At a time still challenged by a pandemic, 17 area charities on Feb. 11 shared more than $1.6 million raised by the 2022 Chicago Auto Show's benevolent event, First Look for Charity, and two attendees left with the keys to new vehicles.

 

The black-tie benefit, which is held the evening before the auto show opens its 10-day public run, boosted its total raised to more than $58 million over 30 editions.

 

"First Look for Charity is a great instrument for the area's new-car dealers to show the positive impact they have on their community," said Bill Haggerty, chairman of this year's auto show. "All the benefiting charities are involved locally, so the money that's raised in Chicago stays in Chicago."

 

As the name of the event implies, those who attend First Look for Charity are part of the premier viewing of each year's Chicago Auto Show. Tickets to the fundraiser are $275 each, and purchasers can elect to have their proceeds equally benefit all participating charities, or any one charity of their choosing. For the event, the auto show floor is replete with live entertainment and a variety of exquisite food and beverage stations.

 

A highlight of the evening was the drawing for the event's grand prizes, this year two 2022 models: a Buick Enclave Avenir and a GMC Yukon Denali. Two Chicagoans took top honors. Vasiliki Katris went to the event when a family friend who could not attend gave his ticket to her, then she listened as that ticket's stub was drawn from the drum for the Yukon. Richard J. Green Jr. reached the stage almost immediately to claim the Yukon.

 

The proceeds from Katris's ticket went to Franciscan Community Benefit Services, one of the event's benefiting nonprofits. Green directed his ticket purchase to be shared by all 17 charities. Other participating nonprofits included the 100 Club of Illinois, Advocate Health Care, the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago.

 

Also, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, Glenwood Academy, Habitat for Humanity, Susan G. Komen Chicago, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, and Lydia Home & Safe Families for Children.

 

And, Misericordia, New Star, Special Olympics Illinois, Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, and the Jesse White Tumbling Team.

 

The Enclave and Yukon both were compliments of Buick-GMC and the Chicagoland Buick-GMC dealers.