Ball fetes Alexian Brothers' growth

Officials with the Alexian Brothers Hospital Network serve a wide Northwest suburban corridor -- stretching from Elk Grove Village to Hoffman Estates and further west -- that takes in more than 1.5 million people.

What started with the Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village in 1966, now includes four facilities, including the Alexian Brothers Rehabilitation Hospital, also in Elk Grove Village, and the Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital and St. Alexius Medical Center, both in Hoffman Estates.

On Saturday, however, they rested.

Physicians, administrators, supporters and public officials, all gathered to celebrate the network, and the Alexian Brothers themselves, whose mission and values, continue to drive them.

In all, more than 700 guests attended the 22nd annual Ball de Fleur, held at the Drury Lane in Oak Brook. Municipal leaders from Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg, Lake Barrington, Hoffman Estates and Palatine all attended the black-tie benefit.

Among the hospital staff members in attendance was Mark Frey, named chief executive officer of the hospital network in September.

"It's our signature event," Frey said. "The sense of participation and community, is always very positive."

Guests viewed a six-minute video, narrated by Bill Kurtis, that showcased the growth of the network, as well as some of its latest technologies, from brain mapping to Gamma knife procedures.

They also learned about its current $100 million capital campaign launched in October. Phase I already is under way and includes building the new five-level bed tower on the Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village, boosting its percentage of private beds to nearly 80 percent, with the Children's Hospital, planned for the Hoffman Estates campus next year.

While there was lots of news and technologies to share, guests also took in the ambience of the evening, being surrounded by the floral -- and dessert -- designs of Br. Valentine Bianco, as well as entertained by Las Vegas impersonator Fred Travalena.

It all added up to net approximately $400,000, officials said, which was double the amount raised last year.

"It's truly a night where the Brothers celebrate the successes of being a Network," said Joan Scheuffler, foundation vice president, "and of providing health care to our all of our communities."