Open-invitation benefit gala at Willis Tower calls on corporate leaders, professionals and donors to invest in Chicago’s next generation of servant leaders
CHICAGO, Oct. 23, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Serving People with a Mission (SPM), a citywide youth nonprofit based on Chicago’s West Side, and The Metropolitan will co-host the Celestial Odyssey Gala on Thursday, November 5, 2026, from 5:30 to 10 p.m. at The Metropolitan in Willis Tower. All proceeds from tickets, corporate sponsorships and donations will directly fund SPM’s work empowering emerging young leaders through mentorship, education, leadership development and professional pathways.
Built around the theme “Building a brighter future for Chicago, one leader at a time,” Celestial Odyssey invites guests to look forward and imagine what is possible when opportunity, purpose and community come together. For one night, the 66th-floor Oak Room will transform into an immersive experience inspired by discovery, possibility and the future.
Guests will enjoy elevated dining, signature cocktails and curated entertainment, along with moments designed to celebrate the people and ideas shaping what comes next. The program will feature keynote speakers from SPM’s students and alumni. More than a night out, Celestial Odyssey is a chance to build momentum for the next generation of servant leaders.
Servant leadership is at the heart of SPM’s work. Through its Hand-n-Hand Leadership Program, offered in partnership with Noble Schools and other youth-serving nonprofits, SPM educates young leaders on servant leadership by exposing them to major industries, including government, corporate and finance, community, medical and philanthropy. The goal is to prepare young leaders to lead locally, nationally and globally as servant leaders.
SPM extends that work beyond high school through its Youth Executive Coaching Program, a partnership with Arrupe College of Loyola University Chicago, where SPM’s co-founders began their own college journeys. The program pairs young leaders in their 20s with an executive coach a few years further along in their career. By coaching the young leaders already charged with leading youth organizations, SPM keeps Chicago’s youth community strong.
With $243,750 in state funding from the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority’s Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) program, SPM is expanding Hand-n-Hand into North Lawndale. Gala support will help the program reach more students and grow its school partnerships across Chicago.
“Every young person in Chicago deserves the chance to lead,” said Jacque Stefanic, Co-Founder and CEO of Serving People with a Mission. “Celestial Odyssey is a night to celebrate where our youth are headed and to build the momentum that gets them there. Every ticket and every gift helps us grow the leaders who will shape Chicago’s future.”
Celestial Odyssey is open to all, and SPM especially welcomes corporate leaders, professionals and philanthropic supporters. Companies can buy tickets for employees or become corporate sponsors, giving their teams an evening of high-impact networking with Chicago’s civic and corporate leaders while investing directly in young leaders preparing for careers in their industries. Tickets and donations are available now at celestial-odyssey.eventlify.com, and sponsorship inquiries can be sent to admin@servingpeoplewithamission.org.
Event details
- What: Celestial Odyssey Gala, co-hosted by Serving People with a Mission and The Metropolitan
- When: Thursday, November 5, 2026, 5:30 to 10 p.m. (doors open at 5:20 p.m.)
- Where: The Metropolitan at Willis Tower, Oak Room, 66th Floor, 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606
- Parking: Free
- Tickets and donations: celestial-odyssey.eventlify.com
About Serving People with a Mission
Serving People with a Mission (SPM) is a youth-focused nonprofit dedicated to meeting the academic, professional and personal needs of youth and families from underserved backgrounds. Founded in 2020 and based on Chicago’s West Side, SPM serves youth across the city and develops servant leaders prepared to lead locally, nationally and globally through mentorship, education, leadership development and professional pathways. Learn more at servingpeoplewithamission.org.
Media contact
Jacque Stefanic, Co-Founder and CEO
Serving People with a Mission
773-793-2810
admin@servingpeoplewithamission.org
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SOURCE Serving People with a Mission (SPM)
