Little Company of Mary Hospital Foundation Crystal Heart Ball Raises $445,000

EVERGREEN PARK, IL -- Little Company of Mary Hospital Foundation raised more than $445,000 at last week’s annual Crystal Heart Ball. The annual gala has evolved into one of the largest on Chicago’s Southwest Side.

More than 800 guests danced the night away to the musical stylings of the Indigo Orchestra while experiencing international cultures at The Field Museum. The Masters of Ceremonies were Little Company of Mary baby alum, Patrick Elwood with WGN NEWS, along with his WGN colleague Nancy Loo.

Highlights of the evening were the presentations of two awards. The 2017 Venerable Mary Potter Humanitarian Award was given to Beverly couple Ed and Amy McNicholas, who started a foundation dedicated to finding a cure for pediatric brain cancer that claimed the life of their 15-year-old son John. When the McNicholases realized that their son was being treated with adult medications that had been started 30 years ago, they founded the John McNicholas Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation (Live Like John) after their son died in 2011..Through their son’s legacy, they hope to change the outcome for other children diagnosed with brain cancer.

John and Amy McNicholas - Venerable Mary Potter Award Recipients

“Live Like John” hosts a variety of local fundraising events each year, including an annual softball tournament, Beverly Hills Turkey Trot, Go Gray in May, Dizzy Dinger Challenge, and a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Fundraiser, among others.

The 2017 Sister Nancy Boyle Award for Excellence was presented to Rev. Charles T. Rubey – Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide (LOSS) Program. Rubey established the program in 1979 after working with families who had gone through grieving the loss of a child from suicide. The LOSS Program is a free, non-denominational program that supports individuals who are grieving the loss of a loved one by suicide and is offered by Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago in collaboration with the Diocese of Joliet. Funding for the program comes from places such as United Way, private foundations and charitable contributions.

Rev. Charles T. Rubey - Nancy Boyle Award for Excellence recipient

Drs. Michael and Karen O’Mara were the chairs of this premier fundraising event with co-chairs Joe and Mary Ann Pedota. Guests at the ball enjoyed signature butterfly martinis followed by a gourmet meal prepared by Blue Plate Catering.

The hospital foundation raffled a Grand Prize of a Luxury Vacation to the Galapagos Islands for Two ($15,000 value). The Grand Prize raffle winner was Rose Kubush. Final proceeds will benefit the Behavioral Health Department at Little Company of Mary Hospital.