The 31st Annual Columbian Ball: October 22, 2011
Guests at the Museum of Science and Industry’s 31st Annual Columbian Ball celebrated innovation—and raised more than $1.9 million to support the Museum’s Annual Fund and our vision to inspire children to achieve their full potential in science, technology, medicine and engineering.
We express our sincere gratitude to our honorary co-chair, Mayor Rahm Emanuel; our Ball co-chairs, Jackie and Glenn Tilton and Dr. Diana Strassmann and Jeff Smisek; and our auction co-chairs, Alison and Dean Chung and Mary and Scott Rafferty. Their work and dedication helped us exceed our goal.
The evening included a cocktail reception in the Museum’s Rotunda, a viewing of Fast Forward . . . Inventing the Future, a special culinary demonstration by Fast Forward innovator Chef Homaro Cantu and an opportunity to talk with three other featured innovators: vertical farming pioneer Dickson Despommier and Marques McCammon and Paul Wilbur from Aptera Motors. Guests also enjoyed time with teachers and students from the Museum’s Center for the Advancement of Science Education (CASE) program, and Month at the Museum 2 winner Kevin Byrne told stories of his first few days living at MSI.
The Museum’s good friend Bill Kurtis led live auction bidding and guests kept their paddles moving for their chance to spend the night at the Museum, experience United’s exclusive Global Services or jet to New York for the 2012 Men’s U.S. Open Tennis Finals (and more).
After dinner, guests blasted to the past with Generations: A Sixties Experience and returned to the future of Fast Forward with a sampling of innovative desserts.
The Museum extends a special thanks to our Presenting Sponsors
JPMorgan Chase & Co. and United Airlines, Official and Exclusive Airline of the Museum of Science and Industry
And our Principal Sponsors
Allstate Insurance Company, BP America, Max and Jim Farrell, Andi and Jim Gordon/The Edgewater Funds, ITW, MacLean-Fogg Company, Cathy and Bill Osborn and Kathleen and Jim Skinner.
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about the museum
The Museum of Science and Industry opened its doors in 1933 and is the largest science museum in the Western Hemisphere.