Foundation History
Housewares Charity Foundation has been impactfully aiding major health research and humanitarian organizations since 1998.
Race to Erase MS
Total Raised: $750,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Humanitarian Awards:
Ron Johnson, Target Stores
Barbara Pizzella, Sears
Scott Silver, Bloomingdale's
Beneficiaries
Multiple Sclerosis Research
Second Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $950,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Humanitarian Awards:
Mark Cohen, Sears Roebuck & Co.
Darlene Daggett, QVC
Joseph R. Ettore, Ames Department Stores, Inc.
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Leonard Florence, Syratech
Beneficiaries
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America
Third Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,750,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Humanitarian Award:
Janet Grove
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Leon Dreimann
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Fourth Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,020,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Patrick Dinley, Norelco Consumer
Humanitarian Awards:
William Podany, Shopko Stores, Inc.
Eric Salus, Macy's East
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Habitat for Humanity International
The Maxi Fund
National Breast Cancer Coalition Fund
Fifth Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,180,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Charles Chinni, TBD
Humanitarian Awards:
Stanley Cheng
Cyndi Evans
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
JCPenney Afterschool
The HCF September 11th Relief Fund
Sixth Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,280,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Leslie Mann, Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Humantarian of the Year Awards:
Peter Cameron, All Clad Metalcrafters LLC
Chuck Williams, Williams-Sonoma, Inc.
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
Culinary Institute of America's Student Scholar
Seventh Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,170,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Louis Fortunoff, Fortunoff
Humanitarian of the Year Awards:
Steve Birke, Target Stores
Ronald Diamond, Conair Corporation
Michael Graves, Michael Graves & Associates
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis
Target House at St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Eighth Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,450,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Ellen Levine, Good Housekeeping
Humanitarian of the Year Awards:
Anthony Buccina / Michael MacDonald, Carson Pirie Scott & Co., Division of Saks Department Store Group
Albert Boscov / Kenneth Lakin, Boscov’s, Inc.
Beneficiary
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
Ninth Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,750,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Carole & Gordon Segal, Crate and Barrel
Humanitarian of the Year Awards:
Doug Bradshaw, Bradshaw International, Inc.
Sam Farber, Copco, Inc. and OXO International
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
University of Chicago Integrated Breast Cancer Research Laboratory
Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation, Inc.
Tenth Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,920,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Howard Lester, Williams-Sonoma Inc.
Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Jeffrey Siegel, Lifetime Brands Inc.
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
St. Jude's Research Hospital
The Lenny Florence Center
Eleventh Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $1,750,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Thierry de La Tour d'Artaise, Groupe SEB
Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Renée Behnke, Sur La Table
Design & Fashion Leadership Award:
Burton Tansky, The Neiman Marcus Group
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
America's Second Harvest, The Nation's Food Bank Network
Twelfth Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $2,250,000
Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Tim Adams, Macy's Home Store
Creativity Leadership Award:
Lyn Kirby, Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc.
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
Thirteenth Gala Event
Total Raised: $2,190,000
Hilton Chicago
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Mike George, QVC
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
HCF Haiti Relief Fund
Fourteenth Annual Gala Event
Total Raised: $2,435,000
Hilton Chicago
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Barbara Turf, Crate & Barrel
Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Jerry Rubin, Helen of Troy
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
Cookies for Kids' Cancer
Texas Tech University Breast Cancer Center
University of Chicago
Fifteenth Years of Heart
Total Raised: $2,000,000
Hilton Chicago
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
John Tighe, JCPenney
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Vincent Naccarato, Molto Capital
Lifetime Philanthropy Award:
Jane & Neil Golub, Price Chopper
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
IIT Institute of Design
Lynn Sage Comprehensive Breast Cancer of Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Sweet Sixteen
Total Raised: $2,190,000
Hilton Chicago
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Kathryn Bufano, Belk
Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Keith Jaffee, O2 Cool
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund
Long Island Cares, Inc. ― The Harry Chapin Food Bank
American Folk Art Museum
University of Chicago
New Home. Same Heart.
Total Raised: $1,700,000
Navy Pier
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
David Ortiz, Walmart
Specialty Retailer Humanitarian Award:
Janis Johnson, Gourmet Catalog
Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Wolfgang Wüsthof, Wüsthof
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
The Chicago Initiative on Pancreatic Cancer
Housewares Blooms. Reaching New Heights.
Total Raised: $2,430,000
Navy Pier
Humanitarian of the Year Awards:
Richard Baker, Hudson's Bay Company
Brian Kelley, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc.
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
Save the Children
It's Smart to Have a Heart
Total Raised: $2,640,000
Navy Pier
Humanitarian of the Year Awards:
Terry Lundgren, Macy's
Lester Gribetz, Lenox
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
God's Love We Deliver
20th Year Anniversary — A Purpose. A Plan. A Promise.
Total Raised: $1,920,000
Navy Pier
Humanitarian of the Year Awards:
Richard Boyton, Jura
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Janet Hayes, Williams Sonoma
Lifetime Leadership Award:
Phil Brandl, International Housewares Association
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
No Kid Hungry
Unite. Support. Celebrate.
Total Raised: $1,820,000
Navy Pier
Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Bill Dillard III, Dillard's
Lifetime Humanitarian Award:
Shelley Salomon, Amazon
Lifetime Achievement Award:
Georg J. Riedel, Riedel
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
No Kid Hungry
American Red Cross
Housewares Cares Gala
Total Raised: $1,100,000
Navy Pier
Humanitarian of the Year Awards:
Niraj Shah, Wayfair
Steve Conine, Wayfair
Legacy Humanitarian Award:
Mary Dillon, ULTA
Lifetime Achievement Award:
William A. Foley, Libbey
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
Housewares Cares Gala
Total Raised: $1,100,000
*Physical Event not held due to Covid-19*
Lifetime Achievement Award for Retail Innovation:
Johnny Morris, Bass Pro Shop
Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Daniel Leppo, Bloomingdale's
Lifetime Achievement Award:
William Endres, Select Brands
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
Winning with Wyatt
World Central Kitchen
Housewares Cares Gala
Total Raised: $1,000,000
Four Seasons
2020 Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Daniel Leppo, Bloomingdale's
2020 Lifetime Achievement Award:
William Endres, Select Brands
2023 Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Clea Shearer, The Home Edit
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
Winning with Wyatt
25th Anniversary Housewares Cares Gala
Total Raised: $1,000,000
Four Seasons
2024 Humanitarian of the Year Award:
Kristen Stevens, QVC
2024 Lifetime Achievement Award:
Herb Landsman, The TJX Companies, Inc.
Beneficiaries
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
James Beard Foundation
Feeding America
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute