Alexian foundation ball raises $425,000 for behavioral health care
The distinctive 30th anniversary celebration of the Alexian Brothers Ball de Fleur was immersed in elegance and inspired by charity.
Celebrating three decades of giving back, the Alexian Brothers Foundation's premier philanthropic gala at the Four Seasons raised $425,000 to address the community's unmet behavioral health needs.
"Alexian Brothers Health System is courageously moving toward the issues of our time, and philanthropy gives action to this commitment," says Clay Ciha, CEO, AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital, Hoffman Estates. "Mental health is at the core of our faith-based values and mission, and we need to give people access to the behavioral health care they need when and where they need it."
ABC 7's Ron Magers, co-anchor of Chicago's 5 and 10 p.m. newscasts, was master of ceremonies and auctioneer. Magers shared his keen interest in behavioral health - both his wife, Elise, and their daughters are therapists.
Guests of the Ball de Fleur watched a powerful video about two patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder whose lives were transformed through their treatment at AMITA Health Behavioral Health Hospital.
Mark Frey, President and CEO, AMITA Health and Alexian Brothers Health System, welcomed Alexian Brothers leaders and donors to the 2016 Ball de Fleur, and then introduced Daniel Walsh, chairman and CEO of The Walsh Group, to deliver the toast, followed by the invocation by Michael Benoit, CIMA, CFP, managing director of The Wealth Office DiMeo Schneider & Associates, L.L.C. and Alexian Brothers Foundation board chair.
The black tie gala had three auctions - silent, live and reverse - and a raffle that raised $276,000 alone.
Ball de Fleur sponsors included three who gave $50,000 each: Mr. David's Foundation (Itasca), Superior Ambulance Service (Elmhurst) and Walsh Construction (Chicago).
Alliance Pathology Consultants (Elk Grove Village/Hoffman Estates), Midsuburban Radiological Associates (Elk Grove Village/Woodstock) and Power Construction Company (Chicago) gave $25,000). The other major sponsors were Medical & Dental Association of St. Alexius Medical Center; Athenahealth; Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLC; Kaufman, Hall & Associates; Medical Center Anesthesia at St. Alexius Medical Center; Nixon Peabody; Northwest Oncology & Hematology; Physician Anesthesia Associates; Bard; Bear Construction Company; Berry Electric; Dickerson Engineering; Eckenhoff Saunders Architects; ITW; Lillibridge Healthcare Service; ManorCare Health Services; Peterson Contracting Services; Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago; Sebert Landscaping; and Tovar Snow Professionals.
Since the first Garden Ball in 1987, the Alexian Brothers Foundation's annual philanthropic gala has welcomed more than 21,000 guests and raised nearly $7 million for programs providing compassionate health care and housing services to Chicago-area residents.