On the coattails of unprecedented media coverage, CURE drew a sold-out crowd to the Chicago Field Museum on March 20, 2009 for the CURE Annual Benefit. More than 700 guests joined CURE founder and president Susan Axelrod; her husband David Axelrod, Senior Advisor to President Obama; and guest speaker Tom Brokaw, former “Nightly News” anchor, to show their support and raise desperately needed funds for cutting-edge epilepsy research.

The event’s mood seemed to reflect much of what Brokaw discussed in his keynote address—themes of duty, honor, economy, courage, and love of family. Expounding on the unifying power of these values from his chronicles of Americans who came of age during the Great Depression and Second World War, Brokaw’s message seemed to resonate deeply with the families and individuals faced with the challenges of epilepsy and other chronic conditions.

Remarks by Susan and David Axelrod and CURE Board member Tom Hynes echoed the rallying cry of CURE’s 2009 video, “Seizures Affect Far More People Than You Think…” The video documents the breadth of people affected by seizures, including brain tumor, stroke, and traumatic brain injury patients, as well as children with autism, cerebral palsy, and mental retardation.

Dinner, dessert, and exploring the Field Museum concluded the evening. CURE was grateful to be able to donate nearly all of the event’s remaining food to local shelters and food banks through The Special E, a charitable re-distribution organization.

This year’s fundraiser was supported by generous donations from key sponsors included:

Platinum Sponsors ($25,000)
William M. Daley
Richard J. Dennis
Exelon Corporation
Fred Eychaner
UCB, Inc.

Gold Sponsors ($12,000)
Susan & David Axelrod
The Crown Family
Development Specialists, Inc.
Karen K. Dixon & Nan Schaffer, DVM
The Giannoulias Family
Howard L. Gottlieb
Larry Grisolano
Hewitt Associates
Carol A. Jones & Thomas F. Hynes
Judy & Scott Leisher
Mesirow Financial
Ovation Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PhRMA
Michele Schara & Randy Mehrberg
Marjorie & Louis Susman

Silver Sponsors ($6,000)
American Airlines, Inc.
BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
John Del Cecato
Mary I. & Philip Doran
General Iron Industries Charitable Foundation
Husch Blackwell Sanders Welsh & Katz
Hynes Law Offices, LLC & Comptroller Daniel W. Hynes
Richard Landau, MD
Daina Lyons & Forrest Claypool
The Evan Pigott Family
Joseph A. Power & Susan Power, Power Rogers & Smith, P.C.
PSEG
Bettylu & Paul Saltzman, MD
Stern Cassello & Associates, LLP
The Strategy Group
Walsh Construction Company

CURE would like to extend a special thanks to this year’s Dinner Committee:
Ellen Alberding and Kelly Walsh; Marty Nesbitt and Anita Blanchard, MD; Patrice Bugelas-Brandt and William A. Brandt, Jr.; Sean J. Conlon; William M. Daley; Karen K. Dixon and Nan Schaffer, DVM; Kathy and Bob Dodd; Mary I. and Philip Doran; Anna Giannoulias; Howard L. Gottlieb; Larry Grisolano; Melinda and Walter Kelly; Sharon and Eric Langshur; Judy and Scott Leisher; Daina Lyons and Forrest Claypool; Sara and Patrick Nash; Stacey and John Pigott; Amy Rule; Bettylu and Paul Saltzman, MD; Michele Schara and Randy Mehrberg; Marjorie and Louis Susman; Susan and Paul Toback; Patricia and Daniel Walsh; Jeannine and Howard Zwirn

CURE is deeply appreciative for the vision of the 2009 Planning Committee:
Joan Bever, Karen K. Dixon, Sherry Healey, Daina Lyons, Stacey Pigott, Susan Schneider, Susan Toback, Jeannine and Howard Zwirn