More than 1,500 seniors walk the red carpet at 42nd annual CHA Senior Gala

More than 1,500 seniors walk the red carpet at 42nd annual CHA Senior Gala

 Event supports CHA’s mission of ensuring the well-being of seniors

CHICAGO -- For the 42nd year, Chicago Housing Authority seniors gathered to celebrate the season – and themselves – at the CHA Senior Gala.

More than 1,500 CHA seniors converged on the Marriott Marquis for an afternoon of holiday cheer.

They were bused in from all over Chicago for the event, which featured lunch, music, dancing and good times.

Operating Chairman Matthew Brewer said the Senior Gala speaks to CHA’s mission of ensuring the well-being and health of the more than 26,000 seniors that live across all CHA programs.

“Today is a special day because it’s an opportunity to give flowers to you all,” Brewer told the gathering. “You are the backbone of our communities, the protectors of our families and we appreciate the work you’ve done and the commitments and sacrifices you’ve made. So today is a day we can take the opportunity to say thank you.”

Mayor Brandon Johnson said:

"Our seniors continue to enrich our city every day, their wisdom and lived experiences are a valuable guide for us all. As a city, we must do everything we can to embrace, support, and empower our elders — that's why events like this are so important. I want to thank CHA Commissioner, Dr. Mildred Harris, and the entire CHA team for making today happen."

For 42 years, the seniors have dressed up in their finest attire, mingled with friends and had a good time. Saturday was no different on the red carpet.

Ann Milsteis is a building ambassador at CHA’s Hattie Callner Apartments. It was her first time attending the Senior Gala.

“I was gifted a ticket to this wonderful event, and here I am,” Milsteis said. “It was a wonderful afternoon and was nice getting together with everybody and the meal was wonderful. It was great to see the solidarity of all the people housed in CHA. I am very pleased and I will be back next year.”

Attendee Michael G. Smith said this was his first CHA event in several years.

“What brought me here was to see if I could run into some legacies from when I was a shorty growing up in CHA housing. And that happened,” he said. “We all want to shed a tear but I was holding it in. But it was very emotional. And now that I have photos of that I can post it. And this is how you pass on those legacies.”

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