Better Makers: Chicago Blackhawk Niklas Hjalmarsson Helps Camp Kesem Raise Over $1 Million

On Saturday March 5th, Camp Kesem held their second annual Magic Ball to raise funds for the amazing work they do for “children touched by a parent’s cancer”. With the help of Chicago Blackhawk Niklas Hjalmarsson and wife Elina, famed auctioneer David Goodman and host Susanna Negovan, creator of SPLASH and contributor to FOX Good Day Chicago, the organization was able to raise over $1 million.

The Fairmont Chicago Millennium Park hosted all 600 of their guests starting with a cocktail reception where guests were welcome to create luminary bags in honor of friends and family members who have been affected by cancer, as well as choose camp names with some of Camp Kesem’s college student leaders. The event also held an impressive live auction led by David Goodman with a variety of incredible items like a private yacht party at the Chicago Air & Water Show, “an exclusive Chicago Blackhawks experience — during which Hjlamarsson spontaneously took the stage to provide enhancements including drinks with himself” and an in-home dinner party with chef Ryan McCaskey of Acadia. The auction was followed by the premier of a Camp Kesem video that featured “Goofy“, a counselor-turned-national program director, telling his story and experiences with the camp that moved guests to generously participate in a paddle raise.

Camp Kesem now offers and operates 85 free summer camps in over 30 states to help support children and teens through and beyond their parent’s cancer. For more information about their work and to donate go to www.campkesem.org.