When Brent Carstensen walked into Sam’s Wine & Liquor some 17 years ago, he had no idea he would leave with a lot more than a bottle of champagne. As he walked up and down the store’s aisles, his soon-to-be close friend, Charles Edward Stanfield, spotted him. Stanfield, a champagne expert, noticed Carstensen’s breast cancer shirt and pointed to a pink ribbon on his own apron, proclaiming, “I’m a big supporter of the cause.” They soon realized they could do a great deal of good work together.

Their collaboration would soon become known as Tasting Stars, an event benefiting A Silver Lining Foundation (ASLF). This year, as ASLF celebrated their 17th annual Tasting Stars event, the two men proved they still share a passion for what brought them together: champagne and finding a cure for cancer.

Since its inception in 2003, Tasting Stars has raised more than $520,000 for ASLF, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing equal access to breast cancer education. ASLF is best known for their Buy A Mom A Mammogram® program, which funds cost-free mammograms and diagnostic testing to the uninsured and underinsured, because no one should be denied access breast health screening and education.

The 17th annual Tasting Stars was held on June 22 at the DIRRT Environmental Solutions Showroom located in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. Patrons toasted to ASLF’s achievements all night long, and enjoyed champagne and wine tastings, exquisite French food, and a live auction.