Fundraiser
A Thanksgiving season fundraiser · You're invited
Next Steps Forward
Thankful for Every Step Forward
When
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Doors at 6:00 pm, program at 7:00 pm, evening wraps around 8:45 pm
Where
The Community House, Kettering Hall
415 W. Eighth Street, Hinsdale, IL 60521. Fully accessible, with free parking.
Tickets
$100 per guest
Sponsorships from $2,500 to $10,000 are also available.
About the evening
An evening of gratitude, for everyone behind every milestone
This Thanksgiving season, Next Steps of O’Connor Foundation is gathering our community to celebrate the progress our patients make, in whatever form it takes. It’s our chance to say thank you to the families, staff, volunteers, sponsors and donors who make that progress possible, and to help keep long-term neurological rehabilitation within reach for the people who need it.
Explore the innovation gallery
See the technology our patients use, including the ONWARD ARC-EX, the Ekso Indego exoskeleton and Stroll AR, through demonstrations and video.
Share a moment of thanks
Hear patients talk about their experiences in their own words, and join us in thanking the staff, volunteers and supporters behind every step forward.
Raise a paddle for NAFW scholarships
Our Neuro-Adaptive Fitness & Wellness program helps patients keep going when insurance is not an option. Your gift helps make the next step possible for one more person.
From Thanksgiving to Giving Tuesday
Be in the room when we announce our Giving Tuesday match and kick off Steps for Next Steps, our movement challenge running through December 1.
How the evening unfolds
Expect a relaxed, warm night with fork-free heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live jazz from start to finish. There’s no seated dinner, so you’re free to wander, meet our clinicians and spend time in the gallery.
6:00 pm
Doors open. Reception, innovation gallery and live jazz.
7:00 pm
A short program: a captioned film, a clinician's look at the technology, patient remarks and a moment of thanks.
7:20 pm
Fund-a-Need paddle raise for NAFW scholarships, then our Giving Tuesday announcement.
7:40 pm
Music, dessert bites and demonstrations pick back up.
8:45 pm
Good night, and thank you.
Tickets
Save your seat
Every ticket includes the reception, the innovation gallery and the program. Please register by
Can't make it?
Give a giftAny amount
You can still stand with us by supporting NAFW scholarships from wherever you are, or by dedicating an engraved brick.
Engraved brick campaign
Your legacy. Someone's next step.
Some thank-yous are meant to last. Dedicate a personalized engraved brick to honor a loved one, celebrate a milestone or simply put your name behind the work that happens here. Every brick helps fund ongoing therapy and the advanced rehabilitation technology our patients use to keep moving forward.
It also makes a meaningful holiday gift for someone who’s walked alongside a patient, or for anyone you’re grateful for this season.
- 1. Write your inscription exactly as you'd like it to read. No need to center it, the engraving takes care of that.
- 2. Review it on the confirmation screen, then submit your order.
- 3. Ordering more than one? Just fill out a separate form for each brick.
Questions? Contact Mary Jones at mjones@nextstepschicago.org or (708) 467-0657.
Sponsorship
Help make the evening possible
We’re expecting 120 to 150 guests. Sponsors underwrite the night, so more of every ticket and paddle-raise gift goes straight to NAFW scholarships. Each level comes with our thanks from the stage, recognition throughout the evening and guest tickets.
1 available · exclusive
Presenting Sponsor $10,000
"Presented by" billing on the invitation, this page and event signage, a chance to say a few words from the stage, reserved seating, logo on the main screen and in the gallery, and a dedicated thank-you post on social media.
2 available
Innovation Sponsor $5,000
Recognition at a technology demo station, logo on signage and in the program, a thank-you by name from the stage, and a feature in our sponsor thank-you post.
2 available
Community Sponsor $2,500
Your name on signage and in the program, a thank-you from the stage, and a spot in our group sponsor thank-you post.
Open
In-kind Partner Goods & services
Provide food, beverages, live music, printing or décor and we'll thank you with station signage, a program listing, a podium shout-out and a social post.
Register
Reserve your place
We’d love to have you with us. Tell us a little about your group and anything that would make the evening more comfortable, and we’ll take care of the rest.
Anything you share about accessibility or dietary needs is used only to plan your evening.
November 2 through December 1
Steps for Next Steps
Our season of thanks becomes a season of giving. Pledge your steps, reps or minutes of movement, invite friends to sponsor you, and help us build toward Giving Tuesday on December 1, when gifts will be matched up to $ match amount
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
Yes. The Community House is fully accessible, and every table will have open wheelchair spaces. Let us know about any accommodation on the registration form, or reach out to us directly.
Parking is free in the venue lot and on the street.
Heavy hors d'oeuvres (all bite-size and fork-free), dessert bites and drinks. There's no seated dinner.
During the program we'll invite gifts at a few different levels for NAFW scholarships. You can raise your paddle, give by text or QR code, or simply ask a volunteer at your table to note your gift.