A MESSAGE FROM ILLINOIS FIRST LADY PATRICIA BLAGOJEVICH
Welcome to First Lady Patricia Blagojevich’s website. Here you will find links that will
take you to information on different projects and initiatives that the First Lady has undertaken
since her husband became Governor in January 2003. First Lady Blagojevich is committed to spreading
the Governor’s message through her involvement with issues that directly affect the well-being of
Illinois’ citizens. Whether you are looking to learn more about Pediatric Vision Awareness, or to
find out more about the State Beautification Initiative, or to become involved in fight against breast
cancer, this website can help you find what you’re looking for. Please take some time to browse
through this website and familiarize yourself with the First Lady and her goals for improving our
Great State.
“Please join with me in working to educate and improve the lives of parents and children in Illinois.
After all, our children are our future and the future is in our hands.”
News
11/06/08 - First Lady Patricia Blagojevich announces November selection for Children’s Reading Club as The Mouse and the Motorcycle CHICAGO - First Lady Patricia Blagojevich today announced November's selection for her Children's Reading Club - The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. Ralph the mouse ventures out from behind the piney knothole in the wall of his hotel-room home and climbs aboard the toy motorcycle left there by a young guest. His thrill ride does not last long as he has a terrible fall - right to the bottom of a metal wastebasket. Luckily, Keith, the owner of the motorcycle, returns to find his toy. Keith rescues Ralph and teaches him how to ride the bike. Thus begins a great friendship and many awesome adventures. Once a mouse can ride a motorcycle ... almost anything can happen! 10/10/08 - First Lady Announces Breast and Ovarian Cancer Testing for Women on Medicaid Genetic Testing Will Help Women with Significant Family Histories Determine Both Their Risk of Developing Hereditary Breast Cancer and Treatment Options Illinois women enrolled in Medicaid who are considered to have a high risk for developing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer now have access to genetic testing and counseling, First Lady Patricia Blagojevich announced today. The First Lady came to the University of Chicago Medical Center to announce that the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) now covers genetic testing and counseling for the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes for women enrolled in Illinois Medicaid.
Food Allergy Awareness Campaign
To kick off Food Allergy Awareness Week, First Lady Patricia Blagojevich will launch "Ask Before You Eat," a statewide education campaign designed to prevent unintentional and potentially-life threatening harm to children with food allergies. This sweeping initiative will promote public awareness through a new brochure, promotional wristbands for children and adults, posters, print and web-based advertisements. Awareness efforts will also target child care centers, community learning centers, park districts, summer camps and after-school programs. Nationwide, some 3 million children suffer from food allergies, including 1 out of 17 children less than 3 years of age. Food allergy reactions in children can range from mild symptoms like skin irritations to anaphylaxis, a sudden and severe response that can end in death. Click here to learn more about food allergies
Child Abuse Prevention Month
First Lady Patricia Blagojevich today applauded the collaboration of state and community-based initiatives as the key to supporting families and preventing child abuse, as Governor Rod R. Blagojevich proclaimed April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Illinois. In partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Illinois, over 100 events throughout April will call attention to effective prevention efforts in communities across the state. To learn more, visit the Prevent Child Abuse Illinois website at www.PreventChildAbuseIllinois.org.
Links
