Dear friends of the Evergreen Invitational,

I cannot thank you enough for your support of the 2008 Evergreen Invitational.  Last year’s event was one for the record books, not only for unprecedented rainfall, but more importantly for funds raised. Your help made that possible.  And even with all the rain, so many people braved the elements to attend or participate in the event; a remarkable achievement!

Your generous support has provided healthcare grants that benefit women in our community through Prentice Women’s Hospital of Northwestern Memorial. The programs you helped fund this year include:

Barriers to Labor Analgesia in Ethnically and Socio-economically Disadvantaged Populations

To develop a survey to determine patients' knowledge of and attitudes about options for pain relief during labor.  The information will guide the development of labor pain educational materials for patients.

RIC Inner Strength Initiative

A pilot study screening postpartum patients for musculoskeletal injuries.  The study helps to establish the efficacy of early intervention for these injuries in preventing conditions such as pain, pelvic organ prolapse, and bowel and bladder incontinence later in life.

The First Ever Drug Reference Guide for the Pregnant Patient

This drug reference guide will be a Northwestern intranet-based drug information service that assists physicians, fellows, residents, medical students and nurses in the appropriate use of medications for women during pregnancy and will provide links to current obstetrical pharmacological research. 

The Healthy Minds/Healthy Moms Program (HM/HM)

The Perinatal HIV Clinic at Northwestern Memorial cares for pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV/AIDS. Although the clinic provides extraordinary, comprehensive medical and reproductive health and social services to patients, there is a gap in mental health care services for these patients. Funding from the Evergreen Invitational will enable the expansion of these services.

Back in Action-Rapid Recovery after Breast Cancer Surgery

Promotes the education, awareness and proper diagnosis of breast surgery complications.

Partnership to Improve Breastfeeding Rates

Enables the Prentice Ambulatory Care clinic to hire a part-time breastfeeding peer counselor to provide breastfeeding support and culturally appropriate education. The counselor will routinely meet with each patient receiving prenatal care at the clinic to discuss newborn feeding choices and stress the benefits of breastfeeding.

We are proud of the work you’ve enabled.  The research and programs above might not otherwise exist but for you.  I want to thank you and assure you that you are establishing a legacy of expanding medical treatment for women that will make a real difference in their lives.

Each year, the U.S. Equestrian Federation (USEF) determines the dates for sanctioned equestrian events around the United States.  In 2009 the USEF chose the Saturday of Labor Day weekend for Evergreen Invitational.  For obvious reasons holding the event on a holiday weekend is problematic: attendance and rider participation would suffer.  Further, the current difficult economic climate creates an unwelcoming environment in which to hold a charitable event.  We are mindful that the services and research funded by Evergreen Invitational must continue, and we remain committed to the event’s return in 2010.

Fortunately, I am pleased to report that because of our past fundraising success, the important work we are supporting will continue uninterrupted. Thanks to your generosity, proceeds raised from previous events will be available to fund women’s healthcare initiatives through 2009.

We are grateful for the warm reception we have received from the Chicago community since the founding of Evergreen Invitational in 2007. With your continued support, this event is fast becoming a much anticipated annual Midwest tradition for equestrian lovers everywhere.

Evergreen Invitational will be back September 11th, 2010 in full force and again will feature many of the world’s most talented riders. We look forward to providing an exciting performance and continuing our support of women’s healthcare.

Best Regards,

M.K. Pritzker
President
Evergreen Invitational