By Judy Carmack Bross
Board President Lynne Hemmer
John Lanctot, Billy Fetridge, Jared Isenthal, Matt Tully
With all the fizz of an Aperol spritz, the Woman’s Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital hosted its second incarnation of the late spring fundraiser Summer Soirée aptly themed this year “La Dolce Vita,” Guests of several generations made it the opening opportunity to wear color and patterns perfect for the Italian Riviera which served perfectly for the Saddle & Cycle terrace where $245,000 was raised to support the Board’s $4.6 million pledge to fund comprehensive reproduction care across a woman’s lifetime.
Carolyn & Mark Agnew with donor rings
Catherine Yehle, Elizabeth Pruett, Keevie Silvay
Board members Jeanette Sublett and daughter Tyler Arnfel
Co-Chairs Emily Sturgess, Courtney Grimes, Board President Lynne Hemmer, Annie Hudson & Bridget Vrabel Tully
Over 300 guests joined co-chairs Emily Sturgess, Courtney Grimes, Holly Cortes, Annie Hudson and Bridget Tully Vrabel on the Club’s terrace for a spritz bar of cocktails, featuring Aperol, Hugo and Limoncello spritzes, and Italian cuisine, including pizza, pastas and bruschetta. Guests danced on the terrace to live music from acclaimed yacht rock band Anchors Away. Following impactful comments by Woman’s Board president Lynne Hemmer about the board’s 126-year hospital commitment, popular auctioneer Chris Hensley led the crowd in a spirited paddle raise.
Auctioneer Chris Hensley
LJ Savarie, Mary Grant, Sean Bell, and Nick Weber
Austin Miller, Peter Lanctot, Bridget Vrabel Tully, and Charlie Waddell
Past President Sarah Schrup with Eric Pruitt
Amanda Lunkes, Annie Elder, Emily LeVert
Clare Smith, Heather Miller, Co-Chair Emily Sturgess, Read Lanctot, Casey Waddell, Carolyn Lanctot
The 126-year-old board has been responsible for bringing everything from electricity and free bed care to the hospital in its early days to raising over $65 million for Northwestern Memorial Hospital to fund cutting-edge research, build major buildings on the hospital campus and support patient care initiatives. The Woman’s Board was the first major organization to respond to the HIV-AIDS epidemic and funded a clinic serving women and children with the disease in the mid-1990s. More recently responded to the COVID pandemic one week after it began with much-needed funds for the Hospital. Seed money for smaller research grants continues to be a cornerstone if its informed giving.
Marquita Hanus
Rich Wilkie and Steven Stolman
For more information, contact The Woman’s Board office, 312-926-9138, or visit wbnorthwestern.org.
Photo credit: Robin Subar Photography
