A $20 ticket buys Glen Ellyn residents an open bar, live music and expert financial advice Thursday, Sept. 24, with proceeds going to DuPagePads.

The Design, Wine & Wealth charity event runs from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at MK: STEAK + BAR, 400 North Main St. Justine Kottmann of ERA Real Estate Partners organized the evening, with co-sponsors Abby Bakos of Bakos Law, John Berger of GreenState Credit Union and Shannon O'Malley of SQO Design Studio.

Guests will hear short talks on home valuation, financing, interior design return on investment and legacy protection. Musician Gabriel Datcu provides the live soundtrack. The ticket covers wine, beer, mocktails, light appetizers and one raffle entry, according to the event's Eventbrite page. Additional raffle entries can be earned by following the sponsors on social media. Dress code is business casual. The venue is wheelchair accessible with designated parking.

All proceeds go to DuPagePads, the DuPage County nonprofit that fields roughly 8,000 calls a year on its Access Line and operates 300 beds at its Interim Housing Center. The organization also manages about 162 supportive housing apartments across the county for people with disabilities and domestic violence survivors, according to its spring 2026 donor appeal.

DuPagePads President and CEO April Redzic described the scope of need in that May appeal, noting the nonprofit's services stretch from street outreach teams visiting encampments to overnight shelter for more than 100 children each night.

The nonprofit's profile grew in December 2025 when it received a $5 million grant from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund, the largest private gift in its history. "This incredible gift will accelerate our vision of a DuPage County where no family is left without shelter and no child sleeps overnight in a car," Redzic said when the grant was announced in December 2025.

Tickets are available on Eventbrite and are non-refundable but transferable.