Advocate Good Shepherd gala set for October

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital’s annual gala will be on Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Lincolnshire Marriott Resort. This year’s theme is Red Carpet Ball featuring all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. Guests will be treated to entertainment never before presented at a Good Shepherd gala.

Each year, several hundred guests representing civic, corporate and social communities in the Northwest suburbs and Chicago attend this fabulous fundraising event. The Red Carpet Ball is hosted by the 2011 gala committee, made up of 13 community members and business leaders under the guidance of chairwoman Jeanne Varwig. 2011 gala committee members are Gene Dawson, Maggie Gorman, Fran Houlihan, Joe Kelsch, Carol Lenz, Kathy Liska, Bill Moston, Judy Tolle, and Jeanne Varwig, Barrington; Kathy Bay-Lichte, Crystal Lake; Ed Tolle, Huntley; Bettye Traylor, Lincolnshire and Marc Barbeau, Rockford.

Proceeds from the 2011 gala will be used to improve the health and safety of our communities’ teens.

“Healthy lifestyle choices early on are fundamental to developing a productive and safe future for our young people,” said Jeanne Varwig. “Funds raised through this year’s gala will strengthen a variety of youth-based programs as well as expand our ability to provide the medically accurate and age-appropriate resources students need.”

Some of the programs currently sponsored by Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital aid in the prevention of sudden cardiac arrest in teens; support teens struggling with mental health issues; support efforts to raise awareness about nutrition, healthy lifestyle choices and physical activity; and increase the use of seat belts in teen drivers.

Over the past five years, the gala has raised over $1,300,000, which has helped shape the Patient Navigator Program, purchase a Gamma Camera and renovate the patient environment in the Radiation Oncology Department which now includes a unique Patient Resource Center, and enhance the quality of life for persons living with Congestive Heart Failure.

For information about the gala and sponsorship opportunities, contact Rebecca Heisler, (847) 381-9103.

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital, located in Barrington, is a 169-bed health care facility with more than 700 physicians representing more than 50 medical specialties. The hospital is part of Advocate Health Care, one of the largest nonprofit health care organizations in the Chicago area. Advocate is related to both the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the United Church of Christ.

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