On Your Feet Foundation Hosts "Gather Under The Stars"

[EVANSTON, ILL.] On Your Feet Foundation, an Evanston-based nonprofit, invites the community to an enchanting evening under the stars on Friday, August 8, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. This year's annual fundraiser, "Gather Under The Stars," transforms a summer night into a powerful celebration of connection, featuring a local food truck, craft cocktails, live music, and the stories that bind the adoption community together through love, loss, grief, and hope.

For many birthparents, life after placement can feel profoundly isolating. On Your Feet Foundation exists to change that reality, providing the comprehensive support network that this underserved community deserves.

"I want more birthparents to know about On Your Feet Foundation because having support after placement is vital to processing the psychological aftermath of relinquishment," shares one birthmother who has found community through the organization's services. "The impact of sharing space with someone who understands what you've been through, can relate to the complex feelings and rollercoaster of emotions, and will not judge you, cannot truly be measured."

The celestial-themed evening promises an unforgettable experience of dancing, stargazing, and community building. Guests will enjoy gourmet sandwiches from Fat Shallot, signature cocktails by local mixologist Lolo McGrath, and captivating performances by local musicians Chris Kent and the Now & Then Band. Adding to the magic, Evanston-based astrologer and tarot reader Ella Kist will provide personalized readings throughout the night.

The evening's most powerful moment will feature interconnected stories woven together from a single constellation—an adopted person, their birth mother, and their adoptive mother—illuminating the complex beauty of adoption relationships.

Every ticket purchased directly fuels On Your Feet's mission-critical work, including their groundbreaking new Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorder (PMAD) Screening program and therapeutic practice. By removing financial barriers to care, the organization transforms isolation into connection, providing accessible, compassionate support at no cost to birthparents across North America.

"Gather Under The Stars brings people together to share stories and build compassionate understanding within the adoption community," says On Your Feet Executive Director Alexis Eyler. "Thanks to our supporters' generosity, we can launch programs like our PMAD screening initiative while continuing to provide support at no cost to birthparents. When I see birthparents find connection with others who truly understand their experience, I'm reminded why this work—and this fundraiser—matters so deeply."

Event Details:

• Date: Friday, August 8, 2025
• Time: 6:00 p.m.
• Location: Evanston, Illinois
• Tickets: $75 individual tickets now available
• Sponsorship opportunities: Available

For tickets and more information, visit onyourfeetfoundation.org.

About On Your Feet Foundation:

On Your Feet Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization based in Evanston, Illinois, dedicated to serving birthparents after they have placed a child or children for adoption across North America. Recognized as the leader in comprehensive post-placement support for birthparents—a historically underserved demographic within the adoption community—the organization provides case management, access to adoption-competent therapy, therapeutic retreats, education and counseling grants, community-building initiatives, and ethical adoption education.

Contact: Kristin Thomas
kristin@onyourfeetmidwest.org
(224) 858-6933
www.onyourfeetfoundation.org