Anchor Ball, hosted by Saint Clement Parish in Chicago, was nothing short of spectacular. Held at the Marriott Chicago Downtown Magnificent Mile, this biennial fundraiser for the church and its thriving elementary school attracted over 600 enthusiastic guests. With its spacious event spaces and accommodating staff, the Marriott has become a reliable venue for the event, providing the perfect setting for the Saint Clement community to come together.
This year’s theme, “Through the Eras,” was inspired by Taylor Swift’s record-breaking tour. The decor featured nostalgic photos from past Anchor Balls alongside pastel clouds of Baby’s Breath adorning the tables. The excitement kicked off early as volunteers and Five Grain Events orchestrated seamless preparations. AV Chicago and Encore handled the lighting, draping, and AV needs.
Guests arrived to a lively cocktail hour, with hors d’oeuvres and drinks flowing thanks to the Marriott’s catering team. Champs & a Chance and Heads or Tails raffle chances were for sale and Parishioners could purchase a mystery bottle of wine worth between $50-250. The silent auction offered unique treasures, while behind the scenes, the Five Grain team worked tirelessly to ensure smooth transitions, from stage setups to volunteer coordination.
Purple Photo Group captured every moment and provided a fun photobooth experience which used AI to identify guests’ photos as they were being taken. After the event the guests could easily locate photos which included them instead of combing through hundreds to find what they were looking for.
As guests were invited to be seated for the program, the Chicago Ballroom was alive with music and energy, enhanced by performances from VIP Violin Co.’s Kat V, who blended DJ beats with electric violin melodies.
Dinner was served amidst a backdrop of gratitude and celebration, with sponsors and volunteers being acknowledged for their contributions. The Marriott staff ensured every detail of the service was perfect. Upgraded wine bottles added an elegant touch to the tables and served as an additional fundraising source for Saint Clement.
The highlight of the evening came in the last moments of the paddle raise, led by the dynamic team at Raising Paddles. Excitement peaked as the total funds raised climbed to just over $998,000, prompting a generous donor to step forward and bring the final tally to $1,000,000—the first seven-figure total in Anchor Ball history!
Once the formal program concluded, guests mingled, danced, and celebrated the community’s achievements.
Anchor Ball was a testament to the generous and fun-loving spirit of the Saint Clement Parish community. With an incredible $1,000,000+ raised to support the parish and school, the event truly exemplified what happens when a community comes together with purpose and passion. Cheers!
