Tickets are now on sale for the 28th annual Bears Care Gala, the team's signature philanthropic event, set for Saturday, May 10 at Soldier Field's United Club. This special evening brings together fans, corporate partners and members of the Bears organization to raise funds for breast and ovarian cancer research and treatment programs in Chicago. Tickets can be purchased at ChicagoBears.com/BearsCareGala.
The evening will begin at 6 p.m. and feature cocktail receptions, a formal program, dinner, dancing and live and silent auctions showcasing exclusive Chicago Bears memorabilia and experiences. The Gala will also welcome Chicago Bears front office executives, football operations staff and current and former players, including Hall of Famer Devin Hester, reinforcing the organization's deep-rooted commitment to the cause. A list of confirmed attendees will be posted and updated on the Bears Care Gala website as the event approaches.
For those unable to attend, there are multiple ways to contribute, including donating auction items, sponsoring the event, purchasing tickets for others or participating in the silent auction online. The silent auction catalog and registration details will be available in early May. Full participation details can be found on the Bears Care Gala website.
Since its inception, the Bears Care Gala has played a critical role in funding innovative breast and ovarian cancer research, with a particular focus on addressing health disparities in women's cancer care. Through the generosity of attendees and sponsors, the event has contributed millions of dollars to support breakthrough medical studies, community health programs and patient services across Chicago.
In late 2024, Bears Care distributed grants totaling $900,000 to its medical partners, furthering its commitment to cancer research, but also equity in accessing high-quality cancer screenings, diagnostics and therapies, regardless of zip code or financial status. Key current initiatives include:
- Researching the efficacy of scalp cooling in a diverse population who may not have insurance or means to access this approach to hair salvage during chemotherapy
- Providing resources to help deliver free high quality mammography to women residing in Chicago's disconnected and disinvested neighborhoods
- Helping fund the development of a reproductive tissue cell atlas for gene expression and regulation that includes data from black and brown women to foster a comprehensive understanding of gynecologic disease development and disparity in outcomes
In the laboratory and at the patient's bedside, Bears Care seeks to help fund research programs as they advance from hypotheses to in vivo testing to clinical trial with the goal of securing national funding for new drugs, therapies, devices and diagnostics that can change cancer care. Key current research efforts include:
- Testing hypotheses that a subset of Triple Negative Breast Cancer tumors depend on protein translation for survival, can be identified by their high levels of gene signature, and can be targeted by plitidepsin, a synthetic anti-cancer drug.
- Studying the cellular and molecular changes that occur as fallopian tube lesions develop (where many ovarian cancers originate) and identify how progestin and vitamin D inhibit these lesions by affecting the cell genetic landscape.
- Supporting a clinical trial for patients with metastatic ER+HER2-breast cancer and the ESR1 mutation studying the efficacy of adding a previously approved medication to current standard therapy.
An overview of where proceeds from the 2024 Bears Care Gala are currently at work can be found here.
Every ticket purchased, donation made and bid placed in the silent auction directly supports lifesaving research and expands access to care for those who need it most. To learn more, purchase tickets or explore ways to contribute, visit ChicagoBears.com/BearsCareGala.
