You are invited to
Counseling Center of the North Shore's​
In Full Bloom Gala

Saturday, May 16th, 6:00pm - 10:00pm
at the lovely Michigan Shores Club in Wilmette
Join us for a celebration of mental health, healing and growth during Mental Health Awareness Month in May.
Counseling Center of the North Shore is a nonprofit mental health center in
Winnetka serving the North Shore and beyond.  Our licensed clinicians offer individual, couples, and family therapy for children, adolescents, and adults, continuing a long tradition of compassion and community care.
Tickets are on sale now!
Follow this link to Eventbrite to purchase your tickets:
In Full Bloom Tickets on Eventbrite Both ticket options get you into a fun evening at In Full Bloom and support mental health care.
​Included in your ticket are a 3-course dinner, open bar, entertainment, and free valet parking. And of course, good vibes for supporting a good cause.​
Sponsorships Available!
With an expected 150 attendees, this intimate and impactful evening offers a meaningful opportunity to connect your brand with individuals who value mental wellness, equity, and healthy strong communities.
Your sponsorship...
  • Create access to high-quality mental health care
  • Support individuals and families facing financial barriers
  • Promote a healthier, more connected community
Download Sponsorship Packets: Questions? Contact: Dalia Aragon, Associate Director of Development & Communications
[email protected] | 847-999-0813
CCNS Mental Health Champion Awardee Meg Kissinger
Meg Kissinger is a Pulitzer Prize finalist, award-winning journalist, and best-selling
author whose work has helped change the way we see and talk about mental illness.
A proud Wilmette native, she brings a deeply personal and local voice to this
national conversation. Her acclaimed memoir of growing up in Wilmette, While You
Were Out, blends investigative reporting with deep compassion and honesty,
shining a light on the human cost of silence and the importance of seeking help. 
Her voice and leadership embody the spirit of CCNS’s 2026 Mental Health Champion Award. Meg will attend In Full Bloom to accept the award and meet attendees.
Event Flow
In Full Bloom will be the most fun and inspiring fundraiser you attend this spring! Join us in creating access to mental health care for anyone who needs support because when help is available, people don’t just survive, they bloom.
At the beautiful Michigan Shores Club in Wilmette, your evening will unfold like this:
  • 6:00 PM: Arrive energized and ready to celebrate! Take advantage of free valet parking, check in upstairs, and explore the evening’s offerings.
  • 6:00–7:00 PM: Sip on cocktails, wine, beer and other refreshments at the open bar, explore the silent auction for new experiences and treasures, and get your thrift on at the Winnetka Thrift Shop pop-up.
  • 7:00 PM: Take your seat for a delicious dinner shared with friends old and new. Enjoy a thoughtfully prepared dinner, vegetarian option available, with salad, dessert, and wine included.
  • 8:00 PM: Celebrate the inspiring voice and impact of this year’s CCNS Mental Health Champion, advocate, journalist, and author Meg Kissinger.
  • 8:30 PM: Hit the dance floor as Chicago’s very own Gerald McClendon, aka Soulkeeper, and his 5-piece band will fill the room with soulful rhythms you can’t resist.
  • 10:00 PM: Leave the party glowing with the joy of an evening spent supporting a life-changing cause.
Winnetka Thrift Shop Pop Up
​Enjoy exclusive VIP thrifting during cocktail hour from our very own Winnetka Thrift Shop! We’ll have a selection of special finds just for In Full Bloom, unique treasures you won’t want to miss.
Best of all, every purchase supports mental health services at the Counseling Center of the North Shore.
The Winnetka Thrift Shop is located in the Hubbard Woods District of Winnetka at 992 Green Bay Road.
Gerald McClendon Band
If you love R&B Soul music, then you’ll fall in love with Gerald McClendon and his extraordinary style of performing R&B standards such as classic soul music and sounds of Motown, Stax and Atlantic records. He draws from the everlasting era of artist such as Ottis Redding, The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye, The Chi-Lites, Stevie Wonder and even songs of the Frank Sinatra jazz era. Gerald McClendon’s love for music screams out loud with his passion and love of entertaining his audiences.
The Counseling Center of the North Shore thanks the following event sponsors