For 85 years, Gene & Georgetti has been proud to call Chicago home. While our history has been built around the tables of our iconic River North restaurant, being part of this city has always meant something bigger: supporting the people and organizations working to make our community stronger.
As part of an ongoing series highlighting the causes and organizations that are meaningful to the Gene & Georgetti family, we’re proud to shine a spotlight on PAWS Chicago and its lifesaving work on behalf of homeless pets.
Welcoming the PAWS Chicago Development Board to Gene & Georgetti
This August, Gene & Georgetti had the pleasure of hosting a PAWS Chicago Development Board meeting, bringing together a group of passionate supporters committed to advancing the organization’s mission.
We were honored to welcome the Development Board and provide a gathering place for an evening centered around connection, fundraising and the important work PAWS Chicago continues to accomplish throughout the city.
For us, hospitality has always been about bringing people together. Being able to use that hospitality to support organizations doing meaningful work in Chicago makes those gatherings even more special.
Supporting PAWS Chicago’s Lifesaving Mission
The impact of PAWS Chicago can be seen one animal at a time.
During the Development Board meeting, the organization shared the story of Ginny, a six-week-old kitten who was found alone in Chicago’s West Loop during tornado warnings. After being brought to PAWS Chicago, Ginny received the nourishment, medical care and attention she needed to begin growing stronger.
Stories like Ginny’s are a reminder of what community support can make possible.
PAWS Chicago’s work relies on a network of donors, volunteers, board members, foster families, adopters and community partners who come together to give vulnerable animals another chance.
A Community That Shows Up
There was plenty for the PAWS Chicago community to celebrate at the August meeting.
The organization’s recent Beach Party raised $425,000 gross, with net revenue increasing 7% and sponsorships growing 20%. The organization is also looking ahead to the 25th anniversary of its annual Fur Ball at The Drake Hotel, with $800,000 already raised toward its $1 million sponsorship goal at the time of the meeting.
Those milestones demonstrate what can happen when a community rallies behind a cause, and why continued involvement matters.
From fundraising and events to volunteering, fostering, adopting and simply helping spread the word, there are many ways Chicagoans can support PAWS Chicago and the animals it serves.
Giving Back, One Organization at a Time
Gene & Georgetti’s story is inseparable from Chicago’s. Generations of guests have celebrated milestones around our tables, families have made us part of their traditions, and this city has supported our family-owned restaurant for more than eight decades.
Giving back is one way we can return that support.
Over the coming months, we’ll continue sharing stories about the charitable organizations, community initiatives and causes that Gene & Georgetti is proud to support.
We hope these stories not only provide a closer look at what matters to our family and team, but also introduce our guests to organizations making a meaningful difference throughout Chicago.
Learn more about PAWS Chicago, get involved, or discover ways to support its lifesaving mission.
