Concerned Parents of Illinois hosted its annual gala on Jan. 31, 2026, at Gibsons Oak Brook, drawing roughly 300 parents and community leaders from across the state and nation. The event focused on parental rights, grassroots activism, and conservative organizing.
“The gala was an incredible success,” Concerned Parents of Illinois founder Kristina McCloy, who organized the event with the group’s 13-member events board, told the DuPage Policy Journal. “I’m beyond grateful for the overwhelming support from local conservatives and our allies from coast to coast, with people flying in from across the country to stand with Concerned Parents of Illinois and show their commitment to protecting our families and values.”
The gala featured nationally recognized women’s rights advocate and former NCAA athlete Riley Gaines as the keynote speaker, alongside remarks from Judicial Watch Senior Attorney Michael Bekesha.
Gaines spoke about fairness in women’s sports, parental rights, and the importance of speaking out.
She also drew on her experiences as a former collegiate athlete who competed against transgender athletes under participation guidelines that were later changed, as well as her national advocacy work during former President Joe Biden’s administration.
“Technically, we were still a nation being led by a man that likely had no idea he was leading a nation,” Gaines said of Biden at the event.
Riley Gaines takes the stage at the Concerned Parents of Illinois Annual Gala, addressing about 300 attendees. (Kristina McCloy)
During her remarks, Gaines discussed transgender participation guidelines in sports and encouraged parents to stay engaged.
Her appearance included references to the organization’s connections to Turning Point USA and the gala’s originally planned keynote speaker, Charlie Kirk, who was fatally shot at a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in September 2025.
In his comments, Bekesha emphasized Judicial Watch’s legal work for parents, noting recent policy changes in Community Consolidated School District 181 as an example of successful grassroots action.
“It was an honor to speak alongside Riley Gaines at the Concerned Parents of Illinois Gala,” Bekesha told DuPage Policy Journal. “Kristina and her board have put together an incredible grassroots organization to embolden parents who want to stand up for what’s right for their kids. What they are accomplishing was obvious from the energy in the room.”
Judicial Watch Senior Attorney Michael Bekesha speaks at the Concerned Parents of Illinois Gala, highlighting legal wins for parental rights and school transparency. (Kristina McCloy)
Judicial Watch is a Washington, D.C.-based conservative nonprofit legal watchdog that promotes government transparency, accountability and ethics through litigation. The organization also trains conservatives to use open records laws and publishes reports exposing official misconduct.
Last fall, following pressure from Concerned Parents of Illinois and legal support from Bekesha and Judicial Watch, D181 implemented a formal “Request to Opt Out of Curriculum Content” process, allowing parents to remove their children from classroom and library materials they consider inappropriate.
McCloy and Bekesha have emphasized the need for transparency, accountability, and parental consent in public education, noting advocacy efforts would continue within the district and beyond.
Citizen Farmers Executive Director Chelsie Leffelman, who also spoke at the event, praised the success of Concerned Parents of Illinois.
Drawing on her work with The Citizen Farmers, she emphasized the importance of building strong networks of informed families and creating direct access between citizens and policymakers to strengthen local democratic participation.
“The Citizen Farmers’ mission is to grow and fund local grassroots organizations, and we cannot be more proud of the work accomplished by Kristina and her group Concerned Parents of Illinois,” Leffelman told the DuPage Policy Journal. “CP emulates what can happen when community leaders reengage in the civic process.”
Citizen Farmers Executive Director Chelsie Leffelman speaks at the Concerned Parents of Illinois Gala, emphasizing grassroots leadership and civic engagement for families. (Kristina McCloy)
