Volunteer Boards

Lurie Children’s has several established volunteer organizations that fundraise on behalf of the hospital. Each group has a unique mission that directly impacts specific areas or programs within Lurie Children’s. 

The Founders' Board

The Founders' Board of Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago was established in 1882 as the Board of Lady Managers. For 136 years, the Board has supported the hospital through its members’ active engagement and philanthropy, stewardship and fundraising, advocacy, hospital governance and volunteerism.

The Board is Lurie Children’s most enduring philanthropic partner, and in the last decade alone the Founders’ Board has raised critical funds totaling more than $25 million for a number of endowed chairs for Lurie Children's staff and faculty. Most recently, the Board completed a two-year, $4.5 fundraising commitment, which benefited the Division of Pediatric Surgery and the Division of Academic General Pediatrics.  

Members of the Board hold positions on a variety of committees within the hospital’s Medical Center Board and Lurie Children’s Foundation Board. They also work closely with the hospital's Government and Community Relations team to help advance policy initiatives and actively communicate the hospital's position on children's healthcare issues. 

Founders’ Board members raise funds through annual fundraising events, including the Pro Amateur Golf Championship, Dinner on the Bluff and Winter Wishes, as well as through direct mail appeals and outreach and retail activities. Founders’ Board members also volunteer their time and talents to provide support to our patients and their families. 

The Board’s current fundraising focus is a three-year, $7.5 million pledge entitled “New Frontiers and Pediatric Medicine and Research.” This commitment will provide support to three key areas: transformational research, community-based healthcare delivery and the funding of an endowed chair in Medical Ethics. 

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The Children's Research Fund

The Children’s Research Fund (CRF) was established in 1951 for the sole purpose of raising funds to advance medical research. In 1991, the organization began its affiliation with Lurie Children’s. Since then, the CRF has been a principal benefactor of the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute at Lurie Children’s, raising more than $70 million to advance pediatric medical research at the hospital’s research enterprise. 

The members of the CRF are guided by the principle that there is no higher calling in science or philanthropy than eradicating the suffering caused by debilitating disease and birth defects. The board promotes awareness of the mission through vigorous fundraising, education and outreach activities, as well as an annual showcase event, the Children’s Ball. 

The Board is Lurie Children’s most enduring philanthropic partner, and in the last decade alone the Founders’ Board has raised critical funds totaling more than $25 million for a number of endowed chairs for Lurie Children's staff and faculty. Members of the Board hold positions on a variety of committees, as well as within the hospital’s Medical Center Board and Lurie Children’s Foundation Board. They also work closely with the hospital's Government Affairs team to help advance policy initiatives and actively communicate the hospital's position on children's healthcare issues. 

Over the years, the CRF’s fundraising efforts have supported a wide range of projects and initiatives.  Highlights include: support for the construction and expansion of the Manne Research Institute; the creation of an endowed professorship in neurobiology; the creation of the Bernard L. Mirkin, PhD, MD, Research Scholar and CRF Chair in Basic Science; support for kidney disease research; the establishment of current use funds to support brain tumor research and neurobiology research; an endowment for the Patrick M. Magoon Institute for Healthy Communities; and resources to support Advanced Therapeutics. 

For more information, contact Laura Rao at lkrao@luriechildrens.org or 270-841-7894

The Children's Service Board

The Children’s Service Board (CSB) is comprised of 70 women with diverse backgrounds who share a passion for supporting the hospital through philanthropy, fundraising and volunteering. The CSB began its affiliation with Lurie Children’s in 1986. Since then, the Board has raised more than $16 million to support and advance critical areas of pediatric care, including commitments to the Department of Pediatric Surgery and the creation of an endowed chair for the Head of the Division of Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The CSB also has recently supported the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Heart Center and Pritzker Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.

The CSB’s signature fundraising event is the Gold Coast Fashion Award Show, an annual highlight of the Chicago fashion scene. Each year the event features the season’s top fashions and brings together some of Chicago’s most influential corporate and community leaders.

For more information, contact Ilana Gutman at igutman@luriechildrens.org.

K.I.D.S.S. for Kids, Inc.

K.I.D.S.S. for Kids, Inc. (Kindness Is Doing Something Special for Kids) was established in 1991 in support of the hospital’s Department of Family Services, which includes art and music therapists, social workers and child life specialists. The Board’s mission is to ensure these programs remain available to every patient at Lurie Children’s—and have fun while doing it! Since 1991, the Board has raised more than $16 million in support of Family Services.

The K.I.D.S.S. for Kids’ signature fundraising event is the annual stair climb, Aon Step Up for Kids presented by KPMG. In addition to this family-friendly, 80-floor stair climb and celebration, the Board hosts Tee It Up for Kids, a summer golf outing that features 18 holes followed by dinner and a raffle. For more information, contact Ted McCartan at TMcCartan@luriechildrens.org or 312.227.7280.

Other Fundraising Boards

  • Bridges Teen Leadership Board (BTLB) is a group of students who work together to bridge the community together to raise funds and awareness for the patients and their families at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago. BTLB is a student leadership service board that is run through the Foundation mentoring a group of student leaders from seven high schools in the North Shore area partnering with Lurie Children’s through various fundraising events culminating in their annual Dance Marathon event. Do you have any questions about how to get involved or register, how to donate, or partner with Bridges Dance Marathon? Reach out to our Bridges Teen Leadership Advisor, Hannah Monte at bridgesboard@luriechildrens.org.

  • Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities (CBCC) is a volunteer organization comprised of former and current professional athletes, members of the Chicago sports media and the corporate community. Since 1984, the CBCC has raised more than $3.4 million for the Division of Hematology, Oncology, Neuro-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation through its annual All-Star Invitational Golf Outing, and annual gifts from Chicago White Sox Charities. For more information, contact Madeline Zandhaus at mzandhuis@luriechildrens.org

  • The Children's Research Fund Junior Board (CRFJB) serves as a junior board to the Children's Research Fund. Its members are young professionals who are committed to raising funds in support of pediatric medical research at the Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute. The CRFJB’s annual signature event is Cocktails for a Cause. For more information, contact Laura Rao at lkrao@luriechildrens.org or 270-841-7894.

  • The Junior Council of Lurie Children's is made up of young professionals who are committed to pooling resources and talents to help raise awareness and funds to support Lurie Children’s Pediatric and Adolescent HIV/AIDS Program. The Junior Council holds a variety of social event fundraisers, as well as its signature annual event, Snowball. For more information, contact Hayley Salata at hsalata@luriechildrens.org.

  • K.I.D.S.S. for Kids, Inc. (Kindness Is Doing Something Special for Kids) supports the hospital’s Department of Family Services, which includes art and music therapists, social workers and child life specialists. The board’s main fundraising event is the annual Aon Step Up for Kids presented by KPMG stair climb. For more information, contact Ted McCartan at TMcCartan@luriechildrens.org or 312.227.7280.

  • Little Heroes League was established to help babies born with multiple health challenges achieve their best life outcomes by funding early life care coordination both in and out of the hospital. Many public and private insurers do not identify these babies immediately after they are born and take 6 months or more to offer them care coordination assistance if they offer it at all. This means that the most critically ill newborns who require multiple complex treatments cannot receive care coordination covered by insurance during this critical developmental time in their lives. Care coordination will help ensure the babies receive the right care, at the right time, in the right place. For more information, contact Madeline Zandhaus at mzandhuis@luriechildrens.org

  • The Young Associates Board (YAB), established in 2000 as a junior board of The Gus Foundation, raises funds for brain tumor research through activities aimed at young professionals, including social events and the annual Run for Gus 5K. The YAB also funds the Beads of Courage program at Lurie Children's, and organizes a variety of service projects. For more information, contact Sophia Paarz at spaarz@luriechildrens.org

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