Cubs fans of all ages flocked to historic Wrigley Field for the 11th annual CBRE Charity Bash on Monday evening. Attendees got to rub elbows with Cub greats of the past and present, including Willson Contreras, Jon Lester, Kyle Schwarber, Joe Maddon, Andre Dawson and Ryne Sandberg at an event that raised funds for various charities.
This year the event raised $500,000 for CBRE Cares, the philanthropic arm of CBRE, as well as Respect 90, Joe Maddon’s charity providing children and families opportunities to develop championship attitudes through sports, academics and community involvement; Jon Lester’s NVRQT which fights against pediatric cancer; Neighborhood Heroes, Kyle Schwarber’s non-profit benefiting first responders and Cubs Charities.
The one-of-a-kind experience gave fans unprecedented access to Wrigley Field as the approximately 1,700 guests ate, drank and networked in the outfield, posed for photos by the landmark ivy wall and watched on as kids sat for a clinic with Contreras, Lester and Schwarber.
Cubs skipper Joe Maddon also sat for an extended Q&A session with WSCR’s Zach Zaidman. While he claimed that the Led Zeppelin hit, “Ramble On” best describes his demeanor, those in attendance didn’t seem to mind.