By: Jessica Vacco: Editor-in-chief
On Thursday December 8, 2011, Rosie O’Donnell was warmly welcomed to the Windy City with an event hosted in her honor. She graced the cover of Michigan Avenue Magazine, and adored everyone who came to support her at the red carpet event at the Horseshoe Casino in Hammond, IN. Rosie is now hosting a show on Oprahs network OWN which is the reason for her relocation to Chicago from New York. Since her move to Chicago, things have been going well for her. She is recently engaged to her fiancée Michelle Rounds, a New York headhunter. Rosie was all smiles at the event and happy to chat with anyone and everyone. I got the honor of interviewing her and she was truly a sweetheart and hysterical! She expressed such gratitude to Chicago for making her feel so welcomed so fast. “Every morning when I’m walking to my car, the little kids on my block scream “Hi Rosie! Have a great day at your show!” that is something you wouldn’t get in New York. This morning I had people offer to buy me a cup of coffee from Starbucks to welcome me. It’s a great feeling. I’m happy to be here.” When asked about her proposal to Michelle she responded “I proposed with my head down, hand out and a huge lump in my throat. It was great, I’m very excited. I knew about a week after we met! Ha ha, but I did the smart thing and didn’t propose right away. You know, I’m at the age where I just knew. I knew she was exactly what I wanted.” Chicago is lucky to have someone like Rosie out here. She sets a great example of hard work and passion, and shows people that you can still have fun while conducting yourself in a professional manner.
Above all of this, however, the elegant night was surrounded with toys and books that were being collected for Lydia’s Home for Children in Crisis. Sometimes people get so caught up in the holiday season, and especially at events as big as this, that they forget to give back.It’s gestures like this that remind us all how lucky we are, and how good it feels to give!
