HOPE TRULY GROWS

Hinsdale resident Pamela Pontikis can’t attend the Wellness House Ball without thinking about her late father.

“My father passed away from lung cancer,” Pamela tells Hinsdale Living quietly. “It will be five years this year since we lost him, right around the time of the ball.”

It was his untimely passing that ultimately brought Pamela and her family to seek out the priceless services and support of Wellness House, which has provided free cancer support to nearly 50,000 people throughout Chicagoland since its inception 34 years ago.

“During the time of my father’s illness, my mom called Wellness House to see if she could volunteer with them,” she remembers. “I think it was the first time somebody listened to her side of the story, and it was the first time that, as the caretaker of the person going through cancer, she felt seen and heard and really cared for.”

It was this vitally important interaction that also drove Pamela and her husband George Pontikis to take on the role of Co-Chairs at this year’s Wellness House Ball, set to take place on Saturday, October 19 at The Old Post Office in Chicago. Without a doubt, the Wellness House Ball serves as one of the year’s most anticipated, most elegant, and most moving events on Hinsdale’s social calendar.

“Cancer is not just about the disease and it’s not just about the person going through the disease, it’s also about the entire family that is going through it,” she stresses. “Wellness House became such an important place for us that we knew we wanted to help in any way we could.”

It’s a similar story for fellow Wellness House Ball Co- Chairs Katie and Michael Isadore, who, too, have dealt with watching family members struggle through the physical and emotional pain that comes with a cancer diagnosis.

“My husband and I can’t think of a better cause to put our time, energy and financial backing and support to,” says Katie of the organization that now offers programs not only online and at the Main location in Hinsdale, but also at more than 23 partner locations throughout Chicagoland including UIHealth/Mile Square in Chicago, RUSH MD Anderson Cancer Center and Loyola’s Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center. “We were really touched by their mission, which is why we wanted to get involved.”

This involvement has resulted in some exciting changes to this year’s ball, including its location. “The fact that it’s at a different venue every year keeps it fresh and exciting,” remarks Pamela, whose work has been further supported by an array of event sponsors including Burke Beverage, ReDesign, Corporate Fleet Services, Curi RMB Capital, The Hallstar Company, Holiday Transport Group/Fire Science Techniques, Ed Napleton Automotive Group, Nvidia and William Blair. “The last few years, the location has been spectacular, and we want to make sure the Wellness House Ball continues with its typical grandeur, but also put a fresh perspective on it.”

There is also an innovative theme for the night.

“We wanted a theme that was going to resonate back to the mission of Wellness House,” says Katie, who has essentially taken on the role of ‘décor expert.”. “With the theme ’Hope Grows,’ we wanted to keep with natural elements like trees and seasons of life and journeys. And while some seasons might be difficult, spring is on the way and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel for these individuals going through and battling cancer.”

“We are elevating the space with elegant greens and golds,” adds Pamela. “The idea of The Old Post Office having been renovated and reimagined and brought back to life goes with our theme that life is cyclical and everything is about growth and growing.”

And while both Pamela and Katie say they have taken on a huge responsibility when it comes to the Wellness House Ball, they stress that they couldn’t do this alone.

“Seeing everyone rally together for such an important cause makes everything worth it,” says Pamela. “We’ve formed an amazing Committee that has ties into many different ecosystems in the Chicagoland area. It’s been great to see a competitive spirit of trying to match what the co-chairs and committee raised last year with this year’s sponsorships and support.”

“We live in an amazing community that always rallies around incredible causes,” adds Katie. “It’s going to be a fantastic evening.”

For more information, to purchase tickets, or make a donation, visit wellnesshouse.org/ball. For more information about Wellness House, visit wellnesshouse.org.