Designer Kenneth Cole left his stylish mark on the city at the Chicago House’s fourth annual Speaker Series Luncheon at the Hilton Chicago (720 S. Michigan) Nov. 11. As the keynote speaker, Cole chatted with WLS-Channel 7’s Cheryl Burton in front of 600 guests about his fashion journey and his advocacy in the global fight against AIDS since 1985 — the same year Chicago House was founded. Also in attendance were co-chairs Todd Hamilton and Splash editor Susanna Negovan, and other notables such as WLS-Channel 7’s Sylvia Perez and Linda Yu, Project Runway contestant Steven Rosengard, BMO Harris’ Justine Fedak and Glossed & Found’s D. Graham Kostic. The event raised more than $300,000 for the organization, which provides services and outreach to individuals and families struggling with HIV and AIDS. The designer, famous for his witty taglines, quipped, “Before you judge someone, walk a mile in their shoes. Then you’ll be a mile away and you’ll be wearing their shoes.”
The Sun-Times was the media sponsor of this event.
Help Chicago House provide life, work, health, and a home to over 1,400 HIV affected and at risk men, women and children each year. The Sun-Times Foundation and the Chicago Community Trust will match your donation to Chicago House up to a total of $25,000, now through January 2, 2013. Donate here.
Story by Katerina Bizios | Photos by Ramzi Dreessen
