Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards 2021

Power our Library. Empower every Chicagoan.

A New Chapter NOVEMBER 2021

S

troll through Harold Washington Library Center and you’ll find the words of writers and thinkers from across time inscribed along its walls, each capturing a part of what public libraries mean to those who love them.

One of those quotes is from Chicago’s own Stuart Dybek, the son of a Polish immigrant who grew up in Little Village and Pilsen and wrote powerfully about working class life. His quote states: “The public library is where place and possibility meet.”

Dybek’s words are evergreen—even as the last 18 months have shown us that “place” can mean online as well as within the welcoming spaces of our branches.

This November, we came together to celebrate all that Chicago Public Library makes possible by providing unparalleled access to stories that inspire, resources that uplift, programs that energize, and connections that support. Your championship of this work ensures that our Library remains one of the best in the world. Together, we invest so that everyone can benefit from this extraordinary institution where “place and possibility meet.”

We are grateful for you, our Library community. As our city rebuilds and imagines new futures, your investment means more than ever before.

Thank you for celebrating with us today—and for joining us in building brighter tomorrows.

A Letter from Our Leadership

BOB WISLOW Board Chair Chicago Public Library Foundation

BRENDA LANGSTRAAT President & CEO Chicago Public Library Foundation

02

Gratitude.

MORE THAN

$1.5 MILLION RAISED

2,500+

V I E W S ... A N D C O U N T I N G!

For every Library champion who makes it possible to reach Chicagoans wherever they may be—at home, online, or in the branches. For the storytellers, the creators, and the educators who help us imagine new possibilities.

Gratitude for you.

On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, Library lovers across Chicago and around the world tuned into a special broadcast featuring 2021 Library Foundation Award honorees J. Nicole Brooks, Theaster Gates, and Amy Tan. Hosted by legendary Chicago newscaster Bill Kurtis, the program’s centerpiece was an inspiring conversation between Carl Sandburg Literary Award honoree Amy Tan and best-selling author and NPR Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon.

1.5 MILLION SOCIAL REACH

BILL KURTIS

SCOTT SIMON

04

GRAND BENEFACTOR

Our Sponsors and Partners Special thanks to our dedicated sponsors and partners who made the Library’s ongoing, transformative work possible.

HONORARY CHAIRS Mayor Lori Lightfoot & First Lady Amy Eshleman Governor JB Pritzker & First Lady MK Pritzker

The Block & Malkin Families Linda & Richard Filler Jacqueline Griesdorn & Kevin Matzke

CHAIR

LEAD Susan & Bob Wislow

Denise & Adam Hoeflich

Carlette McMullan & John Gibbons

Robin Loewenberg Tebbe & Mark Tebbe Lydia & Pat Ryan in honor of Denise & Adam Hoeflich

Yoon Molloy Foundation &

VICE-CHAIRS

PRESENTING

Beth & Larry Gies

JB & MK Pritzker

Denise & Adam Hoeflich

Wendy Berger Joan & Bill Brodsky Marcy & Greg Carlin Jane & Dave Casper Deirdre Drake Linda Filler Beth & Larry Gies Michael Krasny Susan Ross Cari & Michael Sacks Robin Loewenberg Tebbe & Mark Tebbe Susan & Bob Wislow Luke Molloy & Suzanne Yoon Peng Zhao & Cherry Chen

Lloyd A. Fry Foundation

Marcy & Greg Carlin

The Bluhm Family

The Peng Zhao & Cherry Chen Foundation

BENEFACTOR Maggie Baczkowski & Bill Nygren

Pam & Steve Hendry

Joan & William Brodsky

Roger Liew & Suzie Desai

Burt & Sheli Rosenberg

PATRON Wendy A. Berger Esther K. Choy & Bernhard Krieg Comcast Monique & Thomas Demery Terrance Diamond Angela & Geoffrey Euston Exelon Jennifer Friedes & Steve Florsheim Bette Cerf Hill & Bruce Sagan ITW Jones Day KPMG LLP Kamala & Jose Martinez TAWANI Foundation Wintrust

06

PREMIER SUPPORTER The Ballis Family Charitable Fund Carol Lavin Bernick Rose & Bob Fealy Carol & Larry Levy Trisha Mowbray Sheila Owens Linda Johnson Rice Reynolds Family Foundation Segal Family Foundation Priya & Chris Valenti

INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTER AT&T Illinois Rob Cheifetz & Sandy Raitt Mary Dempsey Efroymyson Family Fund Mark Ferguson Graham Grady Francia Harrington & Vernon Broders Ingram Koch Family Foundation Cheryl Mayberry McKissack & Eric McKissack Linda & Dennis Myers Brenda Langstraat & Ve Bui Jeanne Thornton-Schwab & Peter Schwab

SPECIAL THANKS

Meet our Honorees Sponsors Continued

Sponsors as of November 8, 2021

08

J. NICOLE BROOKS 21st Century Award

“

The first time I went to the Library, I came up to the librarian and asked, ‘Excuse me, ma’am can you please pull all the books and help me become an actor?’ The Library taught me how to become a storyteller.

”

J. Nicole Brooks’ remarks are a love letter to the Library and the librarians that have shaped her life’s path of storytelling.

In accepting the 21st Century Award, Nicole invites us to see the existence of the Library as a safe space to dream and a community that helps us explore what is possible.

12

“

THEASTER GATES Arts Award

The public library is a calling to a kind of excellence. The books and the space allow us to be our best selves.

The Library allows us the civility and the humanity to be bigger.

”

In accepting the Arts Award, Theaster brings to light the intertwined relationship of the library and art as seen in his practice and life. From “getting to fight with authors about the nature of the sky” to “seeing what the urban field of Paris is,” Theaster continues to draw inspiration and manifest big ideas from the books and the spaces at the Library.

10

AMY TAN

Carl Sandburg Literary Award

“

At six, I realized that you could go to the library and you can choose what you wanted to read. When you realize you get to choose what you want to read, you also realize you have this power to choose what you want to write.

”

Amy Tan, 2021 Carl Sandburg Literary Award honoree, shares an intimate conversation with Scott Simon. Amy spoke candidly about how her personal journey intertwines with her literary legacy, saying: “Who I am as a writer is a product of my choices, relationships, triumphs, tragedies, and humanity.” Amy reminds us how fiction is one of the most creative ways to find truth and discover yourself.

14

all know how tough it’s been over the “ We past 18 months, and on behalf of all my

Guests of Honor new Library Awards model has allowed “ This us to expand accessibility so that anyone in Chicago or anywhere else in the world can celebrate the power, the necessity of public libraries and this evening’s honorees.

DAVID CASPER

U.S. CEO, BMO Financial Group Chicago Public Library Foundation Board of Directors, Vice-Chair

”

MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT

“

City of Chicago Honorary Co-Chair

“

I want to thank my former CPL colleagues who truly embodied the meaning of public service.

You kept the Library open and safe. You are here for Chicagoans every day. You connect people with vital information. You keep us reading. You build online and to-go activities for our youngest readers. And of course, you created a wonderful Live from the Library series.

First Lady City of Chicago Honorary Co-Chair

no year has looked quite like this one, “ While our annual Library Foundation Awards has

”

We are very excited because we have a new commissioner, Chris Brown! He’s visited all the branches, which is incredible because now he’s really understanding the Chicago community.

”

LINDA JOHNSON RICE Chicago Public Library Board Chair

“

”

AMY ESHLEMAN

colleagues at BMO, I want to express our gratitude to every librarian, every library volunteer and every library champion for all that you did to provide our kids, and their parents, with continued access to our libraries.

YOU, each of you, make great Library stories possible. YOU help our library meet every person where they are, in branches and online.

”

BRENDA LANGSTRAAT

Chicago Public Library Foundation President & CEO

always been a time when we invite Library champions to come together and celebrate the power of public libraries.

“

”

BOB WISLOW

Chicago Public Library Foundation Board Chair

CHRIS BROWN

Chicago Public Library Commissioner

On behalf of our Library users and workers, I want to thank our donors and supporters for elevating Chicago Public Library and every neighborhood branch. With such an incredibly generous community, I know we’re only going to get stronger.

”

16

Mission Moments

Activate connection and creativity by making inspiring talks, tools, and workshops available to every Chicagoan.

Library champions like you help ensure that Chicagoans of all ages and stages of life have access to lifelong learning resources and programs, wherever they may be—at home, online, or in the branches. By fueling creativity and responsiveness at our Library, your support changes lives and transforms communities.

Close the academic opportunity gap by helping Chicago students and their families succeed in school.

During this time, Chicago Public Library and the Foundation offered innovative ways for people across our city (and beyond!) to come together to connect and create. From YOUmedia to One Book One Chicago, we are empowering people of all ages to imagine possibilities not only for their own lives, but also for our city and our world.

Bridge the digital divide by equipping all Chicagoans with the skills and resources to thrive online.

To help overcome the impacts of COVID, we are supporting students and families with Grab & Go activity kits, free Teacher in the Library homework help sessions, and engaging new programming like Live from the Library, a virtual story time enjoyed by over 8 million families to date. Most recently, this far-reaching program was awarded the John Cotton Dana Award from the American Library Association.

With online learning, telehealth, and remote employment on the rise, Internet access and digital literacy are more vital than ever before.

Library Foundation donors support free resources such as circulating hotspots, Chicago DigitalLearn, and access to LinkedIn Learning so that everyone, at every skill level, has the opportunity to build better lives through digital literacy and learning.

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 Brenda Langstraat, President & CEO

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 Trisha Mowbray Joseph Nigro Andrés Ordóñez Sheila Owens Linda Johnson Rice Randy Rivera Trisha Rooney

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 Marshall Field V Stanley M. Freehling* J. Ira Harris Leslie S. Hindman James H. Lowry Carlette McMullan John Rau Frank A. Rossi Charlie A. Schrock Maureen Dwyer Smith Linda J. Stephans Ella D. Strubel Audrey Bables Tuggle Dia S. Weil

Thank you for celebrating the 2021 Library Foundation Awards and for joining us in making the Library’s transformative work possible!

We are deeply grateful for your commitment to the mission of building a more equitable Chicago by providing unparalleled free access to knowledge, information, and technology that helps all Chicagoans thrive. Your support transforms lives and strengthen communities in 81 branches, 77 neighborhoods, 365 days a year.

Thank you!

CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Linda Johnson Rice, President Christopher P. Valenti, Vice President Lynn Lockwood, Secretary Jodi Block Michelle T. Boone Barbara Bowman Sandra Delgado Dominique Jordan Turner Ivy Walker Chris Brown, Commissioner

* in memoriam

20

Thank you!

To see how you power our Library and empower every Chicagoan, follow us at