Night of Promise began in 2005 to raise funds for the Cradle Cares Humanitarian Aid Program, which provided direct aid to orphanages in Russia.  Although our Cradle Russia program has ceased operations, we will continue to hold a Night of Promise due to the overwhelming success of this unique event. 

Proceeds from the 2010 Night of Promise will be used to support The Cradle's outstanding programs and services for children, expectant women and families.  Our promise is to provide lifelong support to anyone touched by adoption, and to help create, sustain and preserve nurturing families.

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Six-year-old Lia Potter was a featured presenter at The Cradle Foundation’s Fifth Annual Night of Promise fundraising event on Saturday, April 24 at Abt Electronics in Glenview.    

"The Cradle means that I was born in my mom and dad's hearts, instead of in my mom's tummy,” Lia told the 175 guests in attendance.  “It also means that now I have a future full of possibilities, without having to let go of my past."

Lia, who was adopted from China in 2004, joined other Cradle adopted persons, adoptive parents and a Cradle birthmother in sharing what The Cradle and adoption means to them.  The evening generated more than $35,000 for Cradle programs and services. 

Night of Promise also featured 13 gourmet food stations set up in Abt’s state-of-the-art demonstration kitchens.  Noted chefs, caterers and bakers from Chicago, the North Shore and Wisconsin offered a tempting array of appetizers, entrees and desserts for guests to sample.     

Cradle parents and 2005 winners of “The Next Food Network Star,” Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh of The Hearty Boys, demonstrated how to prepare mouth-watering southern fried chicken, bourbon mashed sweet potatoes and creamed collard greens.

Gourmet fare wasn’t the evening’s only attraction.  SugarStrings, a trio of talented young cousins ages 12, 12 and 17, played beautiful classical music.  Cradle children and their friends contributed to the evening’s success by creating original hand-painted vases and watercolors that were sold in a silent auction.  Cradle dad David Brittsan was the winner of the $1,000 cash raffle and graciously donated his prize back to The Cradle.  

"Night of Promise is a wonderful event that gets better each year," said co-chairs Penelope Boardman and Amy Novicki.  "We are very grateful to Abt for providing such an excellent venue, to our fabulous volunteer chefs and speakers, and to all of our sponsors, in-kind donors and guests for their generosity.  The funds raised will help The Cradle fulfill its promise to create, sustain and preserve nurturing families."

Last, but not least, a huge shout-out to our Night Of volunteers who so enthusiastically ran the event.  Thank you very much for your hard work and dynamic energy!

Sponsors

Thank you to our generous 2010 sponsors

Gold Sponsor
$2,500 Level

Perkins Coie LLP

Silver Sponsors
$1,000 Level

Penelope and Christopher
  Boardman
Clarity Group, Inc. - Anna Hajek

Special Sponsors
$2,000 Level

Marilyn and Charles J. Sted

$1,000 Level

Mindy and Jon Gray
Roxanne and Rocco Martino
Janet and Steve McDonald

Bar Underwriter
$1,500 Level

Marge and Kevin Kellen

Chef Supply Underwriters
$500 Level

David Brittsan
Marge and Kevin Kellen
Nielsen-Massey Vanillas
Mark and Phyllis Orzechowski

Tasting Station Underwriter
$400 Level

Marge and Kevin Kellen

Bronze Sponsors
$300 Level

Caryn and Jon Africk
Pamela Amos
Atom Associates -
   Amy and Tom Novicki
Prue and Frank Beidler
Mary and Jim Connelly
Susan and James Florsheim
Victoria and Mark Fromm
Pamela Gray
Marliss Levin and Gil Levy
Kathy McRae
The Northridge Group, Inc.
The PrivateBank
Jessie and Joel Solomon
Ellen and Steve Warsaw