The tropical fish of the Caribbean Reef provided part of the colorful decor.
Event co-chairs Brent and Katie Gledhill and Julie and Jim O’Conner
Event co-chairs Brent and Katie Gledhill and Julie and Jim O’Conner
Board of trustees chairman H. John Gilbertson Jr. greets guests.
Laura Ferris Anderson raises her paddle to support the Shedd.
Event Creative’s stunning tablescapes
Emcee Bill Kurtis with the co-chairs
A tropical-inspired salad
THE PARTY Nearly 770 guests flooded the Shedd Aquarium for its annual black-tie gala, themed Metamorphosis. With a backdrop of colors that celebrated brightly colored frogs and salamanders, the evening featured a preview of Amphibians, a special exhibit with more than 40 different species. THE PEOPLE Trustees, corporate partners and government officials celebrated the evening in glamorous style. Dressed in a Kermit-green tux, television presenter, prominent journalist and loyal Shedd supporter Bill Kurtis emceed the evening’s festivities with his usual panache and humor. THE PINNACLE Was it the sea lions, the Guinness-braised short ribs or the live aquatic show that topped off the evening? All were greeted with great enthusiasm, as were gala co-chairs Katie and Brent Gledhill and Julie and Jim O’Connor, who put on a swimmingly successful evening—raising a record-setting $2 million for the Shedd’s conservation and animal-rescue and rehabilitation programs. –Photos by Bob Carl, Brenna Hernandez and Eva Ho
Photography by:
