3rd Annual Speaker Series welcomes Whoopi Goldberg to Chicago November 4, 2011

Chicago, IL – On Friday, November 4th, from 11:30 am – 2 pm, Chicago House, the first organization in the Midwest to provide housing for people with HIV and AIDS, will host its 3rd Annual Speaker Series Luncheon at the Palmer House Hotel. Award-winning actress and co-host of ABC’s The View, Whoopi Goldberg, will serve as keynote speaker alongside Chicago House CEO Stan Sloan for this much anticipated and inspirational afternoon!

Led by co-chairs Ron Huberman, Todd Hamilton and Judy Rice, guests will enjoy a three-course lunch in the Palmer House’s beautiful Grand Ballroom. The afternoon, which expects over 900 attendees, will kick off with a VIP reception, followed by the presentation and Q & A with Whoopi Goldberg. Sponsored by BMO Harris, Sara Lee Foundation, Bolder Capital, and Nordstrom, guests will also walk away with sweets from Sweet Miss Giving’s Bakery, Chicago House's unique transitional job program and venture capital project.

In its inaugural year, the organization welcomed President Bill Clinton to kick off its largest annual fundraising event, and most recently featured a keynote address from former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Emceed by ABC 7’s Cheryl Burton, the luncheon will bring awareness to HIV and AIDS, plus celebrate the accomplishments this organization has made in Chicago, while raising funds to support the over 1,400 HIV affected men, women, and children they serve.

“Whoopi’s intelligence and range of expressive speaking abilities were what initially attracted us to her,” says Jeremy Hilborn, Chicago House’s Manager of Special Events. “In raising the bar this year to create a new and diverse intellectual offering, we wanted to use our third year to tell the story through someone else’s eyes. As millions of people tune in daily to watch her moderate on ABC’s The View, we too are very excited to hear Whoopi’s viewpoint on the hot topics that are important to our community.”

Chicago House provides permanent, community-based housing, supportive services, and prevention outreach to individuals and families struggling with HIV and AIDS. All Chicago House services are provided without discrimination and are designed to guide people towards wholeness and self-sufficiency.
As the first HIV and AIDS housing provider in the Midwest, Chicago House has continuously evolved its services to meet the changing needs of those who are living with these diseases. Many come to us with the added burdens of poverty, homelessness, few if any job skills, substance abuse and mental illness. Through its housing, prevention and medication adherence programs, plus case management and employment programs, Chicago House enables them to return to a life of dignity and hope.

Tickets are priced at $150, $300, and $500. For more information, contact Sharla Nolte at 773.248.5200 (ext. 303) or visit www.chicagohouse.org.