Play Ball
The Cubs’ Bricks and Ivy Ball was a Major League success.

Bathed in Cubs blue, the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom was filled with so many players that it resembled the Wrigley Field dugout: Alfonso Soriano, Matt Garza, Cubs President Theo Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts joined the entire team and coaching staff as they mingled with 900 of Chicago’s biggest fans and philanthropists. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house when Gigi, the 9-year-old inspiration behind Gigi’s Playhouse (a Down syndrome awareness organization), was featured in a video showcasing her heartfelt appreciation for the Cubs’ support. An auction featuring Wrigley-based experiences—like a slumber party on the field and a gig as scorekeeper for the day—helped rake in $1.25 million for the Cubs Cares foundation.