Desmond Mason Headlines Wellness House Fundraiser

Submitted by Wellness House.

On Oct. 24, Wellness House hosted 560 guests at The Ritz Carlton, Chicago, for its annual black-tie event, which raised nearly $800,000 for programs supporting those who are living with cancer.

The Silver Ball, led by co-chairs Freddie and Stephanie Brzozowski, was a special culmination of milestones as Wellness House celebrates its 25th Anniversary and unveiled details about its “Wellness Beyond Walls” campaign.

The evening introduced to many the campaign, an ambitious initiative to preserve and safeguard the future of the organization and key programs as well as extend its reach into more homes and communities where the need for cancer programs and support remains unmet.

The evening’s Mission Moment was of 16-year-old Meagan Mitchell, who attended various programs at Wellness House when she was 5, including individual consultations with therapists and kids’ camp. Meagan shared a touching personal story of how Wellness House became an important part of her family’s cancer journey following her mother Tryna’s cancer diagnosis.

Lifetime Trustee Fred Krehbiel delivered a video message describing the Wellness Beyond Walls (WBW) campaign and how WBW will enable individuals and families going through cancer to connect with Wellness House programs and services through technology and other community partnerships.

Fred also honored Kay and Mike Birck’s generous support of Wellness House over the last 25 years by announcing the naming of the house: Wellness House - The Kay and Mike Birck Home of Hope. Mike Birck, who recently passed away from cancer in July of 2015, was a co-founder and former chairman of Tellabs Inc.

Guests were treated to a special performance by American singer and songwriter John Ondrasik of Five for Fighting. Retired NBA player and renowned artist Desmond Mason painted a one-of-a-kind piece of artwork live for auction.

Other highlights for the evening included an exclusive wine auction, paddle raise, live auction, dinner, and dancing. Live Auction items included, VIP experience at the Andrea Bocelli concert and the Late Show with Stephen Colbert; 7-night stay on Maui at the new Honua Kai Resort and Spa; Tickets for all of Chicago’s sports teams; A week’s stay at Union Vale Estate on the Island of St. Lucia; One-of-a-kind piece of art created for The Silver Ball and painted live by Desmond Mason; and an exclusive getaway to a beautiful home at El Dorado in Los Cabos, Mexico.