Heart Ball Raises $815,000 for mental health expansion

The 2026 Riverside Heart Ball was a record-breaking event, raising $815,000 for the Riverside Healthcare Foundation. This year’s fundraising efforts will benefit Riverside Healthcare’s expansion of its Inpatient Behavioral Health Unit, located on the second floor of Riverside Medical Center. 

This exciting project – which helps to address the increasing need for mental health services in the area – is actively under construction. 

The biennial Heart Ball gala, this year themed “Roaring Riverside,” featured an elegant evening of dining, dancing, and community generosity. The event was held at the Tinley Park Convention Center with 1,300 people in attendance. 

This year’s event included the first time a sponsor has ever given at the $50,000 Diamond Sponsor level. And there were two Diamond Sponsors this year. First was the combined sponsorship of Dr. Juan Jimenez, neurosurgeon, who contributed $25,000 personally; Dr. Didi Omiyi, orthopedic surgeon; and Drs. Saud Ahmed and Shamit Desai, interventional radiologists from Gotham Medical. The second $50,000 Diamond Sponsor was Riverside’s teaching hospital partner, Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. These two major sponsorships propelled the strong fundraising for the event.    

During the program, President and CEO Phil Kambic presented the Good Heart Award to Jeff and Kim Bennett, and Ron McColly, for their generosity to Riverside and the community as a whole.
 
“As a community hospital and not-for-profit, mission-driven organization, we’re always looking for people who really give time, talent, and treasure,” said Kambic.  “Jeff, Kim, and Ron embody the very meaning of the Good Heart Award.”

For more information on Heart Ball and a list of the 2026 sponsors, visit riversidehealthcare.org/heartball. For more information on the Foundation, or to donate, visit riversidehealthcare.org/foundation. 

About Heart Ball
The Heart Ball is Riverside Healthcare's premier fundraising event. Since the Heart Ball's inception in 2000, thousands of Riverside's supporters have gathered to celebrate efforts to bring remarkable quality and award-winning care to the region and to show continuous support for advancing these efforts well into the future. Always a different theme, complete with dancing, live entertainment and more, the biennial Heart Ball is undoubtedly a night to remember and an opportunity to contribute to efforts that will make an unforgettable impact on the lives of many in our community.

The 2026 Riverside Heart Ball Committee includes: Laura Andersen,  Anya Baron, Nicole Burgess, Jennifer Bustos, Gina Cordes, Jamie Freedlund, Nicole Gavin, Sarah Hemenover, Matt McBurnie, Annie Mitchell,  Dr. Linda Mitchell.