Raise funds to support the research and treatment of brain tumors at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Founded in 1987, The Auxiliary Board of Northwestern Memorial Hospital is composed of a group of young professionals and future community leaders who raise funds to support research programs at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The Auxiliary Board has committed more than $1 million dollars to enhance treatment for Northwestern Memorial’s patients and their families through a host of patient care initiatives, including: the Ambulatory Spine Program, Bone Marrow Transplant, Comprehensive Heart Failure Prevention and Treatment, Functional Neurosurgery, Prostate Cancer Gene Therapy, and Women’s Health. Historically, the board has focused on providing “seed money” to programs.

In 2008, U.S. News & World Report ranked the hospital’s neurology and neurological surgery programs 11th nationwide and No. 1 among Illinois hospitals. The Auxiliary Board recently pledged its support to the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute to advance an issue that is growing in prevalence—the research and treatment of brain tumors.

After being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor, only 30 percent of adults survive for five years. The glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) represents a tenacious form of cancer, with patients generally having a more dismal prognosis and an average survival time of less than one year from onset. Such sobering statistics and realities underscore the importance of the leading-edge research being conducted at the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, where scientists and physicians are dedicated to better understanding, targeting, and ultimately vanquishing these tumors.
Led by Sunit Das, MD, PhD, a team of physician-researchers representing Northwestern Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine is investigating the important role that brain tumor stem cells play in GBM recurrence and progression, and, more importantly, treatments that may effectively halt their production.

On June 19, 2009, at The Museum of Contemporary Art, located at 220 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, The Auxiliary Board will host the summer’s hottest party, their 9th Annual Summer Lovin’ event, to benefit the research and treatment of brain tumors at Northwestern Memorial. The fundraiser, co-hosted by Chicago magazine, introduces the city’s most eligible singles, as featured in the magazine’s July issue, and attracts more than 1,200 young professionals.

To learn more about becoming a member or supporter of The Auxiliary Board, or to obtain more event information, please visit www.auxboardevents.com. To learn more about the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute, please visit www.braintumorinstitute.org.

Geoff Crawley - President - crawdiddy@gmail.com

Jennifer Davis - Vice President of Marketing & Public Relations - jendavis9903@yahoo.com

Jenny Transue - Northwestern Memorial Foundation - jtransue@nmh.org