Four Stars of Chicago Restaurant Extravaganza a success

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC)
Thursday, 15 May 2003

Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich and world-renowned beauty authority Marilyn Miglin, president and CEO of Marilyn Miglin LP, showed their support for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Wednesday night at the ninth annual Four Stars of Chicago Restaurant Extravaganza at The Chicago Hilton.

Proceeds from the event helped the Four Stars of Chicago committee reach its goal of raising $2 million since the event's inception.

"It was a magical evening, and the magic came from within," said Miglin who served as the event's honorary chairperson. "The magic came from (St. Jude patient) Hayley (Arceneaux) and all the St. Jude patients whose lives are such an inspiration to everyone in the room. Magical things happen at St. Jude." Miglin spoke to the crowd of approximately 800 supporters who showed up to sample some of the gourmet fare of some of Chicago's finest restaurants.

Restaurants that participated in the event were Artopolis, Atlantique, Butterfield 8, Café des Architectes, Cité Elegant Dining, Coco Pazzo, The Eli's Cheesecake Co., Follia, Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, La Strada Ristorante, Lovells of Lake Forest, Maza Restaurant, Maggiano's Little Italy, Mon Ami Gabi, Monsoon, One North Kitchen & Bar, Papagus Greek Taverna, Phoenix, Rushmore, Russian Tea Time, Shanghai Terrace, Souk, Tiffin - The Indian Kitchen, Yanni's Greek Restaurant and Zest.

Governor Blagojevich spoke to the crowd about the important work at St. Jude and how Chicago and the state of Illinois have helped to maintain the hospital founded by Danny Thomas.

Mary Ann Childers, CBS2 Chicago news anchor, served as the master of ceremonies and 10-year-old St. Jude patient Hayley Arceneaux shared her story of a successful battle against osteosarcoma, a bone cancer.

The event was co-chaired by Richard J. Phelan of Foley & Lardner and Antoin S. Rezko of Rezko Enterprises.

"From the founding of ALSAC in a Chicago hotel room in 1957 to the patients seen and treated at the St. Jude Midwest Affiliate in Peoria, Ill., the ties between St. Jude and Illinois are very deep," said David L. McKee, chief operating officer for ALSAC.

"We at St. Jude are pleased to know the city of Chicago and the state of Illinois are arm-in-arm with us as we seek to eradicate childhood catastrophic diseases."

For more information, or to contact St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC), see their website at: www.stjude.org