🌴 Goombay Bash Returns: A Tropical Night for a Powerful Cause 🌴

Saturday, July 26, 2025 | 5:00 pm – Midnight | AON Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, Chicago

If you’re looking for a fundraiser that trades tuxedos for tiki shirts, you won’t want to miss the Goombay Bash—Chicago’s largest cancer research fundraising event. Now in its 24th year, it’s more than just a party. This tropical-themed extravaganza supports a vital mission: funding basic science cancer research at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

🌟 Presented by The H Foundation

The Goombay Bash is proudly organized by The H Foundation, an independent 501(c)(3) organization born in 2001 “over a cocktail called the Goombay Smash”. What started as a group of entrepreneurial friends with a shared vision has since grown into a beloved Chicago tradition—and a major force in cancer research funding.

Since inception, The H Foundation has raised over $13 million, directing nearly every dollar raised to Lurie Cancer Center’s basic science projects. This seed funding has been instrumental in securing a staggering $280 million in additional research grants.

They maintain a unique and impactful partnership with Lurie—ensuring donated funds go straight to pioneering research by scientists, doctors, and students working toward curing cancer.

🎟 Tickets

• General Admission: $195

• VIP Admission: $350 (Includes premium seating and dedicated concierge service.)

Click here to purchase tickets.

🌺 What to Expect

• Celebrity Guest of Honor: Rob Lowe

• Live Auction of exclusive experiences

• Silent Auction with 300+ curated items

• $10,000 Grand Raffle Prize

• Instant‑Win Raffles, including a chance to win the “Best of Live Auction” package

• Gourmet Buffet & Cash Bar

• Fireworks Finale over Lake Michigan

• Casual tropical attire—Hawaiian shirts and leis encouraged!

🤙 Getting There & Dress Code

Everything you need—parking tips, shuttle services, tropical-casual outfit guidance, auction previews, and event printables—is available on the Goombay site to ensure your night runs smoothly.

💛 Why It Matters

Every ticket, bid, and raffle contributes directly to early-stage cancer research. The H Foundation’s model—100% donor-funded with zero overhead—means your contributions go straight to promising Lurie researchers. That $13 million in donations helped fuel $280 million in downstream funding, accelerating breakthroughs and bolstering Chicago’s position in the global fight against cancer.

🎉 Join the Celebration

This is your invite to dress tropical, gather your friends, and party with purpose at Navy Pier. Enjoy a vibrant evening under the stars while championing cutting-edge research at one of Illinois’s only NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers.

LGBA is honored to support The H Foundation’s Goombay Bash—where fun meets philanthropy in the best possible way. We hope to see you there!