Community and Business Leaders to Place Bet on Kids' Health

Imagine if your child needed healthcare but you didn’t have the means to pay for it. This is a scenario all too familiar for nearly 60 percent of families served by AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Women & Children’s Hospital (ABWCH). As the area’s largest provider of charitable care, ABWCH is making a profound difference in the lives of many children and will be the focus of the 6th Annual “Off to the Races” philanthropic event on Friday, June 15 at Arlington Park in Arlington Heights. ABWCH physicians and staff deliver more than 3,800 babies and provide care for upwards of 1,700 pediatric admissions annually.

Reflecting the theme, “A Winning Bet on Our Kids’ Health,” the event will get out of the gates at 4:00pm in the Governor’s Room at Arlington Park and continue through 8:00pm. In its 6th year, the “Off to the Races” gala is expected to attract 200 guests as part of an effort to raise upwards of $100,000, with special emphasis on programs for the ABWCH Center for Pediatric Brain.

“The Center for Pediatric Brain at AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Women & Children’s Hospital is one of the most advanced programs in the region for treating children and complex neurological issues,” explains Kevin Rath, Vice President of Women & Children’s Services, AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Women & Children’s Hospital. “We are able to bridge the gap in access of compassionate care for thousands of families in our area. This is especially important at a time in our country when some providers are scaling back, yet we at AMITA Health and Alexian Brothers are seeking to significantly increase our reach into the community.”

The Center for Pediatric Brain at AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Women & Children’s Hospital offers services through a range of specialty clinics including: Autism Spectrum & Development Disorders Resource Center, Concussion Clinic, Developmental Pediatrics, Epileptology, Genetics, Headache Clinic, Neurology, Neuropsychology and Neurosurgery. Early identification of development disorders in children can greatly increase the likelihood of successful intervention.

As part of the “Off to the Races” affair, a “Share Your Winnings” basket will be established where guests can donate a portion of their afternoon horse racing winnings to help underwrite “scholarships” for children in need of Developmental Pediatrics and Diagnostic Testing. Guests can also purchase specially-made coasters with artwork created by young patients at the AMITA Health Alexian Brothers Women & Children’s Hospital in Hoffman Estates.

Whether in attendance or not, those looking to support charitable giving at ABWCH can also purchase a grand raffle ticket ($20 each) for a chance to win a choice of three spectacular vacation packages: Sonoma Valley Winemaker, Scottsdale Golf and Spa, and a New York City Long Weekend.

Tickets to the 6th Annual “Off to the Races” are $150 each and can be acquired by visiting alexianfoundation.org or calling (847) 385-7179. The annual event is hosted by the Alexian Brothers Foundation and this year is sponsored by The Fitzgerald Family Foundation, Superior Ambulance Service, Women’s HealthFirst and Mr. David’s Foundation.

About AMITA Health

AMITA Health (www.AMITAhealth.org ) is a joint operating company formed by the Adventist Health System in Altamonte Springs, Fla., and St. Louis-based Ascension. With the addition of Presence Health, AMITA Health is now the largest health system in Illinois, comprising 19 hospitals and more than 230 sites of care. The newly combined health system has 900 providers in its medical groups, more than 26,000 associates and 7,000 physician partners and now serves over 4.3 million residents in the greater Chicagoland area.