Save the date for our upcoming benefit, Night of Discovery, featuring an exclusive, acoustic performance by Grammy winner, Rick Springfield.
Sponsorship opportunities are now available! Tickets & tables on sale March 20.
Save the date for our upcoming benefit, Night of Discovery, featuring an exclusive, acoustic performance by Grammy winner, Rick Springfield.
Sponsorship opportunities are now available! Tickets & tables on sale March 20.
We look forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary with you on Saturday, May 6 at The Sheraton Grand Chicago. Stay tuned for more information and updates on the event.
Unable to attend but still want to help find a cure for epilepsy? Donate here to help us fund vitally needed epilepsy research.
Featured entertainment for the evening will be Fitz and the Tantrums.
Our Unite to CURE Epilepsy virtual event is back! Join us as we celebrate advances in epilepsy research, inspiring stories from the community, and so much more. Our 3rd annual Unite to CURE Epilepsy event will be hosted by Tanja Babich, Emmy Award-winning anchor at ABC 7 Chicago, and premiere on September 29th at 7 pm ET/4 pm PT. We look forward to connecting with everyone within the epilepsy community across the country.
If you aren’t able to join us, you can still donate here to help us fund even more vitally needed epilepsy research.
On June 1, 2022, we held our Annual Chicago Benefit. It was an evening of celebrating the progress we have made in advancing science to find a cure and sharing powerful stories from the community. Thank you to all the individuals, families, clinicians, researchers, donors, and sponsors from across the epilepsy community who joined us for the evening. With all of your generosity and support, you helped us raise over $1.9 million for innovative research that will help us find a cure for this terrible condition. With your continued support, we know we will reach our goal: a world without epilepsy.
If you weren’t able to join us, you can still donate here to help us fund even more vitally needed epilepsy research.
Thank you to our musical performers, Barenaked Ladies, for joining us for the evening and sharing their talents with us.
Some photos of the evening are below. You can see all photos from the benefit here (use the case-sensitive password CURE2022).
On September 17th, 2021, we held our second annual virtual event, Unite to CURE Epilepsy. It was an evening of engaging entertainment, moving stories from the community, and promising research updates. We witnessed the global epilepsy community come together through tenacity, discovery, and hope to help achieve our vision: a world without epilepsy.
If you weren’t able to join us, you can still donate here to help us fund even more vitally needed epilepsy research. You can also watch the event below to see why your donations are so critical to our mission.
Thank you to all the individuals, families, clinicians, donors, and sponsors from across the epilepsy community who joined from around the world to Unite to CURE Epilepsy. With all of your generosity and support, you helped us raise nearly $1.8 million for innovative research that will help us find a cure for this terrible condition. With your continued support, we know we will reach our goal.
Thank you to the world-class entertainers for their inspirational performances, the informative updates from leading scientists who gave us a look into the world of epilepsy research, and the members of the epilepsy community for sharing their inspirational stories.
Mike Barnicle, event host, award-winning journalist and contributor to MSNBC’s Morning Joe, whose daughter, Julia, has epilepsy.
Rick Bayless, 8-time James Beard Award-winning Chef
Nils Lofgren, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, solo performer, member of the E Street Band, member of Neil Young and Crazy Horse..
Miguel Cervantes,
Film and TV actor. Star of Hamilton on Broadway.
Plus Miguel’s Broadway friends, Tamar Greene, Mandy Gonzales, James Snyder, Jackson Cervantes, and Vadim Feichtner, for vocal arrangements, and Hudson Pollock, for sound editing.
And members of the Misericordia Heartzingers, Lauren Axelrod, Charlie Carpenter, and Denise Witt. With Dick Bangham for editing and post-production, Jamison Weddles for audio recording and mixing, Bob and Madge Erlenbaugh, musical directors for Heartzingers, Rob Carpenter for filming the Heartzingers. And a special thanks to Amy Lofgren.
Epilepsy research is more important than ever, and funding this research is critically needed in order to make strides in developing treatments. It is vital that we do all we can to ensure continued progress towards our shared vision: a world without epilepsy.
Susan Axelrod
CURE Epilepsy Founder
Chicago, Illinois
Stacey Pigott
Board Chair
Wilmette, Illinois
Kelly Cervantes
Chair-Elect
Maplewood, New Jersey
Michael Axelrod
Secretary
Phoenix, Arizona
Kathy McKenna
Treasurer
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Gary Collins
President, Epilepsy Canada
Ex Officio
Toronto, Canada
Kimberly Borden
Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Lisa Cotton
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Blake Cunneen
La Grange, Illinois
Marilynn Kelly Gardner
Chicago, Illinois
Carrie Garman
Downers Grove, Illinois
Brian Gorczynski
Morristown, New Jersey
David Reifman
Chicago, Illinois
Matt Schneider
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Beth Lewin Dean
Chief Executive Officer
Ex Officio
Chicago, Illinois
Angélique Bordey, PhD
Yale University School of Medicine
James Cloyd, PharmD
University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy
Kelly Knupp, MD
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Daniel Lowenstein, MD
University of California, San Francisco
Eric Marsh, MD, PhD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
H. Steve White, PhD
University of Washington
Vicky Whittemore, PhD
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Program Director
On September 24, 2020, we held our first-ever virtual event, Unite to CURE Epilepsy. Throughout the evening, we heard inspirational stories, learned about encouraging new research, and saw entertaining performances from legendary musical names. Moreover, we witnessed the global epilepsy community brought together by tenacity, discovery, and hope to help achieve our vision: a world without epilepsy.
Thank you to all the individuals, families, clinicians, donors, and sponsors from across the epilepsy community who joined from near and far to Unite to CURE Epilepsy. Your amazing support helped us raise $ 1.83 million for innovative research that will help us find a cure.
Thank you to the world-class entertainers for their inspirational performances, the informative updates from leading scientists who gave us a look into the world of epilepsy research, and to the members of the epilepsy community for sharing their moving stories.
Mike Barnicle, event host, award-winning journalist and contributor to MSNBC’s Morning Joe, whose daughter, Julia, has epilepsy.
Eric Church, country music star and four-time Grammy-award nominee.
Nils Lofgren, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, member of the E Street Band, member of Neil Young and Crazy Horse.
Dr. Sanjay Gupta, practicing neurosurgeon and Emmy-Award winning CNN Chief Medical Correspondent.
Miguel Cervantes,
Broadway, Stage, and Screen Actor.
Plus Miguel’s Broadway friends, Colin Donell, Montego Glover, Alan Green, Tamar Greene, Leslie Kritzer, Patti Murin, Eric Petersen, James Snyder, and Ben Thompson.
During this pandemic, epilepsy research is more vulnerable than ever, with investigators experiencing delays due to mandatory time away from the lab and related additional costs for PPE and other materials. It is vital that we do all we can to ensure continued progress towards our shared vision: a world without epilepsy.
Susan Axelrod
CURE Founder
Chicago, Illinois
Stacey Pigott
Board Chair
Wilmette, Illinois
Ann Benschoter
Immediate Past Board Chair
Waverly, Iowa
Kelly Cervantes
Secretary
Maplewood, New Jersey
Kathy McKenna
Treasurer
Arlington Heights, Illinois
Michael Axelrod
Elmhurst, Illinois
Lisa Cotton
Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan
Blake Cunneen
La Grange, Illinois
Marilynn Kelly Gardner
Chicago, Illinois
Carrie Garman
Downers Grove, Illinois
Celia Huber
Palo Alto, California
David Reifman
Chicago, Illinois
Beth Lewin Dean
Chief Executive Officer
Ex Officio
Chicago, Illinois
James Cloyd, PharmD
University of Minnesota, College of Pharmacy
Kelly Knupp, MD
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Daniel Lowenstein, MD
University of California, San Francisco
Eric Marsh, MD, PhD
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Manisha Patel, PhD
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Vicky Whittemore, PhD
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Program Director
Thank you to the CURE community of families, researchers, donors, and sponsors who came out to Navy Pier and raised an incredible $2 million and counting for innovative research for a cure! We are honored to be surrounded by such dedicated, caring, and unrelenting people who remain hopeful that we will create a world without epilepsy.
If you weren’t able to join us, but would like to support CURE’s mission to find a cure for epilepsy, by promoting and funding patient-focused research, you can donate now. Your support creates amazing progress in epilepsy research and will continue to drive science forward until our mission to find a cure for epilepsy is accomplished.
View photo gallery (password: CURE2019).
Thank you to our wonderful performers for inspiring us.
Nils Lofgren
Nils Lofgren is a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Member of the E Street Band and Neil Young and Crazy Horse.
Miguel Cervantes
Miguel Cervantes is a stage and screen actor currently performing as Alexander Hamilton in the Chicago production of Hamilton.
Musicality
Musicality is a Chicago-based youth vocal group, known for gripping sounds and thrilling performances.
Thank you to our speakers for sharing stories of loss and hope.
Kelly and Miguel Cervantes
Michael Platt and David Axelrod
Stacey Pigott, CURE Board Chair
Libby and Victor Boyce
Susan Axelrod, CURE Founder
Thank you to our Vice Chairs, Host Committee Members, and Board Members for supporting this incredible evening.
Vice Chairs
Mike Axelrod
GPG Strategies
Debra A. Cafaro
Ventas, Inc.
Ken Griffin
Citadel
Randy Mehrberg
Jenner & Block
Sharon O’Keefe
The University of Chicago Medicine
Dianne Raso
Ann G. and James B. Ritchey Foundation
Michael J. Sacks
GCM Grosvenor
Host Committee
Liz and Mike Axelrod
Susan and David Axelrod
Patrice Bugelas-Brandt and Bill Brandt
Debra A. Cafaro and Terrance K. Livingston
Wendy Coleman and Jim Terman
Lisa and Michael Cotton
Shery and David Cotton
Karen and Larry Grisolano
Rick Jasculca
Carol Jones and Tom Hynes
Bernadette Keller and William M. Daley
Sharon O’Keefe and Hal Moore
Linda and Richard Price
Penny Pritzker and Bryan Traubert
Cari and Michael J. Sacks
Michele Schara and Randy Mehrberg
Marla and Eric Sedler
Margaret and Joe Tilson
CURE Board of Directors
Susan Axelrod
Founder
Stacey Pigott
Board Chair
Ann Benschoter
Immediate Past Chair
Kelly Cervantes
Secretary
Kathy McKenna
Treasurer
Mike Axelrod
Lisa Cotton
Blake Cunneen
Marilynn Kelly Gardner
Celia Pohani Huber
Beth Lewin Dean
Chief Executive Officer
Ex Officio
Thank you to our in-kind sponsors and volunteers for giving their time and resources to ensure the success of this year’s Annual Chicago Benefit.
In-Kind Sponsors
AKPD Media
Libby and Victor Boyce
Kelly and Miguel Cervantes
Earhole Studios
The Eli’s Cheesecake Company
Fleur De Lis
Friedman Family Foundation
Friedman Properties
Jasculca Terman and Associates, Inc
Kivvit
Musicality
Michael Platt
Amy Spizzo
Amy and Nils Lofgren
Manny’s Cafeteria and Delicatessen
Misericordia Heartzingers Choir
Salesforce
Sidley Austin LLP
Terlato Wines
Walter Payton College Prep Jazz Orchestra
David Yurman
Alla Alperovich
Drew Anderson
Mason Banwell
Alyssa Bazzanella
Leon Blair
Daniel Broderick
Jenny Burke
Anthony Capitani
Collin Coelet
Ainslee Dean
Amanda DeKruiff
Bill Delaney
Mary Ellen Delaney
Gabrielle Dougherty
Julie Felipez
Hannah Felipez
Madeline Felipez
Geoffrey Fishwick
Shirley Fishwick
Alexis Flores
Stephanie Greco
Sarah Hastreiter
Volunteers
James Griffith
Ashleigh Henrichs
Kay Henrichs
Daniel Karas
Rosemary Lamont
Linda Lepp
Jeffrey Liguori
Scott Maracek
Amanda Marrazzo
Anthony Marrazzo
Shaina Mayzler
Ronnie McCarron
Jan McCarron
John McCarron
Nicole McLean
Fran Mehalic
Morgan Mehalic
Giorgi Mombach
Ken Moore
Kate Mullen
Anthony O’Boyle
Nancy O’Neill
Don O’Neill
Josh Peters
Brittany Pham
Nicholas Quarino
Maureen Rizzi
Harper Robinson
Matt Sackley
Sandy Saltiel
Nadia Sarnecki
Maddie Schaafsma
Stephen Scheffler
Kaiser Shah
Jeanne Simonetta
Jamie Smith
Linda Smith
Jacob Stanley
Stephen Todd
Scott Tsai
Robb Valentyn
Jenny Whitlock
William Wirtz
To the Broadway Sings for CURE sponsors, performers, hosts, and guests, you have our deepest thanks for coming out to support epilepsy research and our fight to find a cure.
Event Image Gallery
Event Details
Cocktail Reception: 6:00 PM
Program: 7:30 PM
Join us for Broadway Sings for CURE, an evening of dazzling performances by Broadway stars. This event will be hosted by Miguel Cervantes, star of Chicago’s HAMILTON. Miguel understands all too well how devastating epilepsy can be, as his daughter, Adelaide, was diagnosed with a severe form of epilepsy called infantile spasms at 7 months old. She continues to battle this condition every day.
An incredible line-up of Broadway stars will perform live, putting epilepsy center stage to raise funds for critically needed research. Broadway Sings for CURE features:
Joshua Henry
Carousel; Shuffle Along; Violet; Porgy and Bess; American Idiot; The Scottsboro Boys; In The Heights
Tamika Lawrence
Gettin’ the Band Back Together; Come From Away; Beautiful; If/Then; Matilda The Musical; The Book of Mormon
Lisa O’Hare
New Amsterdam (Television); A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Ryann Redmond
Frozen; Escape To Margaritaville; If/Then; Bring It On: The Musical
James Snyder
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts One and Two; If/Then; Cry-Baby
Ben Thompson
Waitress; Matilda The Musical; Holler If Ya Hear Me; American Idiot
Gregory Treco
Hamilton; Taboo
Tickets to this exclusive showcase are extremely limited, so don’t throw away your shot. Secure tickets or sponsorships now. If you have any questions, please reach out to Meghan Jorgensen at Events@CUREepilepsy.org.
Epilepsy can be a debilitating disease, affecting more than 65 million people worldwide. One in 26 Americans will develop the disease in their lifetime. Funding scientists worldwide to collaborate and innovate in pursuit of a cure is our mission.
The Boston CURE community reunited on April 3 for a powerful and inspiring Boston Benefit for the CURE in support of epilepsy research. The Benefit was hosted by Anne Finucane and Mike Barnicle, and Susan and David Axelrod. Governor Charlie Baker and Mayor Martin J. Walsh participated in the evening events.
Thanks to all of our Benefit hosts, dinner chairs, generous sponsors, volunteers, donors and guests, nearly $1.1 million was raised to support CURE’s research grants program, new scientific opportunities and future breakthroughs.
Dinner Chairs:
Jack and Eileen Connors
Karen and Ken Kaplan
Brian Moynihan and Sue Berry