Join fellow dog and book lovers who share a passion for literacy in Chicago, for an evening of food, fun, philanthropy, and fashionable four-legged friends!

Enjoy live Latin jazz as you enter and pick up a signature cocktail or mocktail honoring 2025 Dog of the Year, Ania, while you socialize and browse the silent auction highlighting amazing experiences in Chicago and beyond; visit the photobooth by XOXO Photobox and get a souvenir photostrip (or two) for the evening; stop by to get your caricature drawn by Barton McGee; play word games at your table; enjoy a dinner with dishes that celebrate South American and Mexican cuisine, bid on live auction items filled with adventure and our iconic Dog of the Year title, and more. 

Don't forget to visit our gourmet dog buffet with your four-legged friend and take advantage of complimentary dog walking services in the courtyard, and a quiet room as needed!

The evening culminates in a celebration highlighting a year of amazing moments in classrooms, libraries, and beyond. All made possible by the amazing volunteers we work with, their Certified Reading Assistance Dogs, and generous supporters like you! As we close out the evening, enjoy fresh brewed local coffee and churros alongside fond farewells.

The dress code for the evening is Cocktail, and we encourage you to embrace vibrant colors that spark as much joy as reading to one of our Certified Reading Assistance Dogs does. We hope your four-legged friend comes dressed to impress as well (and perhaps aims to win "best dressed" of the night!).

Bark 'N Ball is the 23-year-old nonprofit's most significant fundraising event of the year. If you would like to sponsor the event or fiscally support SitStayRead in another way, please contact Executive Director Deirdre Harrison at deirdre@sitstayread.org. 

If you cannot attend, we invite you to donate or register as a virtual bidder, free of charge, to participate in the silent auction!