Upcoming Events
Tea Party & Purses
Colleen loved going to tea party events and appreciated a nice purse! ColleenCares is combining both for our 2024 fundraiser on Sunday Nov 10 at the Crystal Lake Country Club.
Tickets are sold out! Thank you for your support.
Enjoy a mimosa, light bites and desserts.
Take home a ColleenCares t-shirt and your beautiful tea cup/saucer.
Everyone’s a winner at the Wine Pull!
Designer purses will be raffled too!
Murder Mystery Dinner @The Dole Mansion
Colleen loved a good mystery and was wicked smart at solving them. She had been asking the family to attend a Murder Mystery Show with her, so we chose a Dinner Detective event as our first-ever fundraiser. Come sleuth like Colleen at the historic Dole Mansion in Colleen's beloved home town of Crystal Lake, IL.
We are overwhelmed that the event tickets have sold out and are sorry if you missed the chance to join us this year.
YOU CAN STILL HELP further the mission of Colleen Cares by donating virtually right here! During the event your donor box could reveal a Ruby Necklace.
The murder mystery show is run by The Dinner Detective, dinner catered by Elegante Cuisine and held at The Dole Mansion.
5p-6:45p: Colleen Cares activities include 50/50 raffle, wine pull, special silent auction items, Ruby Necklace drawing, self-guided tours of The Dole Mansion ($5.00 donation goes to the Colleen Cares Organization)
6p-7p: Hors d’oeuvres served while you mingle and make new friends. Cash bar and special Colleen signature drinks
6:45-7p: Presentation from Colleen Cares Organization
7p-10p: Murder Mystery Dinner & Show
Special recognition to each of our event SPONSORS!
Camp Colleen 2022
Red Shoe Society Chicago is hosting the second annual ‘Camp Colleen’. As a Red Shoe volunteer, one of Colleen’s last suggestions was to hold a summer camp-themed event for the guests at Ronald McDonald House. Colleen’s wish to bring this experience to kids at the House came true at the first event on August 5, 2021. This year the camp is expanded to all five Chicagoland Ronald McDonald Houses (RMH)!
Click the event name above for more details.
Red Shoe Society's Par-Tee
Join the Red Shoe Society for a morning of family-friendly golf competition and brunch while raising essential funds that help keep families with hospitalized children together.
All ages welcome!
Camp Colleen
Red Shoe Society Chicago is hosting the first ever ‘Camp Colleen’. As a Red Shoe volunteer, one of Colleen’s last suggestions was to hold a summer camp-themed event for the guests at Ronald McDonald House. Colleen’s wish to bring this experience to kids at the House is coming true! On August 5, 2021, a real camp menu will be served for lunch. The evening will be filled with Colleen’s ideas for fun camp activities, including friendship bracelets, rock painting, cornhole, and, of course, s’mores.
Colleen’s vision will now become an annual event at the House and possibly go nationwide. What an honor to her fantastic spirit!
Members of the Colleen Cares Organization are volunteering at the afternoon and evening events.
Colleen’s Celebration of Life—Our Main Event
Colleen was adamant about celebrating her life as opposed to mourning her loss. Our day will promptly start with multiple speakers inspired by Colleen from throughout her life. We will share memories of our unforgettable Colleen and fundraise for her newly created charity colleencares.org.
Honor Colleen’s legacy by championing her causes by purchasing raffle tickets, gift baskets, bid on silent auction items and more!
Let’s celebrate Colleen’s impactful life the way she would have wanted! Delicious food, drinks and sweets will be provided. Dress Colleen chic and don’t forget your dancing shoes!
All COVID safety protocols will be followed.
Red Shoe Society: Par-Tee Attended in Colleen’s Honor
2nd Annual Par-Tee for the House at Top Golf
Proceeds for Red Shoe Society Chicago
Colleen had this fundraiser on her calendar to champion a cause for the Red Shoe Society of Chicago, a group of philanthropic young professionals whose mission is to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Giving is what Red Shoe Society Chicago is all about – giving time, talent and treasure to make a difference in the lives of families whose children are receiving treatment at local hospitals. Ronald McDonald House offers families a ‘home away from home’ keeping families closer together. Ronald McDonald House allows families to focus on their child’s health often reducing some financial burden and stress.
Red Shoe writes of Colleen: “As a past Ronald McDonald House family member herself, Colleen wanted to act on one of her true passions, to create world class experiences for the families we serve. She joined the Red Shoe Society Volunteering Committee as a co-chair — a mantle truly suited for her spirit!”
Undeterred by her own struggles, it was imperative to Colleen to be a voice for the voiceless and she was relentless in her mission to spread positivity.
Gleason golfers!
Colleen’s family attended the event at Top Golf Schaumburg and raised $2,500 in Colleen’s honor. Colleen’s parents and brothers became honorary Red Shoe Society members themselves. The morning of friendly golf competition and brunch raised important funds that help keep families with seriously ill children closer together at a Ronald McDonald House.
Learn more about Ronald McDonald House and Red Shoe Society Chicago.
Colleen’s Birthday-Inspired Food Bank Donation
Happy Birthday, Colleen!
Colleen had long encouraged reaching out in practical ways to help. As a teenager, Colleen drove into the city of Chicago on the hottest day of the year to hand out water to the homeless.
In the midst of their own grief, Colleen’s family made Colleen proud today.
To celebrate what would have been Colleen’s 28th birthday, Colleen’s family did what Colleen would do - think of others. The morning of Colleen’s birthday, her parents, Mike and Christine, made a Costco run to load up on food donations.
They then headed to an area food bank to donate their stack of boxes, each a gift in honor of Colleen’s giving spirit.
The food bank employees expressed surprise at the number of boxes emerging from the Gleason’s auto. They shared gratitude particularly because, due to the pandemic, needs are up while donations are down.
The family saw a large line of people waiting for help.