Night of Discovery, CURE Epilepsy’s annual Chicago benefit, is an exciting evening of stories and research featuring a cocktail reception, dinner, program, and entertainment. It is a wonderful opportunity for our dedicated community to come together to share in our experiences and raise critical funds for epilepsy research to ensure that no good science goes unfunded.
The event has been a staple of the city’s social calendar for over 25 years, and with our goal of raising $2M annually, it has a substantial impact on the research we are able to fund. Since 1998, the annual benefit, our single largest fundraising effort each year, has raised over $30M for epilepsy research.
Event speakers have included Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Secretary Hillary Clinton, and renowned journalist Katie Couric, and our entertainers have included James Taylor, Carole King, Paul Simon, Rick Springfield, and more.
Night of Discovery 2025
Founders Award
In 2023, we established the CURE Epilepsy Founders Award honoring someone each year who embodies the tenacious spirit of the parents who came together to begin this organization.
2025 Awardee, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL)
CURE Epilepsy is proud to present the 2025 Founders Award to Senator Durbin for his unwavering support of scientific research and his embodiment of the spirit of our founding members. Learn more about Senator Durbin and his advocacy.
Past Awardees
Barbara Kelly, CURE Epilepsy’s long-time research chair and one of our founders, was the 2023 recipient. In 2024, Jeanne Donalty, pioneer of SUDEP research and founding mother, and Gardiner Lapham, one of the key drivers in the formation of Partners Against Mortality in Epilepsy (PAME), received the award.
Photos from 2025
Our 27th annual benefit was held September 20, 2025 at the Fairmont Millennium Park in Chicago.
Previous Benefits
Check out these photos from previous years' events.
