The 33rd Annual American Craft Exposition Raises More Than $400,000 for Two Important Medical Research Initiatives

Glencoe, IL (October 13, 2017) - The 33rd annual American Craft Exposition (ACE) presented by The Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem (NorthShore) welcomed more than 8,000 attendees to the magnificent Chicago Botanic Garden for a glorious 3-day weekend of viewing and purchasing fine craft from the nation’s top artisans.

ACE, which took place Friday, September 15 through Sunday, September 17, with a Preview Party on Thursday evening, September 14, raised more than $400,000 to support pharmacogenomics and orthopaedic regenerative medicine research at NorthShore. In addition to wonderful displays of fine craft throughout the Garden, guests of ACE also enjoyed an online auction, raffle prizes, and a “Glamour in the Garden” walking fashion show featuring collections of fiber wearables.

Those who attended the Preview Party not only experienced an exclusive sneak peek of ACE 2017 and priority shopping, but they also were treated to gourmet fare and cocktails as they perused the show. The weather, unseasonably warm for this time of year, made the event even more festive as attendees took advantage of the gorgeous evening.

More than 140 juried artists from across the country, including an emerging artist category featuring the work of the industry’s most interesting up-and-coming talent, exhibited at ACE this year. Showcasing achievements in the world of fine craft, artists displayed spectacular pieces of jewelry, ceramics, metal, fashion wearables, glass, furniture, fiber decorative, leather, wood, paper, mixed media and basketry to thousands of attendees throughout the weekend.

The mission of the American Craft Exposition is to raise funds for the funding goals of The Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem by providing the best possible venue for the exhibition and sale of American fine craft.

The ACE 2017 Major Sponsors were Aramark and Power Construction; Preview Party Sponsors were Keystone Capital, Inc. and Pepper Construction; Supporting Sponsors included Autohaus on Edens, Conifer Health Solutions, Eckenhoff Saunders Architects, Epic, Integrated Facilities Solutions, Inc., Jacobs Levy Equity Management, Mayer-Brown, Superior Ambulance Service, and Winston & Strawn, LLP. Colliers International, Jamerson & Bauwens, and Whitehall of Deerfield served as Event Sponsors.

About NorthShore University HealthSystem

NorthShore University HealthSystem is an integrated healthcare delivery system consistently ranked as a Top 15 Teaching Hospital in the U.S. The NorthShore system, headquartered in Evanston, IL, includes four hospitals – Evanston, Glenbrook, Highland Park and Skokie. NorthShore also includes a 900 physician multispecialty group practice, NorthShore Medical Group, located in over 100 locations in the Chicagoland area. NorthShore is a Magnet recognized organization, the first in Illinois to receive this

prestigious honor as an entire system that demonstrates excellence in nursing and high standards in patient care. The system also supports the NorthShore Research Institute; the NorthShore Philanthropic Foundation; and the NorthShore Home & Hospice Services. In addition to launching Be Well Lake County, a community health initiative committed to providing greater access to comprehensive care, NorthShore contributes more than $210 million in charitable care and services to the communities it serves.

About ACE Beneficiaries

Pharmacogenomics Research

Researchers from NorthShore’s Pharmacogenomics Clinic analyze and predict how patients react to medications based on genetic variants. This information can be used to customize medical treatments, ensuring that patients receive the right drug and the right dose the first time, minimizing the side effects and adverse reactions to drugs for patients.

Orthopaedic Regenerative Medicine Research

NorthShore’s Orthopaedic Regenerative Medicine program led by Dr. Jason Koh, Chairman and Director of the NorthShore Orthopaedic Institute, pursues research into stem cells, growth factors and innovative scaffolds to treat cartilage, bone and soft tissue injuries. Further development of these new techniques, harnessing the body’s capability to heal itself, will help in efforts to restore pain-free activity and an active lifestyle.