11 years ago, the Associate Board of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless was trying to brainstorm a name for their newest fundraising event, a guest bartending night. “The prevailing joke was, we needed to come up with a better name than my first suggestion: Carousing for Housing,” remembers current Board Secretary, Shane Hopkin. Eventually, the name Cheers for Change was suggested. “We were celebrating systemic
change, not your spare coins,” explains CCH’s Director of Development, Michael Nameche.
The first Cheers For Change event was held at smartbar
in April 2012 and featured a DJ set by Chicago DJs Intel
& Maker
as well as a drag performance by Silky Jumbo. But the real starswere the 17 people that agreed to campaign for a month ahead of the night to collect virtual “tips” aka donations to CCH for the privilege of playing at being a bartender for one hour. That first event raised over $16,000 and as Michael Nameche is fond of saying, “Success demands a repeat!” To spur on the volunteer fundraising efforts, the Bartender Hall of Fame was created to encourage participants to raise $1,000 or more.
Over 90 other supporters have since taken on the role of guest bartender, raising a cumulative $175,000 at establishments like The Owl
, aliveOne
and Woodie’s Flat
until the pandemic put in-person events on pause. But last month marked the triumphant return of Cheers For Change at a new location, Central Park Bar in Logan Square.
On July 13, eight CCH supporters spent an evening in Central Park Bar’s beautiful and spacious beer garden taking drink orders from their friends and family, eventually raising $8,000 to support the work of CCH. Although Central Park Bar was a new venue, we felt right at home thanks to the team supporting the effort: Four Entertainment Group
embraced CCH and this fundraiser over a decade ago and has welcomed us at their other establishments like The Owl and aliveOne time and time again. 4EG says they “enhance neighborhoods” but we also feel like they improve communities with their partnerships.
Here are a few moments from the evening that helped us restart our favorite fundraiser:
