Landmark gift covers gala costs
McMullan/O'Connor Fund Returns for Second Year as Landmark Partner for Letters To Santa: The Holiday Gala at the Field Museum
Award-Winning Filmmaker Patrick O'Connor and Acclaimed Author Margaret McMullan Renew $10,000 Sponsorship, Fully Clearing Production Overhead to Guarantee 100% of Night-of Donations Go Directly to Chicago Families in Need.
CHICAGO, Sept. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Letters Charity is proud to announce that the McMullan/O'Connor Fund has returned for the second consecutive year as the official Landmark Partner for Letters To Santa: The Holiday Gala, taking place on Friday, December 18, 2026, inside the historic Stanley Field Hall at the Field Museum.
Building on their foundational $10,000 partnership from last year, the renewed $10,000 landmark contribution from Patrick O'Connor and Margaret McMullan delivers a vital cornerstone for this winter's event. Combined with underwriting from civic host partners—including the Field Museum, Blue Plate Catering, and Frost AV—the McMullan/O'Connor Fund's multi-year backing completes the final piece needed to fully clear all event production costs. This unlocks Letters Charity's signature 100% Impact Guarantee: every single dollar raised through public ticket sales, auctions, and night-of donations will go directly into the hands of Chicago families experiencing severe poverty as unconditional, direct financial grants and holiday necessities on Christmas Day.
"Patrick and Margaret embody the true spirit of empathy, storytelling, and sustained community leadership," said Holly Lewis, Executive Director of Letters Charity. "Having their major support for a second straight year is a massive vote of confidence in our model. Their continued, foundational backing allows us to operate a zero-overhead engine on event night, ensuring that every penny raised translates into immediate, life-changing support for our neighbors."
Patrick O'Connor and Margaret McMullan carry a distinguished legacy of storytelling focused on human resilience, social impact, and community.
- Patrick O'Connor is an award-winning writer and director whose acclaimed documentary films include The Invisible Patients (PBS America ReFramed) and Look Away, Look Away (winner of the Organization of American Historians' Erik Barnouw Award). His documentary feature, The Zebra and The Bear, captures a mother's fierce seven-year quest to develop a pioneering gene-therapy treatment for a fatal, ultra-rare disease. He is also wrapping production on an inspiring new documentary following a 66-year-old Irish ultra-endurance cyclist who set a Guinness World Record riding Route 66, culminating right here in Chicago at Navy Pier.
- Margaret McMullan is a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow, Fulbright Scholar, and the author of nine award-winning books, including In My Mother's House, Where The Angels Lived, and Aftermath Lounge. Her essays and short fiction have been featured in The Washington Post, USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, and Ploughshares. She previously served as the Melvin Peterson Endowed Chair in Literature and Creative Writing at the University of Evansville and co-produced Look Away, Look Away
Letters To Santa: The Holiday Gala carries on a 20-year Chicago tradition combining world-class music, comedy, and goodwill. The December 18th event will be anchored and headlined by iconic performers Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and Fred Armisen (SNL), alongside special guests.
For more information about corporate partnerships, tax-deductible contributions, or the event, visit letterscharity.org/gala26 or view the sponsorship portal at givebutter.com/26galasponsors.
About Letters Charity
Letters Charity transforms passive compassion into direct, immediate relief. Through partnerships with local social service networks, economically disadvantaged Chicago families are invited to write a letter answering three life-transforming questions about their stories and needs. On Christmas Day, volunteer teams respond to every letter by visiting doorsteps with requested necessities, winter gear, household goods, toys, and unconditional cash grants with no strings attached.
About the McMullan/O'Connor Fund & Projects
The McMullan/O'Connor Fund supports initiatives in education, literacy, arts, healthcare equity, civic engagement, and direct poverty alleviation. To learn more about Patrick O'Connor's documentary work, visit thezebraandthebear.com, and explore Margaret McMullan's literary works at margaretmcmullan.com.
Media Contact:
Holly Lewis, Executive Director
Letters Charity
[email protected] | 646-279-5764
letterscharity.org
SOURCE Letters Charity
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