Nearly 700 guests and more than 30 current and former Bears players attended the 26th Bears Care Gala Saturday night in the United Club at Soldier Field.
The Gala raises funds to provide continued support in promising ongoing research in the fight against breast and ovarian cancer, in addition to funding new initiatives and clinical trials, several of which focus on addressing health inequity in cancer care for women of color.
Those in attendance included Bears owner Virginia Halas McCaskey, chairman George H. McCaskey, President and CEO Kevin Warren, general manager Ryan Poles, coach Matt Eberflus, assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, defensive coordinator Alan Williams, special teams coordinator Richard Hightower, cornerbacks coach/defensive passing game coordinator Jon Hoke, co-director of player personnel Jeff King, director of football administration Matt Feinstein and senior vice president and general counsel Cliff Stein.
Bears players on hand were Chase Allen, Andrew Billings, Ja'Tyre Carter, Adrian Colbert, Kellen Diesch, Daurice Fountain, Tremaine Edmunds, Dieter Eiselen, DeMarquis Gates, Trevis Gipson, Khalil Herbert, Jalyn Holmes, Jaylon Johnson, Braxton Jones, Jaylon Jones, Justin Jones, Cole Kmet, Doug Kramer Jr., Darnell Mooney, DJ Moore, Lucas Patrick, Jack Sanborn, Greg Stroman Jr., Robert Tonyan, DeMarcus Walker, P.J. Walker, Sterling Weatherford and Cody Whitehair.
Former Bears who attended were Anthony Adams, Jerry Azumah, Hall of Famer Jimbo Covert, Matt Forte, Kaseem Sinceno and Chris Zorich.
The Gala began with Orange Carpet arrivals that were presented by ESPN Chicago and hosted by Adams and Bears reporter Lauren Screeden at the Dr Pepper patio. ESPN Radio play-by-play announcer Jeff Joniak emceed the event.
United Airlines serves as the Exclusive Airline of the Bears Care Gala and provided significant support in enhancing many of the featured auction items.
Live auction items included a train trip for 10 to a Bears road game and an executive suite for 20 to the Taylor Swift Eras Tour concert June 3 at Soldier Field.
Bears Care was established as a fund of the Robert R. McCormick Foundation in 1995. The first Gala was held in 1996 and continues to be Bears Care's signature event, raising funds to support local breast and ovarian cancer research and treatment programs.
Bears Care, which incorporated as a 501 © 3 organization in 2005, has issued grants totaling nearly $27 million to more than 100 qualifying agencies since 2006.
Bears players, coaches and executives were at Soldier Field May 13 to walk the orange carpet and help support cancer research at the annual Bears Care Gala.
