Bears honor Mrs. McCaskey at 2025 Bears Care Gala
Story by Gabby Hajduk, Photographs by Jacob Funk and Bailey Black
Bears Care, the organization's charitable arm, hosted the 28th annual Bears Care Gala Saturday night at Soldier Field to help raise critically needed funds for innovative breast and ovarian cancer research efforts in Chicago.
The evening was also spent honoring Virginia Halas McCaskey, who passed away Feb. 6 at the age of 102 and played an integral role in the establishment of Bears Care and the work it continues to do.
For Mrs. McCaskey, helping establish Bears Care over two decades ago was a continuation of what she aspired to do throughout her life: do good work quietly.
Even after establishing the first Bears Care board of directors and serving as the organization's secretary, Mrs. McCaskey remained hands-on, attending every Bears Care Gala and meeting with every person that lined up to see her.
At this year's Gala, the Bears included a series of small touches, just how Mrs. McCaskey would like it, to honor her throughout the evening.
"We were honored to be able to pay tribute to Virginia Halas McCaskey and her legacy of silent giving throughout this year's Gala," Bears Care director Marge Hamm said. "We had family members, staff, partners and fans present, all of which have long admired Mrs. McCaskey and the Bears for their work in the Chicagoland community. To be able to celebrate her life and acknowledge her good works in helping establish Bears Care and launching the inaugural Gala in 1996 made it a special evening for all. We are extremely grateful for all of those who attended this year's Gala and continue to support Bears Care."
Inside the United Club, two baskets up for auction were dedicated to Mrs. McCaskey: a knitting basket to honor one of her hobbies and a "favorite things" basket, which included items such as her iconic script "B" Bears hat, Hammonds pretzels, playing cards and a Bears rosary.
The ribbons on the baskets as well as the floral arrangements throughout the United Center contained touches of "Blessed Mother Blue," representing Mrs. McCaskey's Catholic faith.
Once guests were seated and before dinner was served, Father Tom Hurley — a former pastor at Old St. Patrick's Church — gave a touching tribute to Mrs. McCaskey through prayer.
Father Tom then introduced a tribute video for Mrs. McCaskey that recognized the great work she did with Bears Care for the Bears community.
The video touched on the close connection between Mrs. McCaskey and the Piccolo family, which was greatly impacted by cancer when Bears icon Brian Piccolo, a former running back, passed away from the disease on June 16, 1970.
To help keep his spirit alive, the Bears established the Brian Piccolo Award, which is given to one rookie and one veteran who best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor of Brian. This year, the award was given to veteran linebacker T.J. Edwards and rookie receiver Rome Odunze, both of whom attended the Gala and gave their unique perspectives on Mrs. McCaskey.
"I think it's really cool at a place like this where you can come and those traditions are upheld and you get to remember the people that came before you and the people that make this place special," Edwards said. "And I know she was always at the center of it."
"It's crazy because I never got to meet her, but I can feel her aura, I guess, because of the way she interacted with everybody," Odunze said. "So it almost feels like I have, like I can envision her."
Members of the McCaskey family also paid tribute to their beloved matriarch through custom-made heart-shaped pins that feature blessed mother blue and Mrs. McCaskey's distinctive cursive initials.
Patrick McCaskey, the fourth-born child of Mrs. McCaskey, also donned a pin featuring pictures of his mother at a young age.
Also in attendance were three of Mrs. McCaskey's caretakers: Bwalya, Petty and Margaret.
While Mrs. McCaskey's presence was missed on Saturday night, it's clear her impact and influence remain strong.
"Mom's influence will always be with us, for Bears Care and the Gala, and really throughout the Chicago Bears organization," Barb McCaskey, Bears Care board member and wife of chairman George H. McCaskey, said. "Fittingly, the Gala program began with a beautiful prayer to God led by Father Tom Hurley. Father Hurley memorialized all mothers, those with us and those who have gone ahead. Mom was always reluctant to be the focus of attention, and it was exactly what she would have wanted to include all mothers in this event the night before Mother's Day. Prayers also rose for our researchers, doctors, patients and survivors. In the Gala's entirety, the moment of petition and praise was most reminiscent of Virginia Halas McCaskey. She was a powerful force whose Catholic faith was the bedrock of everything she did in her life."
Nearly 700 guests and 28 current and former players attended the Gala to help support Bears Care and the communities it serves.
Along with Edwards and Odunze, other current Bears to walk the orange carpet included nickel back Kyler Gordon, receiver DJ Moore, safeties Jaquan Brisker and Jonathan Owens as well as the special teams unit featuring kicker Cairo Santos, punter Tory Taylor and long snapper Scott Daly.
Bears front office staff such as President & CEO Kevin Warren, chairman George H. McCaskey, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson supported the event. Coordinators Dennis Allen, Declan Doyle and Richard Hightower as well as assistant coaches Antwaan Randle-El, Press Taylor and Al Harris also attended.
Bears alumni also showed out for the evening, highlighted by 2024 Hall of Fame inductee and legendary return specialist Devin Hester. Hester received his gold jacket this summer, becoming the first return specialist to enter the Hall — a testament to his record-breaking career that included eight years in Chicago.
Other former players such as former cornerback Charles "Peanut" Tillman, former safety Gary Fencik and former cornerback Jerry Azumah, who are both on Bears Care's board of directors, former defensive tackle Anthony "Spice" Adams, Hall of Fame offensive tackle Jimbo Covert and Hall of Fame former defensive tackle Dan Hampton spent the evening at Soldier Field as well.
After the orange carpet festivities and cocktail hour out on the turf, guests watched the tributes to Mrs. McCaskey and enjoyed dinner before participating in the live auction hosted by radio play-by-play broadcaster Jeff Joniak. Guests bid on items and experiences such as a locker room tour with Johnson, a round of golf with Edwards and tight end Cole Kmet as well as a private dinner experience with the Warrens.
The winners of locker room tour received their once-in-a-lifetime experience before even leaving the Gala, heading to the field level of Soldier Field at the end of the night with Johnson.
Johnson, who was also seeing the Bears home locker room for the first time since being hired, spent quality time with the group, taking pictures and fielding questions to wrap up the night.
