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Ali Wentworth Headlines Rush Woman’s Board 2022 Spring Luncheon at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago

(Left to right) Cindy Mancillas (president of The Woman’s Board), Dr. Omar Lateef (president & CEO of Rush University Medical Center), Ali Wentworth (author, actor, keynote speaker for Spring Luncheon), Gillian Stoettner (chair of the 2022 Spring Luncheon) | Courtesy of RUSH

The Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center hosted its 27th Annual Spring Luncheon on Monday, May 9 at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago. 

Carole Wood, Gladys Smith, Monica Thomas
(Left to right) Carole Wood, Gladys Smith, Monica Thomas | Photo by Widia Viti Photography

Headlining the luncheon: Ali Wentworth, actor, comedian and New York Times best-selling author, known for her roles on shows such as In Living Color and Seinfeld and in the films Jerry MaguireOffice Space and It’s Complicated, plus her connection to George Stephanopoulos, her equally famous husband.

Wentworth had the audience of more than 400 guests in stitches as she shared hilarious stories about her mother Muffie Cabot (Washington, DC socialite, friend of Jackie Kennedy and social secretary to First Lady Nancy Reagan) and Stephanopoulos (host of Good Morning America and ABC’s This Week).  Wentworth read a brief passage from her new book, Ali’s Well That Ends Well, offering guests an exclusive and comic-laden peek into her pandemic-era trials and tribulations, including her obsession with baking multiple versions of chocolate cake. After she spoke, Wentworth sat down with event chair Gillian Stoettner for a question and answer session. 

RUSH Mimi DeCastro, Ellen Kapoor, Jessica Stini
Mimi de Castro, Ellen Kapoor, Jessica Stini – all of ITW (Illinois Tool Works), a sponsor of the 2022 Spring Luncheon | Photo by Widia Viti Photography

The event opened with Cindy Mancillas, president of the Woman’s Board, who greeted guests and shared information about the customized cancer treatment at Rush University Medical Center that the luncheon was designed to support. Dr. Omar Lateef, president and CEO of Rush University Medical Center, spoke about the historic and unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare industry and how Rush rose to the challenge. Notable guests included event chair Gillian Stoettner plus Wendy Herb, Bridget C. Coughlin, Micah Materre and Jay Krehbiel. 

Celalettin Ustun, MD, talks with a patient. Photo credit RUSH
Celalettin Ustun, MC, talks with a patient | Courtesy of RUSH

The funds raised by the 2022 Spring Luncheon will be directed to research, education, and community engagement programs supported by The Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center, as well as the board’s 2022 principal project, The Woman’s Board Fund for Excellence in Cellular Therapy. 

RUSH Mary Anne Martin, Stevie Boggess
(Left to right) Mary Anne Martin (of Winnetka) and Stevie Boggess (of Lake Bluff) – members of the Spring Luncheon committee | Photo by Widia Viti Photography

The Ritz-Carlton served a fabulous lunch of chilled English pea soup with citrus crème fraiche and bacon, roasted Patagonian salmon with baby arugula, watermelon radish and citrus segments, along with a dessert trio of dark chocolate ganache, pistachio dacquoise, and strawberry cheesecake. 

The Book Stall of Winnetka offered copies of Ali’s Well That Ends Well for sale, donating 20 percent of sales back to the Woman’s Board. Event sponsors included Hindman AuctionsITWNorthern Trust and Make it Better Media Group.

How to Help:

Donate to support research, education, and community engagement programs supported by The Woman’s Board of Rush University Medical Center, as well as the board’s 2022 principal project, The Woman’s Board Fund for Excellence in Cellular Therapy. 


Originally published on May 31, 2022. Read the Better Magazine article online here.

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