It Takes A Village

Back in 1985 I got a phone call (remember those?) from Lili Ann Zisook.

“We’re putting together a fund in memory of Lynn.  How would you like to be publicity chairman?”

I hadn’t had the privilege of knowing Lynn Sage very well or for for very long.  I had met her several years earlier at Lili Ann’s house and, of course,  I had been drawn to her kindness and warmth.

We had a lot in common.  She was the mother of two.  So was I.  She had a loving husband, a comfortable home, tons of friends.  A beautiful life.  I liked to think that I had one, too.

(That’s Lynn on Ellen Soren’s lap.  Behind Ellen are Joan Himmel Freeman and Diane Greengross.)

And we had a special bond.  We both had daughters born on September sixteenth.

But she had been tapped by that random specter of no respect- Fate- and she had died of breast cancer at thirty-eight.

She.

Not me.

So out of regard for two great gals, of course I agreed to be P.R. Chairman of the fledgling Lynn Sage Fund.

I didn’t have many great media contacts back then but I made dozens of phone calls to anyone remotely connected with the press.

“We’re starting a charity to find the cure for breast cancer and we’re having a kick off event.  Would you please cover it?” I’d implore.

There weren’t many takers.  But finally, a couple of journalists felt that the cause- and the small band of dedicated women championing it- were worth covering.

And thus the original founding members made their way to the Board of Trade one afternoon.  And as we toured the trading floor, there were some photographers flashing away and reporters scribbling down who were were exactly and exactly what were we doing there.

It hadn’t been easy but there was the story and a great photograph in the paper the following week.

Whew.  I was so glad that I was able to pull it off.

Fast forward thirty-two years to last Monday, October first.

I had the honor of attending “Light The Way. Time for find a cure.”  The Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation 2017 Fall Benefit Luncheon.

Wow.  Had things changed.

No trading floor could hold the crowd of people attending this event.  Now it took the Grand Ballroom of the Conrad Hilton to accommodate the guest list.

And the joint was jumpin’.

The cocktail party purse auction AKA “Purse-Sue The Cure” was swarming with savvy and generous auction bidders all looking for a great bag and a great cause at the same time.

Lunch was then served and it was elegant.  (And delicious.)

And there there was a warm welcome from fellow journalist, man-about-town and great guy, Chicago’s own Bill Zwecker.

(In case you haven’t had the fun of meeting Bill, you can always read this.)

He deftly introduced the speakers: the co-chairs Sofia Ahmad Jones and Julie Roth Novack. (As Julie struggled to hold back the tears as she movingly spoke of her beloved older sister’s battle with breast cancer, there was a lump in my throat- and the entire audience’s.)

And then there was an electrifying brief speech- a call to action- by Dr. Leonidas Platanias, Director of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center.  He related the thrilling news that researchers are on the brink of of a breakthrough.

NOW.

“Soon no one need die of this disease,” he stressed.

He was a hard act to follow but the next speaker was more than up to the challenge.

World class actress Kathy Bates delivered a wonderful speech.

My gosh, if I had loved her in Misery, Primary Colors and Titanic before, I was her willing slave after her remarks.

And the real life Kathy had a real world warning for all of us.

“Testing negative for the BRACA gene is not a “get out of jail free’ card.”  (Both Kathy and her niece had tested negatively and both had gotten breast cancer.)

“Listen to your body.  Get tested if you don’t feel right.”

Thanks, Kathy.

Towanda!

During the past thirty-two years, $32 million has been raised by these women.  Unlike me- who high-tailed it to Aspen in 1996 and am just getting back to my Chicago philanthropic roots- most of the original board has been ceaselessly working for the cure.

They can take pride in knowing that their efforts have raised funds to defeat cancer “by advancing research, education, awareness and patient care initiative” at both Northwestern Hospital and the Robert Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University.

The LSCRF sure doesn’t need my help anymore.  But it’s a great comfort to know that they will be there if I ever need theirs.

You’re right, Lil.

It takes a village.

Just be sure that it’s lit up in pink.

Author’s Note:  This is my last post until October 29, Dear Readers.  See you in your email box then.  Thanks.

And now, here’s the fabulous Kathy.