EMH Foundation Leadership
How We’re Led
The Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization and is led by a board of trustees separate from Elmhurst Memorial Hospital and Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare.
Foundation board members are volunteers and live or work in the communities served by the Hospital. Their personal and professional expertise provides valuable leadership.
Because we’re a not-for-profit organization, there are no owners or shareholders. We reinvest the net revenue we earn to fund enhancements to our buildings, purchase modern equipment and fund the Hospital’s overall healthcare mission, including caring for those unable to pay for medical care and services.
Meet Ken Wegner
Chairman of the Board
Ken is president of the Jel Sert Company, makers of Fla-Vor-Ice and other refreshments, headquartered in West Chicago. He also is the School Board President of Immaculate Conception Grade School, a member of the Young President’s Organization-Chicago Chapter and coach for AYSO soccer and Immaculate Conception Grade School track.
Ken became involved with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital in 1987 when he became a founding member of the EMH Foundation Special Event Committee. He joined the Foundation’s Board of Trustees in 1991 and became the board’s chairman in 1995. Ken has been a member of the Executive and Donor Recognition Committees and he is now an Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Board of Trustee.
Ken and his wife, Julia, live in Elmhurst with their two young sons and daughter. The Wegners and Jel Sert were major donors to the Center for Health Campaign.
Meet Betsy Hanisch
Vice Chairman of the Board
Betsy is the former owner of Fire Facilities, Inc., a company she founded in 1993 to market and sell prefabricated fire training buildings. She became involved with Elmhurst Memorial Hospital as a Foundation trustee in 1995, and founded the Golf Classic in 1999, an event she still chairs today.
Betsy has also served on the Hospital Guild’s Gala Committee and has been a generous supporter of the Fall Benefit Dinner as a top ticket salesperson. Through a planned estate gift, Betsy is a member of the Founders’ Society.
Betsy has also served as chairperson of the Elmhurst Family YMCA and remains active on its board. She is an ambassador and past director of the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the current chair of the Elmhurst Economic Development Corporation and is active at Elmhurst College as well as her alma mater, Carthage College. Recently, Betsy was elected president of the River Forest Country Club Women’s Association.
In 2005, Betsy was presented with EMH’s Board of Governors’ Distinguished Service Award and the Elmhurst Jaycees’ Distinguished Service Award. She also received the Elmhurst Chamber Chairman’s Award in 2001 and was named Ambassador of the Year in 1991 and 1998.
Meet Sandra Nelson
President of the Board, Vice President of Development
Sandra joined the Elmhurst Memorial Hospital Foundation in 2004 from Advocate Health Care-Advocate Charitable Foundation, where she served as vice president, foundation and corporate and government relations.
There, Sandra identified and cultivated relationships with foundations, corporations, organizations and governmental entities to ensure philanthropic support. She also developed system-wide initiatives to attract major grants. Before her role at Advocate, Sandra served as director of donor services at The Chicago Community Trust and as a development officer for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation.
Sandra completed her undergraduate degree at Northwestern University and is currently enrolled in the College of Financial Planning. She is a board member and treasurer for the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Sandra and her husband, Steve, live in River Forest where she has been a lifelong resident.