The Little Company of Mary Hospital (LCMH) Foundation will host the 30th Annual Crystal Heart Ball on Saturday, February 1, 2020, at the Field Museum. Each year, the Ball showcases individuals and organizations for their outstanding accomplishments and service.
The Venerable Mary Potter Humanitarian Award honors individuals whose personal and professional accomplishments embody the ideas, vision and mission of Venerable Mary Potter, who founded the Little Company of Mary Sisters in 1877. This year, the hospital will honor Patrick Elwood with the Venerable Mary Potter Humanitarian Award.
Patrick Elwood is a Little Company of Mary baby alum, was a Master of Ceremonies for the Crystal Heart Ball since 2012 and currently is a general assignment reporter for WGN News. He joined WGN-TV in 2013. Prior to joining WGN-TV, Patrick worked for major TV and radio stations in Houston, Corpus Christi, Oklahoma City and Milwaukee before returning to his hometown of Chicago. Some of his career highlights include the coverage of the White Sox World Series, two Blackhawks Championships, the Bears Super Bowl and the Oklahoma City Bombing, for which he earned a Peabody Award.
Patrick earned his degree at the University of Texas at Austin and lives in Chicago with his wife Katie, where they have raised four children. While Patrick is well known for his work reporting on TV news, he credits his biggest accomplishment as the work he’s done with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, in which he, along with thousands of Chicago school kids, has raised more than $12 million for pediatric cancer research. While some organizations spread their research dollar between adult and children’s cancers, every grant funded by the St. Baldrick’s Foundation is for childhood cancer research.
Recently, Patrick and his wife Katie helped form REACT4Ryan in the wake of his nephew’s suicide, to help first responders coping with PTSD. RE;ACT is the Lt. Ryan Elwood; Awareness, Counseling and Training Fund for First Responders in need of mental health and emotional assistance. The fund supports continual awareness and counseling at the Illinois Fire Institute.
Proceeds from the 30th Annual Crystal Heart Ball will benefit the Emergency Department Modernization Project at LCMH. In August 2019, LCMH celebrated the groundbreaking of this project – which is slated to take two years to complete and increase the current footprint by 40 percent. The renovated emergency department will improve efficiency and patient throughput. Environmentally-friendly materials were thoughtfully chosen, which will enhance patient privacy and safety and reduce noise. The project includes a dedicated fast track area, dedicated behavioral health suite and more.
In January 2020, LCMH will be celebrating 90 years of healthcare ministry. This significant milestone will be commemorated at the 30th Annual Crystal Heart Ball. Additionally, a cash drawing will be offered at the Ball with a First Prize Luxury Vacation to Bora Bora for Two or $15,000, Second Prize of $5,000, Third Prize of $2,500, and Fourth Prize of $1,000. Raffle tickets are on sale for $100 each in the hospital’s Foundation department and winners need not be present. The Crystal Heart Ball tickets are $350 per person. Guests also may purchase a Diamond Table for $10,000, a Heart of Gold Table for $6,500 or a Crystal Heart Table for $3,500, each offering unique benefits.
To learn more or to purchase your event tickets, please contact Little Company of Mary’s Foundation department at 708.229.5447 or visit www.LCMH.org/foundation.