A lot of executives of companies also use sponsorship as a way to one-up other executives. One company gives out 100k (Silver Sponsorship), another company will give out 200k (Gold Sponsorship), etc. This has more to do with showing off at the golf course than it does to actually care about where the money is going.

In a similar example, several companies strong arm their employees to give to United Way. I know AT&T (formerly SBC) and AAL executives would try to beat each other on whose employees would contribute the most.

Also, isn't Ravinia just a buncha rich northsiders from wilmette, winnetka and highland park hanging out in a park? Only thing I recall of the place was the advertisments on Metra trains recommending drinking baileys on the rocks there.