By Judy Carmack Bross
Rush Woman’s Board Spring Luncheon Chairs Courtney Greene, Laura White and Kristin Koepfgen.
“We wanted to choose a speaker who was relevant to the time we are living in, someone with a sense of humor who was not political. Anne Lamott’s insights as they relate to spirituality and mental health and hope are truly inspiring, for me in particular, her Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life,” Laura White, Spring Luncheon Co-Chair on this year’s speaker.
Award-winning author Anne Lamott who will be speaking at the Rush Woman’s Board’s Spring Luncheon May 12.
Somehow the title of her 2012 New York Times bestseller Help, Thanks, Wow, best conveys the wondrous message Anne Lamott will present to what is sure to be a sold-out audience at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago for the Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center’s 30th Annual Spring Luncheon on May 12, co-chaired by Courtney Greene, Kristin Koepfgen and Laura White.
Proceeds from the Spring Luncheon benefit The Woman’s Board Endowed Fund for Research and Clinical Trials at Rush and community engagement programs. There are more than 1,600 research studies currently underway at Rush, many of which are producing pioneering advances.
Shimul Lahoti, Kristina Mulhall, Genevieve Hillis, Alex Shomber, Meg Wellford and Sowsan Schulte 2024 Spring Luncheon.
Cindy Mancillas, former Woman’s Board president, will be leading the Q&A with Lamott. Freeman’s | Hindman will display their jewelry and The Book Stall will sell a variety of Anne’s books, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Woman’s Board. VIP guests will receive a copy of Anne’s newest book Somehow: Thoughts on Love.
Cindy Mancillas, Dr. Omar Lateef, Ali Wentworth, and Gillian Stoettner at 2022 Spring Luncheon.
Known for choosing the best speakers at the right time – from Madeleine Albright, who told guests about how she communicated political messages in the brooches she wore for a particular occasion, to comedian Ali Wentworth, who drew people out of Covid with her humor – the Woman’s Board has the uncanny ability to tap into exactly what Spring Luncheon guests need and want to hear in the current moment.
Wendy Herb, Brooke Shields and Riley O’Neil 2022 Spring Luncheon.
We talked recently with the co-chairs who predict that Lamott’s message will resonate with the audience. “Anne is an incredible writer, and she uses humor to get her message across. Guests will get different things out of her talk, depending on where they are in their life. But I think all the guests at the Spring Luncheon will leave the event feeling inspired, nurtured, cared for,” Greene said.
Steffie Madigan, Geena Davis and Sharon Hayes 2023 Spring Luncheon.
Koepfgen added:
“The Spring Luncheon has a history of hosting speakers who make you want to live your life in a better way. I remember the 2017 Luncheon with Mel Robbins felt life-changing – people were on-fire! We hope people come away from the 2025 Spring Luncheon feeling exhilarated, too.”
Guests will also be anticipating the welcoming remarks of Dr. Omar Lateef, known for his humor, leadership and his recognition of the Woman’s Board’s crucial impact. “Dr. Lateef is our first speaker of the day and he is always hilarious, brilliant and informed,” Koepfgen said.
“The Spring Luncheon will help to fund clinical trials at Rush–from cancer research to mental health. Funding for this type of research is more important now than ever,” White said.
Kate Peterson, President of the Rush Woman’s Board.
The Co-Chairs began working together last Fall along with newly-appointed Woman’s Board President Kate Peterson. A favorite meeting place is Arch Apothecary in Winnetka, founded by White and featuring vintage, art, furniture, jewelry and healing products. White and Greene, who is a Director at Wells Fargo, both joined the Woman’s Board in 2023, while Koepfgen has been a member since 1990. All enjoy talking about their Southern roots: Koepfgen hails from Alabama, Greene is a Vanderbilt graduate, and White’s family farm in Virginia has been the inspiration for her boutique’s signature essential healing oils.
“We are all so appreciative of this honor to raise seed money for major clinical trials,” Koepfgen said. “With Rush’s recent alliance with MD Anderson, we have taken a big step in treating cancer.”
Elizabeth Moore, Margaret Nelson and Faith Atkins 2024 Spring Luncheon.
For more information about the May 12 luncheon, please visit: thewomansboard.org.
