Saturday, November 15, 2025

Embassy Suites by Hilton Chicago Naperville
1823 Abriter Court, Naperville, Illinois, 60563

Thank you for attending our 2025 EMPOWER Gala

Thank you SO MUCH to all who attended and sponsored our EMPOWER Gala. We hope you had as much fun as we did at our “Dream. Believe. Become” themed event, which represented our commitment to encouraging youth to pursue their dreams with confidence and resilience. We hope you felt empowered!

We’d also like to thank our emcee, Alan Krashesky, for emceeing throughout the night; our guest speaker, acclaimed actress, author, and mental health advocate Mariel Hemingway, for her message of hope and perseverance; and Liz Spencer, for accepting our Kids’ Champion Award and sharing his story with us.

If you weren’t able to attend, you can still support KidsMatter by donating today!

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2025 EMPOWER Gala Photos

Our 2025 EMPOWER Gala was filled with laughter, joy, and unforgettable moments, making it a truly unforgettable experience. If you missed out on the festivities or simply want to relive the magic, feel free to look through our photos below!

Gala Photos

2025 Guest Speaker, Mariel Hemingway

Mariel Hemingway has inspired many through her film career and six published books, including Healthy Living from the Inside Out and her memoir Out Came the Sun. Today, she empowers others through her self-embodiment programs, guiding people toward authenticity, mindfulness, and purposeful living.

We are so grateful that Mariel was able to share her amazing message with us.

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2025 Kid's Champion Award Recipient, Liz Spencer

We were so happy to be able to present the 2025 Kid’s Champion Award to Liz Spencer! Liz has supported KidsMatter in a variety of important ways, and we are so thankful for her!

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2025 Gala Emcee, Alan Krashesky

Our emcee for the night was former ABC7 Chicago News Anchor, Alan Krashesky. Alan is a trusted Chicago journalist who spent more than 40 years with ABC7, anchoring the station’s most-watched newscasts. We were so thankful for him to join our EMPOWER Gala lineup!

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Thank you to our 2025 sponsors

Headliner Sponsor

Hero Sponsors

Program Sponsors

Feature Sponsors

The Matrix Club

Essential Sponsors

Friends Sponsors

In-Kind Sponsors

Cooper's Hawk Winery and Restaurants Logo

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225 W Jefferson Avenue, Suite 1

Naperville, IL 60540

(331) 249-6838

info@kidsmatter2us.org

 

KidsMatter Foundation, Inc. is approved by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and all donations are tax deductible to the extent provided by law. KidsMatter Federal Identification Number (EIN) is 36-4448507. BRIDGE (Basic Registry of Identified Global Entities) number is 5570260059.

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