Publications & Sites 
The 15Th Annual Merchandise Mart Antiques Fair Preview Party raises nearly $75,000
Dr. Craig Millard and his wife, Dianne, of Kenilworth | Photo courtesy of Dan Rest
EVENT: Merchandise Mart Antiques Fair Preview Party
BENEFITING: The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC)
DATE: April 26, 2012
LOCATION: The Merchandise Mart
ATTENDED: 700
RAISED: $75,000
Article Extras
For the 15th year, The Women’s Board of The Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) sponsored the preview party for the Merchandise Mart International Antiques on Thursday, April 26, 2012.
The preview party was a benefit for RIC and raised approximately $75,000.00.
The Fair is considered the premier antiques show in the Midwest. It features the finest assortment of objets d’art and provides RIC guests, as well as collectors, connoisseurs and designers the opportunity to see a broad range of antiques and worldly treasures in an exclusive environment. Many of the 120 dealers from all over the United States and even some from Europe displayed, including William Cook of the UK, G. Sergeant Antiques of Connecticut, Williams Galleries of Tennessee, Arader Galleries of Philadelphia and from Chicago, Rita Bucheit.
Almost 700 guests gathered to view the finest in collectables, admire exquisite décor and enjoy sumptuous fare. Libations flowed, the cuisine was special and included a pasta station, a Panini Station and a Risotto Station and a dessert table. With magnificent antiques, breathtaking flowers, fine edibles and background music by the David Bugher Jazz Trio, the evening was very special.
The President of the Women’s Board is Alicia Ziegler of Chicago. The Party Chairs were Mary Arnberg of Chicago and Lori Nerenberg of Wilmette, both of whom chaired the event in 2011. Members of the committee from Chicago were Suzanne Hammond, Adrianne Kalyna, Nancy McIlvaine Lisa Hunt Stevens, Cynthia Strong and Nora Ungaretti. From the north shore were MJ Black of Wilmette, Tobi Heekin and Lori Ann Komisar of Winnetka, Dianne Millard of Kenilworth and from western suburbs was Susan West-Slayton of Naperville.
Guests included Diana and Mark Falanga, president of Merchandise Mart Properties, Larry Booth and his wife Pat, Leslie Hindman, Marilynn and Carl Thoma and Marci and David Gookin of Chicago. From the north shore were Connie and David Coolidge of Kenilworth, Zig and Don Smith and Kim and Michael Moore of Winnetka and Sara TenBrock of Lake Forest; from the western suburbs were Sameera and Khurram Hussain of Hinsdale and Linda and Gastone Celesia of Oak Brook.
RIC provides world-class rehabilitation care to patients from around the globe for a range of conditions from acute brain and spinal cord injury to chronic arthritis, pain and sports injuries. RIC, founded in 1954, has been designated the “#1 Rehabilitation Hospital in America” by U.S. News & World Report every year since 1991 and attributes its leading standard of care in part to its innovative research and discovery, particularly in the areas of bionic medicine, robotics, neural regeneration, pain care and better outcomes. To learn more about RIC, please visit ric.org or call (312) 266-8729 or (312) 238-6023.
