St. Jude has done extraordinary work for children and their families for nearly 50 years. This afternoon was a testament of that. Some of the Mrs. Illinois America family gathers each year to attend the annual St. Jude luncheon in Chicago and it was sold out this year! More than 1300 people were a part of the fundraiser for the research hospital to help it treat, cure and prevent pediatric cancers and terminal diseases. I was asked to select and announce the winners of the grand raffle and found myself seated with Marlo Thomas. Her famous father,Danny Thomas, started St. Jude and is quite the star and author herself AND very funny!
We were also seated with the day's emcee Allison Rosatti from NBC5. Through my work in news, I had not met Allison as she is an anchor and therefore rarely outside the studio for stories, so it was about time we met in person! Just as I had been told before, she is a doll. We three had the good fortune to spend the afternoon with St. Jude Special Guest, Marget Graham. At only one year old, Marget was diagnosed with a rare inoperable neuroblastoma tumor which brought with it, only a 10% rate of survival. St. Jude stepped in and after a year of treatments, she was able to return home as the only survivor or her age group. Today, she is a mom to a little girl (who is PRECIOUS) and she has twins on the way this spring. And thanks to another 30 years of research, neuroblastoma now has a survival rate of 55% which is a big improvement.
It was a wonderful and inspiring afternoon. Thank you St. Jude for asking me to be a part of it!
1)Aren't they adorable?
2)The ballroom
3)Love her skirt!
4)with Marlo Thomas and Allison
5)Marcie Aceto, Julie Aceto, me, Michele Barber (Mrs. IL '03),Krista Cline,and Karen Lea Cline (Mrs. IL '98)
6)With newly re-elected Secretary of State, Jesse White
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