First Look For Charity/  Know Before You Go

Know Before You Go

First Look for Charity - Know Before You Go

Thank you for supporting the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity! Before you arrive at the gala, below is the key event information you will need to know.

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  • Don't miss the vehicle prize drawing, get live updates from the event and more ... Click HERE to sign up. 

Event Information

  • Friday, February 7 | 7-11 p.m. | McCormick Place | Chicago, IL

Parking & Transportation

  • McCormick Place parking lots A and C will be open on the night of First Look for Charity. Parking does fill up quickly so please plan accordingly and leave yourself time to find parking and walk to the show floor.
  • If you are arriving in an Uber/Lyft, you will be dropped off at Gate 4.

Will Call

  • Will Call will be located in the Grand Ballroom S100 near the main entrance to McCormick Place (Gate 4). Will Call will be open from 5:00-8:30 p.m.

Security & Bag Policy

  • All gala attendees will be screened before entering the show floor. Please allow yourself extra time when arriving to the venue to go through security.
  • All items are subject to visual inspection by security personnel. Only clear tote bags (12"x12"x6" or smaller) and clutch purses (under 9" x 5" x 2" or smaller) are allowed. When an infant is present, diaper bags and strollers are permitted.
  • No weapons of any kind are allowed, per McCormick Place. This includes concealed carry permit holders.

Vehicle Giveaway

  • This year, two lucky attendees will walk away with the keys to a brand-new 2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV, courtesy of the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealers, or a 2025 Hyundai Palisade, courtesy of the Chicago and Northwest Indiana Hyundai Dealers. The giveaway will take place at 8:30 p.m. on the main stage located to the north of the Grand Concourse. Winners must be present to win, and you only have a few minutes once the number is drawn to make your way to the stage with your ticket.
  • You can sign up here to receive text message alerts regarding the vehicle giveaway and when it is taking place.

Black Tie Attire

  • The First Look for Charity gala is strictly a black-tie-mandatory event. Guests not in black-tie attire will be turned away.
  • We will have limited tuxedo rental available on site through Men's Wearhouse on a first-come, first-serve basis. The pop-up store is located in the Grand Ballroom, S100.

Food & Beverage

  • First Look for Charity wouldn't be complete without the wonderful gourmet food and drink provided by our sponsoring restaurants. You will find food and beverage stations throughout the show floor, each with unique bites and themes.
  • Click here for a complete menu. 

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Thank you to our restaurant partners:

  • Andy's Frozen Custard
  • Bailey's Irish Cream
  • Biteable Baked Goods
  • Bitoy's Sweet Treats
  • Bumbu Rum
  • Carnivale
  • Catered By Design
  • Connie's Pizza
  • ERIS Ciderhouse and Brewery
  • Goose Island
  • Ida's Artisan Ice Cream & Treats
  • Michael's Grill & Salad Bar
  • Norman's Bistro
  • OVG 360
  • Smoke Daddy
  • Tres Agaves Tequila
  • Trinchero Family Estates Wines
  • Tuco & Blondie

Live Music

  • There will be live music to keep the party going all night! Here's a listing of where you can dance the night away:
    • 7th Heaven Band - located in Buick GMC
    • Michael Lynch Band - located in Ford
    • DJ Dragan Trajkovski - located in Tesla

Walk the Red Carpet with Val & Ryan

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  • ABC 7 Chicago's Val Warner and Ryan Chiaverini will be hosting a red-carpet takeover from 7-8 p.m. Make your way to the Grand Concourse and meet Val and Ryan under the Chicago Auto Show globe to get your picture taken on the red carpet.

Share Your Experience

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  • We encourage you to share your First Look fun on social media using #FLFC2025 or #FirstLookforCharity and tag the Chicago Auto Show in your post.

Thank you to the donors who supported this year's event:

Benefactors 

  • Allstate
  • Marina Companies/Michael Tadin
  • MedEx Ambulance Services
  • Robert Lozins
  • Spraying Systems Co
  • The Shebik Family
  • Webb Automotive Group

Patrons 

  • Action Sertoma
  • AssuredPartners
  • BorgWarner Transmission Products LLC
  • CCL Hospitality Group
  • Chicagoland Chevrolet Dealers Advertising Association
  • Chicagoland Toyota Dealer Association
  • D'Arcy Buick GMC 
  • D'Arcy Motors
  • Emir and Patricia Abinion Family Giving Fund and Fox Valley Auto Group
  • George M. Eisenberg Foundation for Charities
  • Illinois Ford Dealers Advertising Fund, Inc.
  • James Hardie
  • McCook Cold Storage
  • Rivers Casino
  • Symbria
  • The Cozzini and Gaetano Families

Donors 

  • ABC 7 Chicago
  • American Community Bank & Trust
  • Balanced Environments, Inc.
  • Banc of California
  • BMO Commercial Bank - Dealer Finance
  • Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella
  • Caryn & Bill Kelly
  • Chicago Federation of Labor Workforce and Community Initiative
  • Chicago Lawn Sertoma
  • Cognitive Capital, LLC
  • Cornerstone National Bank & Trust Company
  • D'Arcy Buick GMC
  • EC-United
  • Edward and Julie Burke
  • Fisher Phillips
  • Forvis Mazars
  • Henry Bros. Co.
  • HI TEC OIL-Mark and Jane Manda
  • Hunziker & Associates/Raymond James
  • Johnson & Bell, Ltd.
  • Jones Day
  • Lexus Central Area
  • Markentum
  • Marsh McLennan Agency
  • Mary Doug and Tom Brown
  • Medical Staff of Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Children's Hospital-Oak Lawn
  • Medical Staff of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital and Advocate Children's Hospital-Park Ridge
  • Medical Staff of Advocate Trinity Hospital
  • Motorola Solutions
  • Napleton Honda of Morton Grove
  • NIPSCO
  • Old National Bank
  • Price Insurance
  • Professional Medical, Inc.
  • Sarah and  Mike Alzamora
  • Spencer and Quinn Campbell Family
  • Stanley Spring & Stamping
  • Steve Napleton Auto Group
  • Technipaq Inc.
  • The Brigid Carroll Fan Club
  • The Family of Nicholas Johnson
  • The Fritzsche and Moran Families
  • The Horton Group, A Marsh & McLennan Agency LLC Company
  • The Linus Dean Family
  • The Redmond Company
  • Tony and Mary Ann Pasquinelli Foundation
  • UAW Local 551
  • UBS - Allen Carter, Managing Director
  • United Service Companies
  • Victoria and Luis Collado
  • Wesco
  • Wintrust
  • WI-TRONIX

Your ticket benefits 18 Chicagoland charities who thank you for your support.

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