Rush Oak Park Hospital’s 2011 Medical Staff Gala raised more than $72,000 for the expansion of Project Lifestyle Change, a community education program to study and treat prediabetes. Physicians, vendors, hospital leaders and guests celebrated this year’s gala at the Union League Club of Chicago on Saturday, March 12.
“As a nonprofit community hospital, Project Lifestyle Change exemplifies our mission of service,” says Rush Oak Park Hospital President and CEO Bruce Elegant. “We’re excited not only to continue the program in 2011 but to expand it.”
Since Project Lifestyle Change launched last May, Rush Oak Park Hospital has provided free prediabetes screenings to hundreds of community members. More than 80 people are currently participating in the program and have made lifestyle changes to prevent Type 2 diabetes from developing. With the generous donations of the past two medical staff galas and with the aid of grant funding, the hospital has been able to offer this program to the community completely free of charge. To date, Rush Oak Park Hospital has raised more than $173,000 to fund the program.
Many additional organizations made donations. Thanks to the donors, Rush Oak Park Hospital again will offer free prediabetes screenings at health fairs in the community. If you are interested in learning whether you might qualify for Project Lifestyle Change, contact Rush Oak Park Hospital’s Center for Diabetes and Endocrine Care at 708-660-5900.
Rush Oak Park Hospital, a member of the Rush System for Health, located near the corner of Harlem Avenue and Madison Street in Oak Park, is a 176-bed acute care hospital. For more information, visit www.roph.org or call 708-660-INFO (4636).