AWARDS Power our Library. Empower every Chicagoan.
A New Chapter December 9, 2020
Letter from Board Chair & Foundation President
C
hicago Public Library powers learning, creativity, and possibility in each of our 77 neighborhoods. The COVID-19 crisis proves that this is true even in the shift to develop virtual programming. The Library experience is an integral part of our lives and the fabric of our city. Your support of the Library Foundation activates our communities with needed services and unites us all, even when we are apart. During these challenging times, our community is coming together in unprecedented ways. That is because we are Chicago. Resilience is in our DNA. To borrow Carl Sandburg’s words, our city is strong precisely because of its constant “planning, building, breaking, and rebuilding”—not despite it. As we find new ways to celebrate good times and hard-won milestones, we do so with you, our friends and neighbors who know Chicago Public Libraries as a place to find hope, dream big, and achieve. Thank you for standing with all Chicagoans today—and always.
Bob Wislow
Brenda Langstraat
Board Chair
President
Chicago Public Library Foundation
Chicago Public Library Foundation
02
$1.25M Raised
1,400
Views...and counting!
Celebrate great stories in a year full of plot twists. Each year, the Chicago Public Library Foundation honors the artists who bring great stories to life—those who challenge us, inspire us, and help us see the world in ways we never knew possible. On Wednesday, December 9, 2020 we were joined by Library lovers around the country for the very first virtual Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards honoring Donna LaPietra, Nate Marshall, and Isabel Wilkerson. Legendary Chicago newscaster Bill Kurtis joined us once again as our host. Highlighting the event was the intimate conversation between our Carl Sandburg Literary Award honoree Isabel Wilkerson and best-selling author and National Public Radio Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon.
Bill Kurtis
Scott Simon
04
Special Thanks to our Sponsor and Partners This event wouldn’t be possible without generous funding from dedicated corporate sponsors, individuals, and partners who make significant contributions to our work. Presenting
Lead
Grand Benefactor Marcy & Greg Carlin
Benefactor Margaret Baczkowski & Bill Nygren
Steve & Pam Hendry
Patron Wendy A. Berger, Carol Lavin Bernick, Angela & Geoffrey Euston, Jennifer Friedes & Steven C. Florsheim, David F. Heroy, Bette Cerf Hill & Bruce Sagan, Leslie S. Hindman, ITW, Jones Day, KPMG LLP, In Memory of Barbara Lewis, Microsoft, PNC, Mary Lee Schneider & Edward Flam, Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, TAWANI Foundation, William Blair, Wintrust Chicago’s Bank
Premier Supporter Erin Arnold & Peter Ruest, The Chicago Community Trust, Laurie Champion, Spark Cremin & Paul Dykstra, Joseph & Bessie Feinberg Foundation, Denise & Adam Hoeflich, Carol & Larry Levy, Linda Johnson Rice, Segal Family Foundation, Sheila Owens, Dia S. Weil & Edward S. Weil
06
Premier Individual Joan & William Brodsky, Rob Cheifetz & Sandy Raitt, Chicago Crypto Capital LLC, Clarity Partners, Clayco, fairlife, LLC, Ingram Content Group, Brenda Langstraat & Ve Bui, Linda Myers, U.S. Cellular Corporation, Christopher P. Valenti & Priya Valenti
Individual Alka & Ajay Gupta Foundation, Bernstein Private Wealth Management, Cathcart Family Foundation, IceMiller LLP, Katz & Stefani, LLC, Steven Koch, Miller Shakman Levine & Feldman LLP, Reynolds Family Foundation, Richard & Elizabeth Uihlein, Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Special Thanks
Sponsors Continued
Sponsors as of December 1, 2020
Meet our Honorees
08
Donna LaPietra Inaugural Civic Award
“
How lucky would I be to find my way to so many nonprofit organizations where at their soul is volunteerism and at their heart is a vital mission to serve.”
Here are Donna LaPietra’s beautiful acceptance remarks as she receives the inaugural Civic Award. In accepting the award, Donna does what she is known for; she uses her voice and passion to honor the missions of the many organizations that shape our city. And, in this spirit, she dedicates the award to Cindy Pritzker, founder of the Chicago Public Library Foundation. “Cindy Pritzker has been my role model for service but also for fostering fearlessness, for visionary thinking, for rewarding the risk-takers, and for a wide diverse embrace of people and ideas.”
10
Nate Marshall 21st Century Award
“
I urge you to remember, in these days, when people in power will dismiss different ways of running the world as unrealistic or a fairy-tale that maybe, just maybe, fairy-tales are the only tales worth telling.�
Nate Marshall accepts this year’s 21st Century Award and gives a moving and reflective ode to the librarians and Chicago Library branches that shaped his life. Nate takes us along on his journey growing up in libraries and urges us to embrace the kind of radical imagination that created the public library.
12
Isabel Wilkerson Carl Sandburg Literary Award
“
There is a tremendous amount of work that we all need to do to learn our history, to learn what happened before us. You cannot repair what you have not named, you can’t heal what has not been diagnosed.”
Isabel Wilkerson, 2020 Carl Sandburg Literary honoree, in conversation with NPR’s Scott Simon. Isabel speaks about envisioning Chicago through Sandburg’s poetry even before she lived in the city as a journalist. The city holds special significance for her career as the place where she researched and envisioned Warmth of Other Suns. When discussing Caste: The Origins of our Discontents, Isabel reminds us that we must understand and address our nation’s history before we can advance change.
14
Guests of Honor “partnership For more than 30 years, this public-private has advanced innovative programs
that create transformative learning experiences for patrons of all ages.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot City of Chicago Honorary Co-Chair
“eventThank you all for joining us for tonight’s and supporting our great library system
which continues to provide the educational, cultural, and social supports we need to foster equity and inclusion and healing in Chicago.”
Amy Eshleman
First Lady City of Chicago Honorary Co-Chair
“workThesignificantly Civic Award celebrates leaders whose contributes to the strength
and vitality of our great city. The award exemplifies the way that our Chicago Public Library serves its patrons. Donna LaPietra embodies the spirit of this award.”
Bob Wislow
Chicago Public Library Foundation Board Chair
“be theBMOpresenting Harris Bank is proud to once again sponsor of the Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards. Thank you everyone for all you do to advance our Chicago Public Library.”
Dave Casper
U.S. CEO, BMO Financial Group Chicago Public Library Foundation Board of Directors, Vice-Chair
“theRecently interviewed about receiving Carl Sandburg Literary Award, Isabel
Wilkerson said, ‘this is a profound honor for me.’ The honor is ours.”
Linda Johnson Rice Chicago Public Library Board Chair
“library In this year of complexity and change, the connects all of us. The library is like no other place. It bridges communities and welcomes us to enter as we are.”
Brenda Langstraat
Chicago Public Library Foundation President
“ourEven during this unprecedented time, library serves as a beacon of hope, as
we have for nearly 150 years, connecting with our patrons and communities where they are - whether at home, online, or in our neighborhood branches.”
Mary Ellen Messner Chicago Public Library Acting Commissioner
16
The Chicago Public Library Foundation takes an impact-driven approach to defining our investment in Chicago Public Library. The priorities below align with the Library’s strategy work geared towards empowering every Chicagoan.
Close the academic opportunity gap helping Chicago students and their families succeed in school.
Live from the Library compilation
At the event, we highlighted the many ways, during this time, that Chicago Public Library and the Foundation are reaching students and families with ‘grab and go’ learning kits and engaging virtual programming. Live from the Library is a virtual story time, envisioned by our city’s librarians. The idea caught on and many have stepped up to read and share their favorite books. This compilation features many familiar faces!
Activate connection and creativity
making inspiring talks, tools, and workshops available to every Chicagoan.
Calling for Change mural painting, YOUmedia
Cross-cultural Exchange, One Book One Chicago
During this time, Chicago Public Library and the Foundation focused on offering innovative ways for Chicagoans (and beyond!) to come together to connect and create. From YOUmedia to One Book One Chicago and the Summer Learning Challenge, we are empowering Chicagoans to find inspiration and bring new ideas to life.
Bridge the digital divide
equipping all Chicagoans with the skills and resources to thrive online.
Chicago DigtialLearn: Steps to Getting a Job Using Illinois workNet
It is especially critical that we broaden access to Wi-Fi and provide tools to advance digital literacy during the pandemic. The Foundation has invested in additional Wi-Fi hotspots available for checkout. And we continue to provide Chicago DigitalLearn as a distinctive resource to advance digital literacy— especially for those seeking employment and professional development opportunities.
18
Chicago Public Library Foundation Board of Directors Officers Robert A. Wislow, Chair Wendy Berger David R. Casper Marcy R. Carlin Linda Filler Michael Fassnacht Bruce Sagan, Secretary Jose Martinez, Treasurer Cindy Pritzker, Chair Emerita Marshall Field V, Past Chair Brenda Langstraat, President Directors Heather Alger Margaret Baczkowski Jodi Block Kathleen M. Boege Esther Choy Michelle L. Collins Monique Brinson Demery Deirdre C. Drake Angela Euston Jennifer Friedes Graham C. Grady Jacqueline Griesdorn, Ph.D. Suren Gupta Francia E. Harrington Adam Hecktman Steve Hendry David F. Heroy Adam Hoeflich DeLu Jackson Archana Kumar Andrew Ladd Donna LaPietra Roger Liew Bryan Logan Cheryl Mayberry McKissack Carlette McMullan Trisha Mowbray Joseph Nigro Andrés Ordóñez Sheila Owens Linda Johnson Rice Randy Rivera
* in memoriam
Trisha Rooney Anne Daley Ryan, M.D. Andrea Sáenz Mary Lee Schneider Rodd M. Schreiber Mark Sproat Laurence P. Szumski Cherryl Thomas Elizabeth Tulach Michael Wilson Suzanne Yoon Life Directors John L. Brennan Rocco deGrasse James R. Donnelley* Paul H. Dykstra Sondra Berman Epstein* James F. Feldstein Stanley M. Freehling* J. Ira Harris Leslie S. Hindman James H. Lowry John Rau Frank A. Rossi Charlie A. Schrock Maureen Dwyer Smith Linda J. Stephans Ella D. Strubel Audrey Bables Tuggle Dia S. Weil Chicago Public Library Board of Directors Linda Johnson Rice, President Christopher P. Valenti, Vice President Lynn Lockwood, Secretary Jodi Block Barbara Bowman Patricia Gaytan Perez Alexi Giannoulias Dominique Jordan Turner Ivy Walker Mary Ellen Messner, Acting Commissioner
Thank you for joining us in a year that has been full of turns and plot twists! We are deeply grateful to have friends like you who come alongside us as we continue the important work of providing unparalleled free access to knowledge, information, and technology that helps all Chicagoans thrive. During these challenging times, your encouragement and support make possible investments in digital infrastructure that can reach everyone, wherever they are.
Until we can come together again to celebrate our beloved Chicago Public Library, we leave you with a few memories from events of years past. Thank you for helping to transform lives through the power of our public library.
AWARDS
Power our Library. Empower every Chicagoan.
20
Thank you!
To see how you power our Library and empower every Chicagoan, follow us at