SHAKIN’ & STIRRED

Sometimes it’s just good to mix things up and that’s exactly what the Women’s Board of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital is doing for its spring fundraiser, Shakin’ & Stirred, on Saturday, April 27, at 28 Mile Distilling Co. in Highwood.

“We’ve successfully hosted a formal gala as our spring fundraiser for many years,” explains Jeni Hoogasian, who is co-chairing Shakin’ & Stirred with Catherine Bernardi and Anne Stewart. “But in the spirit of keeping our event fresh and appealing to a wider audience with a more casual venue, we’re excited to try something new.”

Shakin’ & Stirred will feature live music by Chicago’s favorite party band, Hello Weekend. Guests will also enjoy upscale passed hors d’oeuvres from the award-winning Catering by Michaels and high-end craft beverages from 28 Mile Distilling Co.

Shakin & Stirred is one of two fundraisers hosted annually by the Women’s Board of Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital. The Women’s Board dates back to 1946. It’s comprised of more than 130 talented and committed active, honorary, and sustaining members. The Women’s Board has a long history of supporting the hospital through annual gifts towards scholarships, programmatic grants, and other important hospital initiatives.

This year, Shakin’ & Stirred will be raising important funding for a new initiative targeted at educating more registered nurses locally and offering professional development for the current nursing population at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital, which is especially important given the clinical program expansions at the hospital.

“I recently heard a statistic that our country is short 1.1 million nurses,” says Stewart, adding that the hospital will be opening two new pavilions in 2026 that will require even more nursing staff. “We don’t anticipate that this will be a one-time initiative for our board, but something we will be working on long term.”

Additionally, funding raised by the Women’s Board will help support wellness programs to help mitigate burnout among nurses and create an environment where nurses continue to thrive in their careers. “We need to take care of our nurses in the same way they take care of our patients,” adds Bernardi. “They are on the frontline of delivering our patient care and deserve our support.”

In addition to a significant grant they made to support the hospital’s Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence Satellite Center, the Women’s Board also recently announced a $1 million donation to Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital behavioral health services at Lake Forest Hospital. Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital is one of 40 Parkinson’s Foundation Centers of Excellence in the United States and one of 54 worldwide.

“We are looking forward to having everyone come to our annual fundraiser and experience the new elevated twist at the 28 Mile event.” Hoogasian says. “We want our guests to know that in supporting this event, they are helping advance the mission and outreach of our community’s hospital.”

Tickets to Shakin’ & Stirred can be purchased online at lfhwomensboard.nm.org. For more information about the Women’s Board, visit lfhwomensboard.nm.org.