Bolingbrook Chamber event raises funds for area charities

The Bolingbrook Area Chamber of Commerce turned their annual holiday party into an evening of cocktails and giving.

“We expanded on last year’s Charity Bar Challenge and surpassed our expectations,” said Chamber Executive Director Kevin O’Keeffe. “We made it possible to raise funds for the Lions Club, Bolingbrook VFW Post 5719, DuCAP, the Naperville Area Humane Society and Operation Christmas.”

This year’s party was a competition among Bolingbrook establishments to see who could garner the most tips towards their chosen charity.

Guest bartenders from Ashbury’s at Boughton Ridge, Bar Louie, the Bolingbrook Golf Course, and Salt Bar at iPic converged at Tailgaters Sports Bar and Grill, 431 Boughton Rd., to sling signature cocktails and to raise funds for their respective charities. Representatives from their nonprofits also came out in force to help raise money and awareness.

Advantage Chevrolet sweetened the pot by donating an all-expenses paid trip for two to an all-inclusive resort in Punta Cana. The chamber decided the raffle would be based on tips given instead of placing a dollar amount on the raffle ticket. Over 1,000 raffle tickets were “sold.”

“We were overwhelmed by the turnout,” said O’Keeffe. “We will definitely grow the event. The community’s generosity was amazing. We are grateful to the bars/restaurants that sent staff and then came out to support them.”

The bartender with the most tips also earned an extra $500, courtesy of Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, for their charity as well as hosting privileges for their establishment for the Chamber’s 2019 Holiday Party. Ashbury’s, working for the Lions Club, was tops in tips and will be the site of the Dec. 5, 2019 holiday party.

Second place bartender earned an extra $300 for their charity, while third, fourth and fifth places earned an extra $100 each, donated by the Bolingbrook Chamber.

*photos courtesy of Ashbury's at Boughton Ridge and DuCAP*