Alexian Brothers ball benefits behavioral health care mission
Instilling hope, one life at a time. Those were the buzzwords driving Saturday night's Alexian Brothers Ball de Fleur, as it raised money - and awareness - for behavioral health care.
Guests gathered at a converted manufacturing complex, Rockwell on the River, in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood for the 33rd annual ball.
With its exposed brick and timber construction and open truss ceilings, the venue was steeped in history, but guests looked to the future with officials of Amita Health and Alexian Brothers Health System and its mission to provide access to behavioral health care.
More than 450 guests were on hand, including physicians, business partners and supporters of the nine hospitals that form the Amita Health and Alexian Brothers Health System, which is based in Lisle.
"We are committed to bringing more attention to those who struggle with mental illness and addiction, said Mark Frey, president and CEO of Amita Health. "They are traditionally underserved in the market, but it takes support from philanthropy to provide these services."
Supporters opened the evening in the unique Rockwell on the River venue, overlooking the north branch of the Chicago River. They sampled from tasting stations from its neighboring Metropolitan Brewing while perusing silent auction items.
Proceeds from the ball were earmarked to help wrap up a multiyear, $28 million pledge toward its "One Life at a Time" campaign. Its vision, health officials said, is to end the stigma associated with mental health and substance abuse treatment.
The campaign began in 2015, with its focus on providing access to programs and services for behavioral medicine, homelessness, chronic illness, and autism spectrum and developmental disorders, when and where people need it.
"We're almost there," said Melanie Furlan, senior vice president and chief philanthropy officer for Amita Health. "We expect to meet our (campaign) goal in the next few months. Our board has worked tirelessly to make this happen."
The campaign has been so successful that officials announced that the last phase, adding onto the Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates, would begin next year.
Clay Ciha, hospital CEO and senior vice president of the Behavioral Medicine Institute for Amita, said the additional space would give physicians more office space as well as new areas for outpatient day programs for people with obsessive compulsive disorders and anxiety, as well as eating disorders.
"We are strongly committed to offering every aspect of behavioral medicine," Ciha said, " and the full continuum of care."
Earlier phases of the campaign addressed long-term treatment for individuals, including military veterans impacted by anxiety, OCD and substance use disorders at the Foglia Family Foundation Residential Treatment Center in Elk Grove Village.
The health system also provides these services at the Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates and Alexian Center for Mental Health in Arlington Heights, and through the Alexian Brothers Housing and Health Alliance in Chicago and Waukegan.
Additionally, the health system has placed school mental health workers in 20 schools in the Northwest suburbs.