2013 First Look Charity Chicago Auto Show Charity Benefit Raises $2.2 Million

CHICAGO (Feb. 8) - Eighteen area charities tonight shared in more than $2 million raised by the 2013 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, raised $2,216,000, boosting its total to nearly $37 million over 22 years.

"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 Michael Ettleson, 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 $250 each, and purchasers can elect to have their proceeds equally benefit all participating charities, or any one charity for which they have an affinity. For the event, the auto show floor is replete with a variety of food and beverage stations.

A highlight of the evening was the drawing for the event's grand prizes, a 2013 Buick Encore and a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport. Julie Becker of Wadsworth won the former and Dacien Barry of Barrington Hills won the latter.

The proceeds of Becker's ticket purchase benefited The Cradle Foundation; Barry's purchase was designated to benefit the 100 Club of Chicago. Other organizations involved in the 2013 First Look for Charity included Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago; Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago; and Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet.

Also, Clearbrook; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Franciscan Community Benefit Services; Franciscan St. James Health; the Ray Graham Association for People with Disabilities; JDRF; the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago (formerly Children's Memorial Hospital) and March of Dimes.

And, Misericordia; Respiratory Health Association; Special Olympics Illinois; Spina Bifida Association of Illinois; and the Jesse White Tumbling Team.

The Santa Fe Sport was provided compliments of Hyundai Motor America and Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Hyundai Dealers. The Encore was provided compliments of Buick and Chicagoland Buick-GMC Dealers.