Komen Chicago to celebrate 20th anniversary at Ignite the Fight Gala and bridge lighting on Oct. 21, with Mario Lopez as More than Pink Ambassador
Susan G. Komen Chicago will hold its Ignite the Fight Gala presented by Wintrust on Saturday, Oct. 21, at the Westin River North, celebrating 20 years of funding global research and providing critical breast health services for the underserved in the Chicago area. The anniversary celebration will feature Mario Lopez, Emmy-winning host of "Extra," as the Celebrity More Than Pink Ambassador, as well as 20 More Than Pink Heroes, who will be honored for their exceptional compassion, bravery and leadership in the fight against breast cancer.
The Gala will kick off with a VIP reception and spectacular bridge lighting. The Dearborn Street bridge and Clark Street bridge over the Chicago River will be illuminated in pink. The lighting ceremony, led by Ed Wehmer, president and CEO of Wintrust, will celebrate extraordinary people who have "bridged the gap" with the Chicago community, by fighting to even the playing field for those who lack resources and access to optimal treatment.
"Our mission is clear: to ensure quality care for all and energize science to find cures," says Bonnie Gordon, Komen Chicago executive director. Gordon says more than 1,000 people in the Chicago area die from breast cancer each year, and there is a large disparity in the city, with the mortality rate of African-American women being 40 percent higher than Caucasian women. Many of those deaths could have been prevented, if a diagnosis had been made earlier and all had optimal care. Komen Chicago has distributed $17.4 million in community grants over the past 20 years, to ensure the underserved throughout the Chicago area get the care they need.
Ignite the Fight presented by Wintrust kicks off with the bridge lighting at 6:30 p.m. at the Westin River North, 320 N. Dearborn St. in Chicago. The Gala, which includes dinner, awards and dancing, begins at 7:30 p.m. Pink ties and pink cocktail attire encouraged. Tickets are now on sale at www.komenchicago.org/gala.
"All of us have been touched by cancer. Wintrust is excited to help give everyone a fighting chance for survival as we partner with Komen Chicago's incredible 20th anniversary celebration," Wehmer says. "We're honored that so many inspirational people are lending their voices and sharing their stories to help Komen Chicago achieve the goal of providing Quality Care for All in Chicago."
In addition to Lopez, who is an appearance client of Esterman.com, special guests and More Than Pink Heroes include Nancy Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen and sister of Suzy Komen; Eric Brinker, Nancy's son and Komen's global ambassador; Kathy Webb, who founded Komen Chicago 20 years ago; and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton. Other More Than Pink Heroes include those who have lost loved ones to breast cancer or faced the disease themselves, as well as activists, volunteers and caregivers who support patients through diagnosis and treatment. Gala co-chairs are the mother/daughter team of Marcy and Katie Twardak.