Responsible luxury becomes much more enjoyable at the annual White Party in Chicago
Benefiting causes has always been a great way of giving back to the society for many luxury brands and influential personalities. Some do it by restoring a part of their culture and heritage, some by donating, and some, like Marco Foster, by celebrating life with lots of glitz and glamour!
Aiding One Hope United, an organization which safeguards the welfare of vulnerable children through community-based and in-home programs, Ms Foster recently held the fourth edition of his annual ‘The White Party’. A fabulous affair which involved some of the best brands and the rich elite of Chicago, the party turned out to be a huge success, with everyone looking forward to the next one already. “I got my tickets just about an hour ago! It was just my luck that a friend’s friend wasn’t able to come and sold her ticket to me through Facebook. I had wanted to come to this party for so long!” said one of the revelers at the party. Another had come in from Michigan just for the event.
The tickets were sold weeks in advance, Maserati and Effen Vodka were some of the sponsors, and the party was held at Parliament Chicago – one of the chicest venues in town. Some of the best cars from Maserati, Porsche and Ferrari stood outside. Everyone dressed in white, the party was not just charity, but Mr Foster’s birthday celebration too. A man who knows how to get the best of both the worlds, we got in touch with him for a tête-à-tête!
Soumya Jain: How did you conceive the idea of The White Party?
Marco Foster: Funny enough, The White Party began as a birthday party. Four years ago, I decided that the best birthday gift that anyone could get me would be to donate to an organization that was very close to my heart, One Hope United. From that first event, The White Party has grown immensely and each year I strive to create an event that tops the last and is both stylish and charitable. Having been a foster child myself, I truly understand the value and importance of organizations like One Hope United that give back to children and families all over the country, and I can’t think of a better way to show my support than to hold a benefit in their honor each year.
SJ: What have been the aim and activities of One Hope United in the past few years?
MF: One Hope United was actually founded right here in Chicago and has expanded throughout the state, as well as in Wisconsin, Missouri, and Florida. The main goal of the organization is to ensure that every child is treated with love, care, and safety. It aims to ease the process of fostering by offering programs that educate families and give the necessary outlets for families to understand each child. In the past few years, One Hope United has been focusing on helping as many children and families as possible and the organization continues to grow.
SJ: How was the 2014 The White Party bigger and better than the previous years?
MF: It is really special to me to see how much The White Party has evolved. What started as a gathering of friends a few years back has grown to an event which truly makes a difference. Of course there are obvious changes such as the amount of people in attendance and the increase in funds raised. However it’s great to see the rise in awareness for One Hope United and its goals. Each year the party reaches a new audience of people who may not have known about One Hope United, and to me, that’s a huge change that I love to see.
SJ: Are you pleased with the turnout the event received this year?
MF: Absolutely! I was overwhelmed by the amount of people and the quality of attendees. We had over 600 attendees, which is amazing, and larger than any year before. It’s really heartwarming to walk into a room of people and see familiar friends as well as new faces all coming together for a great cause.
SJ: How much did you manage to raise this year for the charity?
MF: This year we raised $11,000 for One Hope United. Through ticket sales, donations, and raffle sales every person who attended The White Party made an impact, and I am extremely proud to have accomplished this goal.
SJ: What is the future of The White Party? Will you make it more frequent, or have more city editions, etc?
MF: Planning The White Party is one of the highlights of my year. It is such a fun event, and I think people really enjoy themselves and appreciate the cause. Although we just wrapped this year’s event, I’m already planning to make next year even better. You never know what the future holds, but I know that I’m always thinking about the next event and for now, that is my annual Grinch Party benefiting the Brain Injury Association of Illinois, that will be held at Underground Chicago in December, so stay tuned!
SJ: At the end of it all, did the event prove to be worth it, or are there miles to go still?
MF: I am very determined, so I think that there will always be ways to improve and grow, but I am very proud of how The White Party turned out. I am very lucky to be surrounded by amazing friend and family who constantly support me and help give back. That being said, I know that The White Party will only be more successful in the years to come, and I look forward to it!
