Gala celebrates 25 years of After School Matters program

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A gala was being held Monday to celebrate the 25th anniversary of After School Matters. The program provides summer and after school programming for Chicago teens.

Monday's event paid special tribute to After School Matters founder Maggie Daley.

"She is the one who really had the idea that teenagers needed to be served in different ways. And who knew that 25 years later that was even more prevalent than it was at the time?" Mary Ellen Caron, CEO of After School Matters.

A thousand supporters and guests are expected to attend the gala at Navy Pier which features student performances.

Among the guests was Mellody Hobson, wife of director George Lucas and board member of After School Matters. She spoke for the first time about the Lucas Museum and why she's disappointed it's not coming to Chicago.

"I wanted our city to benefit from all it will bring; the tourism, the jobs, the opportunity for our young people. But it's not meant to be," Hobson said.