Metro East Sun

HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital is preparing to celebrate its 150th anniversary of serving the Southwestern Illinois community. Starting in January 2025, the hospital will host a series of public events and activities throughout the year to commemorate its long-standing history and growth.

One of the key events is a Community Cake Walk, designed to extend the celebration beyond the hospital premises. This initiative invites local businesses and organizations to participate by decorating large outdoor cakes at their locations. The cakes will be on display from April through October 2025.

The event aims to attract people to these businesses while honoring St. Elizabeth’s enduring service. "The Cake Walk is a fun and engaging way to bring people to area businesses or organizations while celebrating the hospital’s long-time service to the community," said an announcement from St. Elizabeth's.

Participants in the Cake Walk include both the general public and hospital colleagues, who are encouraged to visit each location and vote for their favorite cake decoration. Prizes will be awarded both to winning businesses and participants who complete visits at all locations.

Interested businesses or organizations can contact Cathy Bunn via email at Cathy.Bunn@hshs.org or sign up online. The participation fee is $1,200, covering cake costs. Businesses must decorate their cakes according to their unique style and theme, with orders due by December 31, 2024.

Further details about other events planned for this milestone anniversary will be shared in early 2025.