Highland Park Historical Society Exhibition Celebrates 90 Years of Community Excellence at NorthShore Highland Park Hospital

On Thursday, April 14^th, an intimate group of forty friends, supporters and members of The Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) at Highland Park Hospital gathered at the Highland Park Historical Society for the unveiling of “90 Years of Community Excellence: Honoring The Auxiliary at NorthShore Highland Park Hospital,” a retrospective made possible thanks to the generous support of the City of Highland Park Cultural Arts Commission and Shalom Memorial Funeral Home-Shalom Memorial Park. Memorabilia including vintage posters from the 1940’s, old nurse uniforms, souvenirs and signage from the Alcove Gift Shop, doctor's jackets, old army badges that The Auxiliary sewed, newspaper clippings and photos fill the Historical Society and highlight the rich history of The Auxiliary and its many contributions to the community. One room of the exhibit is dedicated to drawings from second-grade students who are part of The NorthShore Kids’ Corner program, an initiative developed by NorthShore to normalize the experience of visiting the hospital. The vibrant drawings created by the children demonstrate the Hospital’s importance to community members of all ages and what it means to future generations.

Several former Auxiliary presidents from the past twenty-five years were on hand to help kick off the exhibit. Abbe Silverberg Sparks, the current Auxiliary president, addressed the group to share details about the organization’s lineage and thank the community for its continued support. Jesse Peterson Hall, the president of NorthShore Highland Park Hospital, also spoke to express his gratitude for the unfailing commitment of The Auxiliary to NorthShore Highland Park Hospital and the communities it serves.

“90 Years of Community Excellence: Honoring The Auxiliary of NorthShore at Highland Park Hospital” runs from April 15, 2011 through June 17, 2011 at the Highland Park Historical Society (326 Central Avenue, Highland Park, IL). The exhibition is open to the public during the Society’s museum hours: Wednesday-Friday, 1:00-4:00 p.m.; and Sunday, 2:00-4:00 p.m.

The Auxiliary of NorthShore at Highland Park Hospital is a volunteer organization that provides philanthropic and community service programs to benefit NorthShore Highland Park Hospital and its surrounding communities. For more information on The Auxiliary or to inquire about becoming a member, please call (847) 926-5003 or visit northshore.org/auxiliary.

The Highland Park Historical Society was formed in 1966. Its museum is a 12-room, two-story Italianate Victorian house donated to the Society in 1969 by Jean Butz James. The Society’s mission is to discover, preserve, provide access to, and disseminate the history of Highland Park. For more information, you are invited to call (847) 432-7090 and visit www.highlandparkhistory.com.

About NorthShore University HealthSystem

Headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) is a comprehensive, fully integrated, healthcare delivery system that serves the Chicago region. The system includes four hospitals in Evanston, Glenview, Highland Park and Skokie. NorthShore employs approximately 9,000 and has 2,400 affiliated physicians, including a 650+ physician, multispecialty group practice with over 75 office locations. Further, NorthShore supports teaching and research as the principal teaching affiliate for the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.

The NorthShore Research Institute focuses on clinical and translational research, including leadership in outcomes research and clinical trials. The NorthShore University HealthSystem Foundation is a leading philanthropic entity of NorthShore. It raises charitable contributions, engages volunteer friends and invests in community partnerships.

NorthShore has significant capabilities in a wide spectrum of clinical programs, including cancer, heart, orthopaedics, high-risk maternity, pediatrics and neurosciences. NorthShore is a Magnet recognized organization, the only one in Illinois designated as a system to receive this prestigious honor that demonstrates excellence in nursing and high standards in patient care. NorthShore is a national leader in the implementation of innovative technologies, including electronic medical records (EMR). In 2003, NorthShore was among the first in the country to successfully launch a system-wide EMR with demonstrable benefits in quality, safety, efficiency and service to patients. NorthShore has been recognized by multiple national organizations for this notable achievement.