On Friday, September 23, the GI Research Foundation Associates Board and supporters came together at the Associates Board Annual Cocktail Party: [Re]United for GI Health, celebrating for the first time since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. The cocktail party, held at the Radisson Blu Aqua hotel in downtown Chicago, raised tens of thousands of dollars to support the Associates Board’s annual grant competition for early career physician-scientists in Spring 2023.
Spencer G. Sachs plays the wine ring toss.
UChicago Medicine faculty, physicians, and fellows enjoying the atmosphere.
Attendees were treated to a lively evening of great food, drinks, music and games, including a “Guess the Gumballs” game and wine ring toss – with a wide range of vintages and varietals on offer. Silent auction winners went home with amazing experiences, staycation opportunities, sports tickets, a tailgate party, restaurant gift cards, and Peak Design gear, among other prizes.
The youngest Associates Board president in the organization’s history, Jordan Hirsch, was ebullient when welcoming the energetic crowd after two years of pandemic-related programming challenges. “Just looking at this room tonight, it feels awesome to say we are here, together, and doing what the Associates Board does—raising money, and giving it to support research at the University of Chicago Digestive Diseases Center,” said Hirsch. Event sponsors included Home Infusion Options, Janssen, and the Huiras, Turban, and Grill families.
The Associates Board is made up of young professionals and holds social events and fundraisers throughout the year for those committed to helping those at the University of Chicago Medicine Digestive Diseases Center working for treatments and cures for digestive diseases. For more information, please contact info@girf.org.