Outstanding Mother Award Dinner Raises $155K While Honoring Three Chicago-area Leaders

Glitz, glam and gratitude. 150 people gathered at the Marriott Marquis Chicago for a spectacular evening to honor three amazing women at the American Lung Association in Greater Chicago’s 2023 Outstanding Mother Awards.

The event, presented in partnership with the National Mother’s Day Council last night, raised nearly $155,000 to fund the Lung Association’s effort to end lung cancer.

The annual awards dinner shines a spotlight on the role mothers have in the community, as leaders, guardians, and mentors.

This year’s honorees included:

• Alesia A. Coe, Vice President and Associate Chief Nursing Officer for Adult Inpatient Hospitals & Emergency Services, The University of Chicago Medicine
  Dr. Coe has over thirty-one years of professional nursing experience. In her prior role, she served as the Associate Chief Nursing Officer, Inpatient Services for Chicago's Cook County Health & Hospitals System (CCHHS) Prior to joining CCHHS, she served for over 14 years in progressive leadership positions within the Veterans Health Administration. Dr. Coe is a board-certified nurse executive through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is also board certified in healthcare management as an American College of Healthcare Executive Fellow, and a 2022 Carol Emmott Fellow. She and her husband have three sons.
   
• Norah Larke, Chief HR Officer, Wintrust Financial Corporation    
  As a member of the bank's executive team, Larke is accountable for talent acquisition, talent management, learning and development, HR operations, total rewards, and internal communications. She transformed the human resources function across all 26 of Wintrust’s shared business units driving efficiency and automation in HR processes through constantly evolving technology. Larke has been recognized twice as a Crain's Notable Executive in HR and was a 2022 Leadership Chicago Daniel Burnham Fellow. She lives in Downers Grove with her husband and two children.
   
• Anna Wolfe, Founder and CEO, Select Rehabilitation
  Wolfe’s responsibilities include operational and financial oversight and management of the company and its senior leadership team, plus implementation and integration of its strategic vision, growth, and trajectory. She has technical expertise in healthcare with mastery in the post-acute continuum, senior living communities, Medicare and 3rd party reimbursement models, and regulatory compliance. Wolfe is the proud mother of two and an even prouder grandmother of four.

“It was an impactful evening; we are so grateful for our attendees who shared their support and commitment to the American Lung Association’s mission while celebrating our Outstanding Mother Award Honorees,” said executive director Danielle Trojanek. “Throughout the evening we showcased a moving display with beautiful Lilly petals, signifying the life of 1,310 women lost in one year to lung cancer in the Chicagoland area. Funds raised help move our ongoing efforts to end lung cancer and create awareness around lung disease.”