Ascension Illinois Market CEO Polly Davenport joins Foundation Board Member Melissa Pontikes, Chief Philanthropy Officer Melanie Furlan, and Superior Ambulance Service Chief Executive Officer David Hill at the 2024 Ascension Illinois Foundation gala at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Schaumburg, Illinois, on April 27, 2024.
Presenting Sponsor Superior Ambulance Service along with over 500 sponsors and guests gathered at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel for the 2024 Ascension Illinois Foundation Gala on April 27, contributing $1 million to benefit people needing behavioral health treatment.
“I am sure each of us knows someone who has struggled with depression, anxiety, or another mental health challenge,” said Clayton Ciha, President and CEO, Ascension Alexian Brothers Behavioral Health Hospital and Behavioral Medicine Service Line. “Whether you have firsthand experience, or have read about it in the news, our community and our nation are in a mental health crisis. Our community needs us. And we at Ascension Illinois Behavioral Medicine need you to be able to meet this challenge.”
Dancing Thru the Decades
Guests enjoyed a three-course gourmet meal and lived up to the event theme, “Dancing Thru the Decades,” enjoying and dancing throughout the evening to a range of live music by BKO and hits from across the eras. They also did much more — generously delivering support by contributing over $297,000 through silent, live and reverse auctions.
Ascension Illinois Market CEO Polly Davenport, D.Sc., RN, FACHE, welcomed guests and thanked sponsors, Board members, physicians, associates, leaders and religious founders for their contributions to the health system’s Catholic mission. Board Co-Chairs Mike Benoit, Managing Director, Fiducient Advisors, and Ken Bauwens, Chief Executive Officer, Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors, delivered an invocation and toast.
Sponsors lead the way
In addition to Presenting Sponsor Superior Ambulance Service, numerous additional community partners sponsored the event:
Presenting Sponsor
Superior Ambulance Service (Elmhurst)
Platinum Sponsors
BEAR Construction (Rolling Meadows)
Heart & Vascular Physicians in Elk Grove Village, Hoffman Estates and Elgin, Ascension Medical Group Illinois – Heart & Vascular
Versant Diagnostics (Oak Brook)
Vituity (Chicago)
Gold Sponsors
A-TEC Ambulance (Crystal Lake)
B and B Maintenance, Inc. (Lake Zurich)
Cardiac Surgery Associates, S.C. (Downers Grove)
Jamerson & Bauwens Electrical Contractors (Northbrook)
Medical & Dental Association of Ascension Saint Alexius (Hoffman Estates)
Power Construction (Chicago)
Silver Sponsors
Kaufman Hall (Chicago)
MedEx Ambulance Service (Skokie)
Walsh Construction (Chicago)
Women's HealthFirst Obstetrics & Gynecology (Hoffman Estates)
Bronze Sponsors
Berry Electric Contracting Co. (Berkeley)
DiverzifyPro (Itasca)
Livingston, Barger, Brandt & Schroeder, LLC (Champaign)
Northwest Oncology & Hematology (Rolling Meadows)
Sebert Landscape (Bartlett)
Ruby Sponsors
Affiliated Oncologists (Chicago Ridge)
Aishling Obstetrics & Gynecology (Sandwich)
Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgical Associates, S.C. (Oakbrook Terrace)
Elk Grove Imaging Associates (Elk Grove Village)
Illinois Business Communications Inc. (Wood Dale)
Jensen & Halstead Ltd. (Chicago)
Medical Center Anesthesia, Ltd. at Ascension Saint Alexius (Hoffman Estates)
Michuda Construction (Tinley Park)
NorthStar Anesthesia (Irving, TX)
Peterson Contracting Services (Roselle)
R1 (Murray, UT)
Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (Chicago)
Super Electric Construction Company (Chicago)
Emerald Sponsors
Baird (Milwaukee, WI)
Eckenhoff Saunders (Chicago)
Generations Healthcare Network (Lincolnwood)
Schoenberg Finkel Beederman Bell Glazer LLC (Chicago)
Pearl Sponsors
Dr. Geeti Ghosh and Mr. Partha Ghosh (Bartlett)
Mark and Anita Pucci (Elk Grove Village)
Continuing the mission
Ascension Illinois hospitals have been serving communities across the greater Chicago area for more than 100 years. Rooted in its Catholic mission, the Ascension Illinois Foundation exists to help ensure that everyone in our communities — especially those who are most in need — has a place to turn for exceptional, compassionate healthcare.
Tax-exempt charitable donations are invested as donors direct them to be in Ascension Illinois initiatives that provide personalized healthcare in the greater Chicago area, including initiatives that address our communities’ most pressing health needs; expand and enhance clinical excellence; and keep compassion in healthcare.
