Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy will headline this April’s American Red Cross Evening of Stars benefit in Uptown Normal. (Chicago Bears Facebook page)
By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON -The Monsters of the Midway are receiving equal time from the American Red Cross of Central and Southern Illinois after an appearance last year by rival Green Bay Packers star quarterback Aaron Rodgers produced fundraising and attendance records.
The organization’s 26th annual Evening of Stars benefit this year will feature Chicago Bears Head Coach Matt Nagy as special guest and speaker.
In his first season, Nagy led the Bears to their first NFC North Division title since 2010. The Pro Football Writers Association named the University of Delaware graduate the NFL’s Coach of the Year.
Nagy and his wife, Stacey, have four sons: Brayden, Tate, Jaxon and Jett.
Award-winning former WJBC Sports Director and long-time radio voice of Illinois State University Redbird Football and Men’s Basketball, Dick Luedke, will lead a question-and-answer session with Coach Nagy.
Rodgers drew the largest-ever Evening of Stars attendance, as about 1,100 people turned out for the event, raising a record $342,000, according to the Red Cross.
The money raised helps fund disaster response, blood donations, and support to military members and their families.
Evening of Stars co-chairs are Kyle and Amanda Ham. Kyle is Vice President of Client Services for CORE Construction and Amanda is a nurse for Center for Outpatient Medicine. The Hams are longtime supporters of the Red Cross.
“We’re thrilled to have Matt Nagy as our guest for the 26th Annual Evening of Stars. Nagy is a celebrated accomplished coach passionate in his commitment to his family, team, and the entire Bears community made up of countless die-hard football fans that in many families has become a multi-generational legacy of support and commitment to his ball club,” Kyle Ham said in a news release.
“We’re eager for the community to come together in the spirit of sport and sharing to support of the Red Cross mission while spending an unforgettable evening with one of the eminent sports leaders of our time,” said Ham.
“This cornerstone event is one of the shining examples of how our community rallies around our Red Cross humanitarian mission while having unforgettable fun in that effort. The quality of Coach Matt Nagy’s commitment to his Bears and supporters mirror what the Red Cross and our lead sponsors Country Financial, State Farm, and O’Brien Mitsubishi value deeply and that’s a strong commitment to our Illinois communities,” said Lyn Hruska, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois Region.
Ticket prices start at $200 for the April 18th event at the Marriott Hotel and Conference Center in Normal. The Red Carpet Experience for costs $750, and includes two tickets and entry into the special Sponsor Reception held just prior to the event.
Sponsorships are available starting Friday.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
