Alexian Brothers Ball Raises $725,000 for Behavioral Healthcare

More than 450 guests joined together for the 33rd Annual Alexian Brothers Ball Fleur on Saturday, May 4, helping to raise $725,000 to expand access to highly specialized services for community members living with behavioral health disorders. The Ball de Fleur is the Alexian Brothers Foundation’s premier philanthropic event, and the five most recent galas have raised $3.25 million to support behavioral medicine programs and services as part of a multi-year “One Life at a Time” vision for behavioral health.

“We are committed to bringing more attention to those who struggle with mental illness and addiction,” said Mark Frey, President and Chief Executive Officer, AMITA Health.

The theme for this year’s gala was “A Night at the Rockwell … Instilling Hope One Life at a Time.” Matt Cunningham, Director of Business Development for the Alexian Ball de Fleur Presenting Sponsor, Superior Ambulance Service, Inc., delivered the toast, while Michael Benoit, CIMA, CFP, Alexian Brothers Foundation Board Chair inspired guests with a special invocation. Mark Frey took to the stage and revealed that this year’s gala would be an exciting bridge for change -- marking the last time it would be under the name of the Alexian Brothers – with the 2020 Ball to reflect the joint AMITA Health system, which comprises 19 hospitals and serves more than 4.3 million residents in the greater Chicagoland area.

Faithful guests of the Alexian Brothers and AMITA Health family mingled during a lively cocktail hour at a new, impressive industrial venue, Rockwell on the River. The space includes floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed brick and timber to beautifully balance the elegant silver and blue table décor. Alexian Brothers Ball de Fleur guests were also treated to tasting stations from Metropolitan Brewing and Metropolis Coffee and hours of spirited dance music by the popular TC Squared band.

Joining together for a delectable four-course gourmet dinner, supporters were welcomed with an opening program and impactful video that shared the story of a woman who has been in recovery from her eating disorder for 13 years thanks to the treatment she received at AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital in Hoffman Estates. “This is where hope starts,” she said about the hospital and eating disorders program, where patients will benefit from a new demonstration kitchen as part of an upcoming hospital expansion that will be supported through philanthropy.

The Alexian Brothers began their healthcare mission more than 800 years ago and since the first Ball in 1987, the Alexian Brothers Foundation has welcomed more than 22,000 guests and raised nearly $15 million for healthcare programs benefiting Chicago-area residents.

The May 4th Alexian Brothers Ball featured a Silent and Live Auction, along with a Grand Raffle and Reverse Auction, to raise funds toward the multi-year $28 million “One Life at a Time” behavioral health initiative. Since 2015, the Alexian Brothers Foundation has been focusing on raising funds to provide access to programs and services when and where people need them for behavioral medicine, homelessness, chronic illness, and autism spectrum and developmental disorders.

The 2019 Alexian Brothers Ball embraced the support of 30 corporate sponsors which included: Presenting Sponsor Superior Ambulance Service (Elmhurst) providing $100,000, as well as Diamond Sponsors ($50,000) Bear Construction (Rolling Meadows), Mr. David’s Foundation (Itasca) and Walsh Construction (Chicago); Platinum Sponsors ($25,000) AMITA Health Medical Group Cardiovascular Associates (Elk Grove Village) and Power Construction (Chicago); Gold Sponsors ($15,000) Alliance Pathology Consultants (Hoffman Estates/Elk Grove Village), Medical Center Anesthesia of St. Alexius Medical Center (Hoffman Estates), Medical & Dental Association of St. Alexius Medical Center (Hoffman Estates) and NTT DATA Services (Plano, TX); Silver Sponsors ($10,000) Envision Physician Services delivered by Elk Grove Radiology, S.C. (Elk Grove Village), Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors (Northbrook), Kaufman, Hall & Associates (Skokie), ITW (Glenview), Movéo (Chicago), Northwest Oncology & Hematology, S.C. (Rolling Meadows) and Suburban Lung Associates (Elk Grove Village); Bronze Sponsors ($7,500) Berry Electric (Berkeley), Dickerson Engineering (Niles), Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP (Chicago), Kare Hospital Medicine (Hoffman Estates), Nixon Peabody (Chicago), Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (Chicago), TEAMHealth (Rosemont), The Center for Sports Orthopaedics (Hoffman Estates) and TouchPoint Support Services (Highland Village, TX); and Pearl Sponsors ($5,000) HGA (Milwaukee, WI), Radiological Consultants of Woodstock (Woodstock), Sebert Landscape (Bartlett) and Super Electric Construction Company (Chicago).