Angels Ball Benefit to Honor New Women's Board

(Mount Prospect, IL) – It will be a night to remember as tradition and new growth collide. Angels Ball, Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care’s signature fundraiser, will bring together past and future, celebrating the organization’s 30 years of service to the community and honoring the newly formed Women’s Board during the gala event on October 29.

The event will take place in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency O’Hare and will feature a custom menu from awarding winning Executive Chef, Louis Pignotti, who was named Hyatt’s worldwide Executive Chef of the Year in 2010. To get the evening underway, last year’s Angels Ball honoree, Father John Cusick of the Archdiocese of Chicago will be on hand to offer the invocation. Attendees will also be treated to dinner, music and dancing to the Gentlemen of Leisure Band, outstanding raffles, silent auction items and more.

The event will highlight the Rainbow Hospice Women’s Board, led by Chair, Sasha Gerritson of Glenview. Other board members include, Carla Knorowski of Chicago, Tina Mantis also of Glenview, Jane Berg, Jean Collier, Theresa Olson and Leigh Sasser of Park Ridge, Barbara Smith and Julie Henessy.

The inspiration to form a Women’s Board at Rainbow Hospice came from Chairperson, Sasha Gerritson who first connected with Rainbow Hospice in 2006 at the Angels Ball. As a member of the Lyric Opera Women’s Board and the Brookfield Zoo Women’s Board, Gerritson believed that a Women’s Board would be a natural next step in the organization’s philanthropic growth, and wanted to lead the effort.

The Women’s Board is a group dedicated to supporting the mission of Rainbow Hospice through events, gatherings, fundraising, and personal philanthropic support. In addition to being the evening’s honorees they will be making their debut announcement at this year’s Angels Ball event as the newest dedicated resource for the organization.

“Sasha Gerritson is a fabulous asset and has brought amazing dedication in forming the Women’s Board for Rainbow Hospice. Honoring Sasha and the Women’s Board at the event that introduced her to Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care, the Angels Ball, is just perfect,” said Jackie Mathews, Director of Major Gifts and Special Events.

Angels Ball will be held from 6:30pm until Midnight on Saturday, October 29, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont. Tickets are $150 each and include dinner and the night’s events. For tickets or for more information please contact Jackie Mathews, at jmathews@RainbowHospice.org or 847-292-2353.

If you would like more information on hospice or palliative care subjects, or are looking for a local expert on Hospice, Healthcare, End-of-Life Issues or Children’s Bereavement, please contact, Jeff Okazaki, Public Relations Manager for Rainbow Hospice, at: 847-292-2354 or Jokazaki@RainbowHospice.org.

Rainbow Hospice and Palliative Care is a nonprofit organization serving terminally ill patients and their families in Chicago and surrounding counties. Rainbow Hospice is co-sponsored by Advocate Health Care and Resurrection Health Care systems. Other programs offered include, extensive bereavement services, including the Good Mourning program for bereaved children, teens and their families as well as a Community Speakers Bureau, the Rainbow Hospice LIFE Institute for Learning and Rainbow Hospice Ark, an Inpatient Unit. More information about Rainbow Hospice can be found at www.RainbowHospice.org.