Childerguild Raises over $221,000 for Silver Cross at Annual Ball

Over 500 friends of Silver Cross Hospital attended the 89th Annual Childerguild Ball on November 18 at the Odyssey Country Club and enjoyed wonderful food and dancing. The premiere event of the holiday season raised over $221,000 which will benefit women’s and children’s services at Silver Cross Hospital.

The annual tradition of the Childerguild Ball began in 1928 as a fundraiser for the Obstetrics and Pediatrics departments at Silver Cross Hospital and keeps going strong thanks to the commitment of the members of Childerguild and to the many friends of the hospital who contribute to make this event a great success year after year. This year, the Ball Co-Chairs were Karen Eckert and Norma Thompson. The Ball Committee included: Pat Crowley, Robin Hartney, Kay Langlois and Pam Resutko.  

As a prelude to the dinner, the hospital awarded medals of excellence to two prominent community service and healthcare minded individuals.   

The 2017 Silver Cross Sehring Medal of Excellence for Healthcare was awarded to Dr. Dave Mikolajczak, emergency medicine physician with EM Strategies at Silver Cross Hospital. For nearly 30 years, Silver Cross and its patients have benefitted from Dr. Mikolajczak’s exemplary leadership and passionate service.  

Dr. Mikolajczak currently serves as the Medical Director for the Will-Grundy/Silver Cross Emergency Medical Services System, Chairman of the Credentials and Silver Cross Health Connections Physician Hospital Organization committees. Further, he serves on Silver Cross Hospital’s Board of Directors, Trauma Committee, Ethics Committee and Surgery Committee. He also has served as Medical Director of Emergency Medicine and Chief of Staff at Silver Cross Hospital. 

Over the years, Dr. Mikolajczak has volunteered his time with many community groups including Road to Realty simulations with area high schools, Paramedic classes, Region 7 EMS Advisory and Trauma committees, and Advocate Physician Partners Board of Directors. In addition, he is a member of the American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians. 

Silver Cross also honored Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow with the Silver Cross Sangmeister Medal of Excellence for Community Service. Glasgow is a lifelong resident of Joliet, and an outstanding example of a person who for over 22 years has unselfishly given many hours of his time to help others. As Will County State’s Attorney, he has implemented groundbreaking initiatives to investigate, prosecute and prevent crime.   

To set up many of these initiatives, Glasgow used confiscated money forfeited to the state by criminals to fight domestic violence, safeguard children, help the mentally ill, battle street gangs and illegal drugs, and assist veterans.   

Glasgow spearheaded the creation of the Will County Drug Court; the first Recovery Homes; Will County’s first Specialized Domestic Violence Court; Mental Health Court; HERO/HELPS program to warn parents, educators and teens about the deadly dangers of using heroin;  High Technology Crimes Unit to investigate and prosecute predators who trade and view child pornography over the Internet; and Veterans Court to provide critical counseling and treatment to those who served our Nation and struggle with mental health and substance abuse disorder. 

Glasgow also established the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995 to stop child sexual violators in their tracks. The Center has been instrumental in the successful prosecution of literally thousands of child predators over the last 22 years. In addition, some of the community organizations benefitting from his generous support are the Rotary Club, Big Brothers Big Sisters, United Way of Will County and the Forest Park Community Center.   

The Silver Cross Foundation is accepting nominations through Dec. 31, 2017 for the 2018 Silver Cross Medals of Excellence.  For more information, call (815) 300-7105.  

The 2018 Childerguild Ball will be held Saturday, November 17 and the location is to be determined. 

Childerguild’s long tradition of supporting Hospital

Founded in 1910, by 13 benevolent women who had no children of their own, Childerguild was formed to benefit the obstetrics and pediatrics departments at Silver Cross Hospital. Today, Childerguild raises funds by hosting their annual Ball and by operating the hospital’s gift shop.  The Childerguild Gift Shop is open Monday through Sunday and is located in the main lobby at Silver Cross Hospital.  Customers are offered many unique items in the Childerguild Gift Shop, which features exclusive gifts, jewelry, unique handbags, toys, books and darling baby clothes.  For more information, call the Silver Cross Volunteer Services Department at (815) 300-7117.