Finding Freedom Gala - Chicago - 2024
November 8, 2024 @ 6:30PM — 10:00PM Central Time (US & Canada)
Hyatt Regency Deerfield : 1750 Lake Cook Rd Deerfield, IL 60015 Get Directions
KHF Finding Freedom Gala hosted by Authentically You Eating Disorder Counseling
You're invited to a delightful evening of fundraising, networking and celebration of eating disorder recovery. Authentically You Eating Disorder Counseling is excited to coordinate the “Finding Freedom Gala” to honor the Kirsten Haglund Foundation (KHF) whose mission is to provide hope, networking, and financial aid to those seeking treatment and freedom from eating disorders. Proceeds from this evening will go toward scholarships to help individuals access life saving care for their eating disorder. Please scroll down for more details.
This year's Finding Freedom Gala - Chicago will be held at the beautiful Hyatt Regency - Deerfield.
Doors will open at 6:30 PM CST and we can't wait to share a delightful evening together with music, cocktails, strolling silent auction tables and a three course dinner. We are excited to offer this fundraising opportunity alongside inspirational speakers and stories of hope and healing.
For sponsor opportunities or ticket scholarship information, email misskhaglund@gmail.com
Hotel Information:
If you are coming from out of town or just want to enjoy a little getaway, we have a block of rooms reserved at the Hyatt Regency - Deerfield. The reservation information from the hotel is below:
- Call 1-800-233-1234 and ask for the Finding Freedom Gala Event or group code ABHD to receive the group rate.
- The last day to reserve a room under the group block is on Friday, October 18, 2024, or whenever rooms have sold out; whichever comes first.
- To book directly online: https://www.hyatt.com/en-US/ group-booking/DEERF/G-ABHD.
Program Guests
Lifetime Achievement Award - Keynote Speaker
Dr. Kari Anderson is an author, licensed professional counselor, coach and consultant, speaker and retreat leader.
Described as someone who “gets it”, Kari’s has a creative passion for helping others to achieve effective, authentic and abundant lives. She’s intuitive, emotionally engaged and has an innate gifting for modeling confidence. Her personal story makes her real and relatable. She values health, family and faith.
Prior to becoming a licensed professional counselor, Kari worked in the wellness industry, her undergraduate studies at Western Washington University in exercise physiology and nutrition. Finally addressing her own eating disorder, her recovery included becoming a healer. Earning her master’s in counseling psychology at Mount St. Mary’s University in Los Angeles led her directly into the eating disorder treatment industry as a licensed professional counselor, supervisor and administrator. After her doctoral degree in Behavioral Health in 2012 from Arizona State University, she co-authored her first book, Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat for Binge Eating: A Mindful Eating Program for Healing Your Relationship with Food and Your Body. She just published her memoir; Food, Body & Love: But the Greatest of These is Love, solidifying her as a recognized authority in the treatment of binge eating disorder (BED).
Advocacy Award - Speaker
Ashley Pennington is a wife, mother, high achiever, and lover of all things Christ. As someone who has struggled with alcoholism and disordered eating, she has found healing and redemption through Christ who continues to move in her life. By using her personal story and testimony of faith, she guides countless families into freedom from the struggles of mental health challenges. Ashley is an avid support of gaining greater access to care through tackling financial hardship. In addition, as a fellow Mama raising a child in the digital age, Ashley is passionate about releasing the stigma of mental health, specifically for parents of young children, as well as setting social media limits for teens.
Ashley received her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She has over a decade of experience specializing in business development, intake and admissions operations, marketing optimization, utilization review, and continuing care coordination. Within her decade of experience, Ashley has held positions within leadership, such as a Director of Admissions for a start-up residential treatment center, Associate Vice President of Business Development for a residential network of services, supporting a team of high performing leaders, and most recently, the National Director of Clinical Partnerships supporting the full continuum of care for teens, young adults, and their families struggling with primary behavioral health challenges.
Ashley has served as the President of the Eating Disorders Task Force of Indiana, Marketing Officer of the International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals (iaedp) Heartland Chapter, and Vice President of the City of Madison, IN Redevelopment Authority. Ashley has advocated at the Indiana State Senate recognize annually Eating Disorders Awareness Week and the Commonwealth of Kentucky to support the Kentucky Eating Disorder Council (KEDC). Ashley has supported both state and federal legislation to create eating disorder awareness in schools, as well as continuing to provide education to the community about the prevalence, warning signs, effective treatment options, and prevention of eating disorders.Thank you to our Bronze Event Sponsors
Thank you to our Annual Sponsors
All proceeds will benefit KHF in their mission to provide hope, networking and financial aid to those seeking treatment and freedom from eating disorders.
Your support is greatly appreciated. Please email Iora or Mallory Faye, event host, if you have questions or would like to be a sponsor.
The KHF Family