On Saturday, July 29, the 17th Annual Goombay Bash will take over Chicago's Navy Pier Grand Ballroom in Caribbean-style fashion to raise money for cancer research. Organized by nonprofit The H Foundation, the 2017 Goombay Bash is expected to welcome 1,000+ guests, including celebrities like David Eigenberg, a star of the NBC show "Chicago Fire," for a night of Goombay Smashes, great bites and a lively auction.
The H Foundation's pledge to take down cancer is one it takes very seriously — in 2016 alone, the organization raised $710,000 for basic science cancer research at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University. Over the last 15 years, it's raised more than $7 million. The funds are used as seed money, and the donations have been leveraged into more than $50 million of research dollars toward finding a cure.
Incredible.
John Rot, owner of Hortons Home Lighting, was part of the team that created Goombay Bash back in 2001 after a Hortons employee lost her battle with cancer. The industry has rallied around this event and adopted it as an unofficial fundraiser, with manufacturers donating product and sponsorships, markets donating hotel stays and plenty of individuals donating money to the cause. The impact they’ve made is so great that, this year, the H Foundation will present the first-ever "Guiding Light" Award to six lighting manufacturers who have supported the event since its inception.
I've had the pleasure of attending Goombay Bash several times, and it's really that — a pleasure. Although this year's event is right around the corner, it's not too late to get involved. You can buy tickets and attend the actual event (Chicago is great this time of year!); purchase raffle tickets if you can't make it in person; donate items, like product, gift cards, event tickets, etc.; or even just write a check. Click here to make that happen.
Let’s make the 17th Annual Goombay Bash one for the books.
