Gary Sinise
Goombay Bash 2026 Celebrity Guest of Honor
We're thrilled to announce that Gary Sinise will be our Celebrity Guest of Honor at the 24th Annual Goombay Bash on July 25, 2026! Join us for an unforgettable evening as this Oscar-nominated star of Forrest Gump, Apollo 13, The Green Mile, and CSI: NY returns to his hometown of Chicago for a night of hope and inspiration.
Gary takes the stage for one night only to share reflections on his extraordinary journey and never-before-told stories from his iconic career. Every guest will receive a copy of his brand-new upcoming book, Graceful Warrior, which honors his late son Mac — who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer at just twenty-seven years old — and the remarkable resilience and healing his family found in the face of loss.
Gary Sinise’s distinguished career in film, television, theater and philanthropy spans across five decades, marked by a deep commitment to storytelling, service, and purpose. Sinise is best known for his iconic portrayal of wounded Vietnam War veteran Lt. Dan Taylor in the award-winning film Forrest Gump that brought him widespread acclaim and deepened his connections within the military community. Sinise earned Academy Award, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild nominations and was recognized with the National Board of Review Award and the Disabled American Veterans National Commanders Award for Best Supporting Actor. His extensive film credits include Apollo 13, Ransom, The Green Mile, Snake Eyes, Of Mice and Men, Mission to Mars, The Human Stain, I Still Believe, and Joe Bell.
For more than 40 years, Sinise has been a dedicated advocate for America’s service members, veterans, and their families. Inspired by his own family of service from WWI through Afghanistan, Sinise’s support began in the early 1980s, working with Vietnam veterans in his local Chicago area, before the role of Lt. Dan Taylor in Forrest Gump would cement Gary’s legacy as an advocate for those who have courageously served our country. In 2011, Sinise founded the Gary Sinise Foundation, with a mission to serve our country by honoring our nation’s defenders, veterans, first responders, their families, and those in need. The Foundation provides critical support including building specially adapted mortgage free smart homes for our nation’s most severely wounded heroes, providing equipment grants to fire and police departments around the country, educating the next generation through trips to the National WWII Museum, National Medal of Honor Museum, Flight 93 Memorial, 9/11 Memorial and Museum and the Pentagon, supporting the families of our fallen through community programming, hosting free concerts with Gary Sinise & the Lt. Dan Band which for nearly 25 years has been uplifting our veterans, first responders, families of our fallen heroes and much more.
In 2019, his autobiography, Grateful American: A Journey from Self to Service, became a New York Times bestseller, sharing the story of his personal transformation and lifelong commitment to serving others. Sinise recently produced Resurrection & Revival Parts 2 and 3, continuing to bring to life the music of his late son, Mac Sinise—projects that honor Mac’s creativity and their shared passion for supporting our nation’s heroes through the mission of the Gary Sinise Foundation. Mac had finished recording his first album Resurrection & Revival prior to his passing in January 2024.
His upcoming book, Graceful Warrior: The True Story of a Son, a Father and a Family Who Carried Each Other Through honors Mac and his own family’s journey of healing, which will be released on November 10, 2026.
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In addition to numerous other benefits, our presenting sponsor and their guests will be able to take part in a meet and greet with our 2026 celebrity guest of honor, Gary Sinise! We offer only one presenting sponsorship each year, so take the opportunity and sign up today!
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