Franciscan St. James Classic Golf Outing Raises $70,000

The Natalie Bauer (posthumously) and the Bauer and Barnes families presented with the Lynn Panici Courage Award

OLYMPIA FIELDS, IL – July 12, 2011 – Franciscan St. James Health Community Foundation raised $70,000 at its annual St. James Classic on Wednesday, June 22.

The golf outing was held at Odyssey Country Club in Tinley Park or Ravisloe Country Club in Homewood.  It was followed by dinner, live and silent auctions and an awards ceremony at Odyssey Country Club.

Proceeds benefit technical advances in the early detection and treatment of breast cancer.  In its 11th year, the Classic began as a grass roots effort by family and friends of Lynn (Baumgartner) Panici, a Chicago Heights native and Mokena resident who lost her life in 2000 to breast cancer, at age 34. 

The Lynn Panici Courage Award, which is presented to an individual or family who embodies the courage and spirit demonstrated by Lynn Panici, was awarded at the St. James Health Classic. This year’s Courage Award was presented, posthumously, to Natalie Bauer and to the Bauer and Barnes families.

 “As a wife and devoted mother, Natalie fought courageous battles against five illnesses, which ultimately took her life,” said Franciscan St. James director of development, Michelle Jimenez. “Although her medical complications were demanding, the Frankfort resident’s love and passion for the world remained, and was mirrored by the love of her family.”

As part of the hospitals Centennial Celebration, Anthony Panici, of Mokena, was also recognized for his vision in initiating this important fundraising event.

“To date, the St. James Health Classic has netted $500,000 for the Comprehensive Cancer Institute at St. James Health, where more an 12,000 digital mammograms are performed annually” Jimenez added.

Sponsors of the St. James Classic include JDM Steel Service, Inc.; Vitas Innovative Hospice; the Bauer family; and Chicago Office Technology Group.

For more information about St. James’ Patricia A. Joyce Comprehensive Cancer Institute, call 708-747-4000 or visit www.stjameshospital.org.      

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Media contact:   

Michelle Jimenez

708-747-4000, ext. 7424
michelle.jimenez@franciscanalliance.org