LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Lovie Smith sat in his office Thursday morning, glancing down at a piece of paper that will soon become a keepsake.

The Bears coach plans to read the two or three paragraphs that he penned on the sheet later in the day when he introduces President Barack Obama at a Democratic fundraiser in Chicago.

Lovie Smith is slated to introduce Barack Obama at a fundraiser Thursday night.

“I’m very excited that my wife, MaryAnne, and I get a chance to meet the President of the United States,” Smith said. “We’ve been big supporters of his for a while.”

Smith will be part of a small group that dines with Obama tonight at the home of the president’s friend, Penny Pritzker, and her husband, Bryan Traubert. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler will also attend the gathering, along with former Bulls guard B.J. Armstrong.

Smith has never met Obama, though the two spoke on the phone a few years ago when the president was an Illinois senator. At the time, Obama offered his support for his favorite football team.

Tonight, Smith intends to present Obama with some Bears apparel and also discuss a possible future meeting in Washington.

“I’m going to say that I hope we’ll be visiting the White House as Super Bowl champs and I can give the president a Chicago Bears ball to toss around the South Lawn,” Smith said with a smile.

Early Thursday, Smith met Miss America, Katie Stam, at Halas Hall. The 23-year-old avid Bears fan from Seymour, Ind., toured the team’s practice facility before making a nearby appearance at Banner Day Camp.

Asked about being introduced to Miss America and the President of the United States on the same day, Smith said: “You normally don’t have a chance to meet two high-profile [individuals] like that, especially two high-profile [individuals] that are Chicago Bears fans."