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Illuminate Chicago Lighting Program

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Illuminate Chicago Information

Chicago has the world-wide reputation as the "Windy City" and the home of the first skyscraper. But all Chicago residents know and can easily envision the true gem of our city – the Chicago skyline and our beautiful buildings that light up the night.

BOMA/Chicago Building Members include all of the city’s iconic office buildings that comprise our skyline. This is why many organizations reach out to us in regards to lighting up the skyline for their various civic and philanthropic causes.

In an effort to assist our members with the multitude of light requests they receive on a monthly basis, BOMA/Chicago created the Illuminate Chicago Lighting Program. This program allows BOMA/Chicago to collect and review all light requests and subsequently provide our members with light recommendations. It is important to note that all of our Building Members are independently owned and managed and that BOMA/Chicago does not mandate that Building Members light up for the initiatives we approve.

Buildings are reminded to abide by our Lights Out Chicago program to avoid  bird collisions by extinguishing decorative lighting on rooftops and upper floors by 11 p.m. each night during Spring and Fall migration seasons.

Submit an Illuminate Chicago Application

BOMA/Chicago’s building lighting program, Illuminate Chicago, was created nearly a decade ago to coordinate building lighting opportunities to support civic and charitable causes. We invite you to review the Illuminate Chicago requirements. If you meet all of these requirements, you can apply to have your request approved. The application can be accessed here. Please note that there is a $100 non-refundable administrative fee for organizations submitting light requests.

If you have any questions about this application, please contact Rob Johnson, Director of Civic Engagement, at rjohnson@bomachicago.org or 312-870-9600.

Upcoming Requests

Hispanic Heritage Month
Dates: September 15, 2024 - October 15, 2024
Colors: Orange
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org

Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Dates: Month of October 2024
Colors: Pink
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org

Bank of America Chicago Marathon (October 13)
Sponsor: Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Dates: October 10, 2024 - October 13, 2024
Colors: Red, White, and Blue
Phrase: "26.2" or "Go Runners"
Contact: Alex Sawyer at Alex.Sawyer@cemevent.com
Website: https://www.chicagomarathon.com

#LightUpMBC
Sponsor: Metavivor
Dates: October 11, 2024 - October 14, 2024
Colors: Green, Teal, and Pink
Contact: Maureen Kintz at ILLightUpMBC@gmail.com
Website: www.metavivor.org

Remembering Our Stars With a Wave of Light 
Sponsor: Star Legacy Foundation
Dates: October 15, 2024 - October 21, 2024
Colors: Pink and Blue
Contact: Rachel Haider at Rachel@starlegacyfoundation.org
Website: www.starlegacyfoundation.org

Red Ribbon Week
Sponsor: US Drug Enforcement Administration Chicago Field Division
Dates: October 23, 2024 - October 28, 2024
Colors: Red
Phrase: Red Ribbon
Contact: Luis Agostini at Luis.Agostini@dea.gov
Website: https://www.dea.gov/redribbon

Halloween
Dates: October 30, 2024 - November 1, 2024
Colors: Orange
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org

Light the World in Teal
Sponsor: Alzheimer's Foundation of America
Dates: November 1, 2024 - November 3, 2024
Colors: Teal
Contact: Sandy Silverstein at SSilverstein@alzfdn.org
Website: www.alzfdn.org

Children's Grief Awareness Day
Sponsor: Rainbows for All Children
Dates: November 10, 2024 - November 15, 2024
Colors: Blue
Contact: Leigh Veeser at Leigh.Veeser@rainbows.org
Website: www.rainbows.org

World Pancreatic Cancer Day/Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month
Sponsor: Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Network
Dates: November 16, 2024 - November 21, 2024
Colors: Purple
Phrase: "Cure PanCan" or "NO PNCAN"
Contact: Jill Peet Saponaro at JillPeet.Saponaro@cbexchange.com
Website: www.pancan.org

Holiday Season and New Year
Dates: December 15, 2024 - January 2, 2025
Colors: Red, Green, and White
Contact: Rob Johnson at rjohnson@bomachicago.org

Dry January® USA - Go YELLOW in January
Sponsor: Meharry Medical College
Dates: January 7, 2025 - January 13, 2025
Colors: Yellow
Phrase: Dry January
Contact: Michael Caldwell at mccaldwell@mmc.edu
Website: www.meharryresearch.org/dry-january-usa