Ties & Tennies Gala

The Champaign Parks Foundation will be hosting its 4th Annual Ties & Tennies Gala on Sep. 10, 2026, at the I Hotel. This fundraising gala combines formality with fun to celebrate the meaningful impact of parks and recreation in the city of Champaign!

Thursday, September 10, 2026 
I Hotel Conference Center
5 – 9 pm

We are excited to welcome Illinois Men’s Basketball Assistant Coach Tyler Underwood as this year’s guest speaker! In his role, Tyler assisted the 2025-26 team in their run to the Final Four. Tyler will share insights from his time with the Fighting Illini and the importance of recreation programs for the development of future athletes.

Attendees can also expect drinks, a plated dinner, and silent and live auction items. Jennifer Roscoe will serve as the night’s delightful emcee, while Maggie Baker Productions provides enjoyable music and Mike Namoff dynamically presents the live auction portion of the evening.

Come help us beat our fundraising goal of $160,000, in efforts to increase access to green spaces, reduce barriers to programming and physical activity, and augment the overall well-being of all residents in Champaign!