah

Your Donation Will Impact a Child's Life.

donate today