Talk Derby to Me

An Evening of Bourbon, Hospitality, and Bringing Families Closer to Home.

Talk Derby to Me is Cherrisse in Chicagoland’s inaugural signature fundraiser: an intimate, cocktail-style evening where Kentucky bourbon heritage meets refined Chicagoland suburban polish. Hosted at Aged in Oak and benefiting Lighthouse Housing Alliance, the night is designed for connection, storytelling, and generosity.

Limited seating. High-touch experience. Real impact.

RSVP NOW

A Fundraising Designed to Feel Different

The Kentucky Derby isn’t just a race. It is a tradition built on:

Heritage: a story passed down, year after year
Hospitality: gathering, welcoming, celebrating well
Ritual: the fashion, the toast, the shared moment

Bourbon carries that same spirit. It is patiently aged, crafted over time, and shaped by the barrel until something bold and memorable emerges.

That is the heart of this night at Aged in Oak: honoring the heritage of bourbon and Derby culture, and bringing it to life in a way that feels elevated, warm, and unmistakably Chicagoland. It’s a cocktail-style gathering where bourbon culture, thoughtful hospitality, and genuine connection come together in support of Lighthouse Housing Alliance.

Join Us at Talk Derby to Me

The Kentucky Derby has always been about tradition. About gathering. About raising a glass to something bigger than ourselves.

Bourbon heritage is about what happens when you give something the right environment and the time to become what it is meant to be.
That is what Lighthouse Housing Alliance does for families.
When a family has stable housing and real support, everything changes:

Kids can sleep safely and show up stronger at school
Parents can rebuild income and routines
Futures stop feeling fragile and start feeling possible

Your ticket is not just admission. It is active participation.

It helps create the kind of stability where families can grow, recover, and thrive.

Your Derby Night, Made Simple

Enjoy a night that blends Southern charm with meaningful community impact.

Reserve Your Place

Claim your ticket, plan your Derby garb, and step into an evening unlike any other.

Arrive & Connect

A long table exquisitely set for a formal dinner event in a luxurious indoor setting.

Thoughtfully designed setting where conversation flows and celebration feels easy.

Raise a glass

A couple of people holding wine glasses in their hands

Signature cocktails, Kentucky-rooted bites, and a shared moment of impact.

Why This Night Matters

“THE DAYS OF WORRYING WHERE MY KIDS AND I WILL SLEEP ARE OVER.”

Lighthouse Housing Alliance supports vulnerable families by enabling access to stable housing, equipping families in crisis to achieve self-sufficiency, connecting them to community, and working to break the cycle of housing instability. Dedicated to being a beacon of hope, Lighthouse Housing Alliance helps families transition from uncertainty and hardship toward a brighter, more stable future.

Make a larger impact by becoming a sponsor