This month, Designs for Dignity (D4D) celebrated its work in helping transform nonprofit environments through pro bono design services and in-kind donations at its annual spring fundraiser Spirit of Design. The evening raised more than $165,000, the largest amount in D4D’s 16-year history of hosting the event. More than 500 Chicago designers, industry professionals and guests gathered for the yearly party to celebrate the immense impact D4D has had on transforming the key program spaces of local area non-profits into more functional and nurturing environments.
Designs for Dignity provides pro bono design and materials to qualifying nonprofits with the goal of helping them to better serve their immediate populations by renovating and updating their key program spaces. International home furnishings designer Holly Hunt and national event planner Tom Kehoe co-hosted the event held at The Geraghty in Chicago. The event space was donated and designed by Kehoe Designs. The monies raised -- through ticket sales, raffle purchases and live action painting from Cathy Bruni Norris -- go directly to benefit D4D’s mission.
Since 2000, D4D has worked with Chicago’s design community and all of its resources to annually partner with approximately 15 nonprofits throughout the area, which has totaled more than 200 organizations during the past 16 years. Over that time, D4D has impacted the lives of more than 604,000 individuals, provided more than 17,000 hours of service and donated more than $7.7 million in design services and material donations to projects across the Midwest.
“To witness the extent to which D4D has evolved and impacted the Chicago nonprofit community over the years is truly astounding,” said Hunter Kaiser, Board President of Designs for Dignity. “It’s the never-ending support of the selfless and devoted individuals who contribute to Designs for Dignity that allows us to create environments of hope, dignity, security and healing. We are tremendously grateful to our volunteers, sponsors and supporters who continue to believe in and support our mission and who have made D4D the success that it is today.”
“As honorary host, it was great to see the design community gather together 500 strong to support the important mission for Designs for Dignity,” said internationally acclaimed interior designer Holly Hunt. “We all know design matters, and how this group empowers lives through design year in and year out is tremendous."
