CHICAGO — Somewhere in the thick crowd of Chicago politicos and sports titans who joined the Cubs' visit to the White House Monday, Dunning was represented.
Marc Schulman, president of Eli's Cheesecake, tweeted photos from the East Room on Monday afternoon as a member of the world champion team's entourage.
Getting Ready for @Cubs Celebration @WhiteHouse #eastroom pic.twitter.com/FW2MuftOGA
— Marc Schulman (@MarcSchulmanChi) January 16, 2017
Full house @WhiteHouse #eastroom for @Cubs #WorldSeries Champs Reception with @POTUS pic.twitter.com/gbLROpP6y8
— Marc Schulman (@MarcSchulmanChi) January 16, 2017
Congrats @Cubs @WhiteHouse Ceremony with @POTUS #FlyTheW pic.twitter.com/tDOtRy75LM
— Marc Schulman (@MarcSchulmanChi) January 16, 2017
Schulman and his wife Maureen had already been in Washington, D.C., for an earlier White House event on Thursday, when Diana Moles, Eli's head of product development, was invited to bake cheesecake for West Wing staffers, Schulman said. Once the team's visit was planned, the Schulmans were extended an invitation to stick around and watch the players meet the President.
"As a North Sider and someone who loves the Cubs, it was just amazing to be a part of," Schulman said of the visit. "It was a really emotional event, and the president was extremely funny and touching."
The bakery, which has become a Chicago institution since Schulman's father Eli founded it in 1980, was a devoted Cubs booster throughout the 2016 season, selling red-and-blue themed versions of nearly everything on its menu.
The Eli's crew even held a "pep rally" for the team in October, and they gave away free cheesecake slices to celebrate the World Series win.
"Our view has always been that we're very supportive of the Cubs, and since they've done such a historic act, why not let people take advantage?" Schulman said of the giveaway at the time.
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