Childerguild Gives $320,000 for Silver Cross Women's and Children's Services

Karen Hughes, outgoing Childerguild president, presented Paul Pawlak, prresident and CEO of Silver Cross Hospital, with a check for $320,000.

By Tracy Simons | Silver Cross Hospital

Childerguild recently presented Silver Cross Hospital with $320,000 to support the hospital’s Women and Infant Services Birthing Center and Pediatrics unit.

For the past 105 years, the local charitable organization has donated more than $3.2 million to support women’s and children’s services at Silver Cross Hospital. In recent years Childerguild’s donations have been used to purchase equipment including a VeinViewer, Abaer Newborn Hearing tester and electronic fetal monitor.

“Childerguild has been thrilled to support Silver Cross Hospital,” said outgoing Childerguild President Karen Hughes. “Childerguild members are honored to continue this tradition of service by working on projects that will continue to benefit women and children who will be patients at the new Silver Cross Hospital for generations to come.”

About the Silver Cross Women and Infant Birthing Center

Silver Cross has brought together cutting-edge medical technology with spa-like amenities to make the birthing experience all the more memorable.

The Birthing Center at the New Lenox Hospital has 12 luxurious birthing suites designed for labor, delivery and recovery so parents can have the convenience of staying in the same room through recovery followed by a stay in one of 30 private mother-baby suites. Each private suite is fully-equipped with a bathroom with a shower and immersion tub to help with labor pains, blanket warmer, refrigerator, wireless internet access, 30” flat screen TV system, and a comfortable sofa-sleeper so family members can stay around the clock.

Furthermore, a variety of pain relief methods is available 24 hours a day provided by an anesthesiologist. And for deliveries requiring surgery, there are two complete cesarean suites. Lurie Children’s Hospital neonatologists and pediatric hospitalist is onsite 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. And if needed, Lurie Children’s pediatric cardiologists are available to analyze a baby’s echocardiogram in real time through a video linkage with Silver Cross. For more information about the new Silver Cross Women and Infant Birthing Center visit www.silvercross.org/specialdeliveries.

For a referral to an obstetrician/gynecologist or pediatrician on staff at Silver Cross, visit www.silvercross.org or call 1-888-660-HEAL.

To assist Silver Cross Hospital in its initiative to continue to bring state-of-the-art services close to home, call the Silver Cross Foundation at (815) 300-7105.

Childerguild’s Tradition

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.

In the early years, Childerguild raised funds through private donations and by hosting card parties. The members took a hands-on approach to this organization by sewing layettes and clown dolls for the pediatric patients at Silver Cross. During the war years, members knitted sweaters for the military and gave financial support to the American Red Cross, Navy League and the Salvation Army. As ardent supporters of the children in our community, Childerguild also made contributions to the Herald News free milk fund and the local community chest.

Today, Childerguild raises funds by hosting their annual Ball, which is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at the Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park, 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, among other items. For more information, call the Silver Cross Volunteer Services Department at (815) 300-7117.

In addition to the check presentation, at the annual meeting the organization installed new officers. They include: President Grisel Garcini (Mokena resident); Vice President Dianne White (Mokena resident); Secretary Peggy Maruszak (New Lenox resident); Events Vice Presidents Marcia Obman Gray (Plainfield resident) and Phyllis Etheridge (Minooka resident); Club Treasurer Donna Galligan (Joliet resident); and Gift Shop Treasurer Lynda McShane (Minooka resident).