la rabida children's hospital

Friends of La Rabida Celebrates Historic Support

The Friends of La Rabida raised an unprecedented $533,000 with its 24th annual celebration that drew an overflow crowd of 500 supporters to the elegant Four Seasons Hotel in late October.
 
“We’re making history tonight,’’ La Rabida CEO Paula Jaudes told guests gathered in the ballroom for the celebration that honored community, corporate and civic leaders.
 
A lively auction raised more than $100,000 and later a teen tumbling crew brought supporters to their feet.
 
Among the higher profile La Rabida fans were former U.S. Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, an honorary La Rabida board member, and Chicago Cub and baseball Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg and his wife, Margaret.  PNC Bank and the Sandbergs donated a Cubs game suite and an autographed Cubs jersey that fetched more than $7,000 during the animated auction.
 
ABC 7 Co-Anchor Ravi Baichwal served as the evening’s master of ceremonies, delighting guests with colorful quips while reminding them of the night’s purpose.
 
“We should do everything we can to make sure this beacon on the shores of Lake Michigan continues to shine,’’ said Baichwal, following comments from a patient family.
 
Diabetes patient, Brianna Irving, and her parents extolled the praises of Chicago Children’s Diabetes Center at La Rabida. The diabetes staff and providers, they said, helped preserve quality of life for them and their outgoing 9-year-old daughter.
 
Many attributed the event’s historic success to the longstanding support and dedication of this year’s Co-Chairs:
 
·      Howard Alper, Founder, Alper Services
·      Robert Arthur, President, Magellan Corporation
·      Joe Gregoire, President, PNC
·      Jim McKinney, William Blair and Co.
·      Bruce Pfaff, Pfaff & Gill, Ltd.
 
The 2010 Friends of La Rabida Award recipients were:
Gary Brinson, founder of the Brinson Foundation and Chicago-based Brinson Partners, asset managers later acquired by Swiss Bank Corporation, for Humanitarian Vision.

CVS Caremark,
La Rabida’s charity partner, for Corporate Involvement. Larry J. Merlo, President and Chief Operating Officer and incoming 2011 CEO, accepted the award.

 

 

Jesse White, Illinois Secretary of State who has served in public office for more than three decades, for Public Service.