EVENT

    The 10th Annual Cara Gala

    May 16, 2025
    The Geraghty

Celebrating 10 Years of Our Signature Event

The 10th Annual Cara Gala presented by Loop Capital and the Owens Foundation is an opportunity for our community to come together in celebration of our mission, while uplifting and recognizing partners who are working to build a more inclusive economy for Chicago and beyond.

Date

Friday, May 16

Time

6:00 – 11:00 pm CT

Venue

The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne, Chicago

Honoring

BMO

Trailblazer Award
Eric Smith, Vice Chairman, accepting

Jeanette Grigsby

Jesse Teverbaugh Distinguished Alumni Award

Re-Live our Event

Our Program

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Video

Past Honorees Part 1

Our past Jesse Teverbaugh Distinguished Alumni honorees detail their life before discovering Cara Collective.
Speech

President & CEO’s Remarks

Cara Collective President & CEO, Kathleen St. Louis Caliento, shares the importance of legacy in her address to attendees of the 10th Annual Cara Gala.
Video

Past Honorees Part 2

Our past Jesse Teverbaugh Distinguished Alumni honorees share their journey through Cara Collective and what they learned about themselves.
Award

Trailblazer Award: BMO

Eric Smith, Vice Chairman for BMO, accepts the Trailblazer Award at the 10th Annual Cara Gala.
Speech

Remarks of Gratitude

Cara Collective’s Chief External Affairs Officer, Tara Harper, delivers remarks of gratitude at the 10th Annual Cara Gala.
Speech

Senator Durbin Remarks

Illinois Senator Dick Durbin greets attendees of the 10th Annual Cara Gala.
Video

Past Honorees Part 3

Our past Jesse Teverbaugh Distinguished Alumni honorees share how they’ve transformed their lives since coming to Cara Collective.
Speech

Board Chair Remarks

Cara Collective’s Board Chair, J. Todd Phillips, addresses the crowd at the 10th Annual Cara Gala.
Video

Jeanette’s Story

Jeanette, our 2025 Jesse Teverbaugh Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, shares her journey of serving a federal prison sentence to finding a second chance.
Award

Distinguished Alumni Award

The 2025 Jesse Teverbaugh Distinguished Alumni Award is presented to Cara graduate and current CTA manager Jeanette Grigsby.
Speech

Owens Family Closing Remarks

Mary Kate Mackin from our founding family closes out the 10th Annual Cara Gala.

Support Our Event

Questions? Contact Annie Drew at adrew@carachicago.org or (312) 628-7909.

Thank You to our Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor

Transformations Sponsor

Jobs Sponsor

Opportunity Sponsor

Hope Sponsor

Equity Sponsor

In-Kind Sponsor

* As of 5/13/25