By Judy Carmack Bross
Fall Benefit Chair Beverly Birck with Woman’s Board President Kate Peterson
An evening in Jazz Age Paris September 19 at Artifact Events will transport guests from summer reveries to the Rush Woman’s Board’s “Une Soirée d’Automne” featuring a jazz cabaret, casino-style games, French bites from gourmet arrondissements and Art Deco décor to raise significant funds for The Woman’s Board Endowed Fund for Research and Clinical Trials at Rush which will provide sustainable endowment support to drive innovations in research, novel treatments, effective health care solutions and ongoing organizational growth for the medical center.
Invitation designed by Paige Spearin
As the invitation sketched by Paige Spearin, a Woman’s Board member who was also an illustrator and print designer for Lilly Pulitzer, shows, “Une Soirée d’Automne” will be light-hearted and interactive, recalling why so many would love to have been there for Paris in the 1920s. Beverly Birck serves as benefit Chair for the ninth annual Fall event and Kate Peterson is President of the 234-member Woman’s Board. Birck joined the Woman’s Board in 2021 but has a lifelong relationship with the hospital, having been born there! Peterson joined the Board in 2004, encouraged by her mother Tricia Hagenah, who is also a member. Kate has served on the Woman’s Board’s clinical nursing committee and also chaired the Fashion Show.
We are featuring in this article photos from past Fall Benefits.
Mary Anne and Burr Martin and Melissa Hennessy with the wine bicycle at 2024 benefit
Benefit 2024 Co-Chairs Kerri Schoonyoung and Meg Leydon
Kate Peterson told us: “We love the idea that there is no assigned seating at the Fall Benefit – you might come knowing one other person and will leave knowing 20 people. Our board is like that, it’s a lifelong opportunity with no elected terms; intergenerational relationships are very important. We encourage our new members to jump in, join committees and attend our meetings which are held both at the hospital and at members’ homes across Chicago and the suburbs.”
Reid and Paige Spearin at the 2023 Fall Benefit. Paige designed the 2025 Fall Benefit invitation.
Alicia and Robert Segal, Kim and Greg Frezados at the 2024 Fall Benefit
Grith Funk and Sunny Esler at the 2022 Fall Benefit
“We plan to capture the foods of the neighborhoods of Paris, from savory and sweet crepes, to croque madams, to walkable steak frites in food stations throughout our Ravenswood destination,” Beverly Birck said. “We have invited the whole Rush medical staff, 1200 in all, and we want guests to be able to mingle with our amazing doctors and nurses. We are delighted that Rush President and CEO Dr. Omar Lateef will be there. He brings great humanity to health care.”
“Une Soirée d’Automne” Chair Beverly Birck
In addition to The Woman’s Board Endowed Fund for Research and Clinical Trials at Rush, the Woman’s Board also supports numerous Rush programs through grants. Recent grants include: the funding of a Lactation Pod in the Rubschlager building – this Pod provides a clean, comfortable and private space for both staff and visitors to nurse and/or pump, and a refresh (new furniture, linens, and other amenities) of the bedrooms at the Illinois Medical District Guest House, which provides temporary lodging for military veterans who are receiving medical treatment.
John and Ruthie Beam, Stephanie and Bradley Byrd at the 2023 Fall Benefit
Margaret Nelson, Elizabeth Moore, and Caroline Moore at the 2022 Fall Benefit
Maxie and Swope Clarke at the 2024 Fall Benefit
For more information visit: thewomansboard.org
