Some fights for justice happen in a courtroom. Others begin at a gala.
The Illinois Bar Foundation is shining a spotlight on service, advocacy, and the power of legal aid at their annual gathering in Chicago. It’s a night that honors leadership—and fuels access to justice across the state.
The 26th Annual Illinois Bar Foundation Gala will take place on Friday, October 17, 2025, at the Four Seasons Hotel, honoring Mark D. Hassakis with the 2025 Distinguished Award for Excellence.
The cause is clear: everyone deserves legal support, no matter their zip code or income. Save your seat and stand behind a mission that’s changing lives across Illinois.
2025 Gala
Friday, October 17, 2025
Four Seasons Hotel, Chicago
Honoring Mark D. Hassakis with the 2025 Distinguished Award for Excellence
Friday, October 17, 2025
Four Seasons Hotel | 120 E. Delaware, Chicago
VIP Reception begins at 6 pm | General cocktail reception begins at 6:30 pmYou are cordially invited to join us for the 26th Annual Illinois Bar Foundation Gala honoring Mark D. Hassakis (Hassakis & Hassakis P.C.). Mr. Hassakis’ leadership in the Illinois legal and philanthropic communities coupled with his dedication to serving others through the practice of law have made him exceedingly worthy of the Foundation’s highest honor, the Distinguished Award for Excellence.
Supporting Access to Justice and Lawyers in Need
Each year thousands of low-income individuals and families struggle with difficult civil legal problems without the benefit of legal representation. Whether against the back drop of the Chicago skyline or in a rural farm town in the heart of Illinois, access to justice is often elusive or unattainable. That is where the Illinois Bar Foundation comes in and helps remove barriers, improving the lives of our neighbors, helping to create a better Illinois for all.