Red and Black Sponsorship Brochure

A Gala Celebrating Scholarships and Those Who Make them Possible

SPECIAL HONOREE:

Jerry Reinsdorf Recipient of the Inaugural NIU Presidential Award for Visionary Leadership

Saturday, November 17, 2018

Red and Black Sponsorship Co-Chairs: Manny Sanchez and Jeffrey Yordon

Board of Directors Officers Jeffrey Yordon, Chair Michael Cullen, Vice Chair Chris Cole, Treasurer William Taylor, Assistant Treasurer Melissa Nigro, Secretary Catherine Squires, President & CEO, NIU Foundation Directors Stacey Barsema William Boston Brent Brodeski John Burns Kenneth Chessick M.D., J.D. Carol Crenshaw Cynthia Crocker John Thomas Futrell Montel Gayles David Heide

Anthony Kambich John Landgraf Ian Pearson James Pick, Ph.D. Manny Sanchez Jaymie Simmon Christine Speiser Jack Tierney Janet Viane

About the Red and Black The Red and Black gala is the NIU Foundation’s signature fundraising event. Every dollar raised at the gala supports student scholarships.

An elegant black tie evening, the Red and Black celebrates the impact of scholarships and the generous donors who make them possible. Last year’s Red and Black inspired a generous outpouring of support – more than $400,000 to provide scholarships for our hardworking, talented, grateful students.

At the 2018 Red and Black, Acting President Lisa Freeman will honor Jerry Reinsdorf with the inaugural NIU Presidential Award for Visionary Leadership for his support and loyalty to NIU and his steadfast leadership in ensuring a quality education for all in the Chicago metropolitan area.

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Scholarships Change Lives Please join us as we change lives, one student at a time at Northern Illinois University. at Northern Illinois University.

Scholarship support eases the financial burdens of our We believe that an affordable education should be students – many of whom are the first in their families to accessible to every student with a dream and a attend college. Scholarships allow these students to be willingness to work hard, regardless of his or her financial involved in all that NIU has to offer as they prepare for circumstances. That’s why we are doing everything successful, purposeful, and rewarding careers. possible to support our students.

Last year, 84 percent of NIU’s full-time students required some form of financial aid, while only 24 percent received scholarship support. About 94 percent of undergraduates were left with unmet need after all other forms of federal, state, and institutional aid were applied and out-of-pocket contributions considered.

The need is great, and we need your help.

Your generous scholarship support will change lives, create brilliant careers, and provide Illinois corporate and local communities with leaders who are ready to serve with passion, professionalism, energy, and pride.

Hundreds of students every semester are taking on second and third jobs as they--and their families--struggle to pay their educational bills.

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Jerry Reinsdorf NIU Presidential Award for Visionary Leadership five student victims. In support of NIU’s February 14 Student Scholarship Fund, the White Sox made the largest corporate contribution to the Forward Together Forward Scholarship.

Long known for his contributions to support education, improve communities, and create opportunity, Jerry M. Reinsdorf has generously leveraged his position as a leader in the Chicago sports arena to reignite NIU alumni energy and pride throughout the Chicagoland area.

Years later, Reinsdorf took NIU exposure in the Chicagoland area to an all-time high by opening U.S. Cellular Field (now Guaranteed Rate Field) for a game of Huskie football.

Thousands of Huskie fans packed into the stands for the Huskie Chi-Town Showdown, the first football game ever played in the park, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel declared the day NIU Day in Chicago. The resulting exposure in the third-largest media market in the country was a phenomenal way to promote the program on a national level.

Jerry Reinsdorf has long been one of NIU’s greatest fans!

By hosting NIU Day at Sox Park, his efforts have NIU alumni all over town standing up and saying “NIU is MY alma mater...the Huskies are MY team.” The White Sox partnership also encourages NIU alumni to come together, talk, and create buzz about the value of their NIU education and how far it had taken them.

Much more than a fair weather fan, Reinsdorf was there to lift the NIU community when it needed it most.

The 2008 Chicago White Sox home opener held special meaning for the NIU community and for the families of the victims of the February 14 tragedy. As guests of the White Sox, family members watched from skybox seats as then President John Peters threw the first pitch. And as part of opening day ceremonies, a video tribute honored NIU’s

Jerry Reinsdorf’s leadership is raising the bar for alumni pride and engagement and forging a path for others to follow.

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d in the uld read: Patron ame/loone of es listed will be

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Red and Black Sponsorship Opportunities Name and logo on printed program book (750 printed) Special recognition at event Invitation to and recognition at “Meet & Greet” with Jerry Reinsdorf Recognition in media outreach Name and logo on NIU Alumni Association and NIU Foundation websites (combined hits in 2017, 143k) Name and logo on electronic and printed invitations (print, 2k; electronic, 8k)

Champion

Benefactor

Philanthropist

$50,000

$25,000

$15,000

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• •

• •

• •

• •

• •

•

•

(6)

(4)

Patron*

Friend

$10,000

$5,000

• •*

•

6/$900

4/$600

(2)

•

Number of premiere seat tickets provided/Fair market value 16/$2400

10/$1500

8/$1200

*Patron Sponsor All sponsors at the Patron level will receive name/logo recognition on one of the event amenities listed below. Amenities will be assigned by the NIU Foundation on a first-come, first-served basis.

Dinner Cocktails Pre- and Post-Dinner

Floral Dessert Table

Table Wine Check-in Table

Fund-a-Mission Student Performances

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About Us Northern Illinois University Founded in 1895, Northern Illinois University is a comprehensive public institution of higher education enrolling more than 19,000 students in undergraduate and graduate programs. In addition to the main campus in DeKalb, NIU has regional campuses in Naperville, Hoffman Estates, and Rockford. The university is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is a member of both the North Central Association and the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities.

Private support has become the one, virtually limitless source of revenue growth for public institutions in the face of dramatically declining state support and escalating tuition costs. Thus, the NIU Foundation’s work of building financial resources to support excellence at NIU is more urgent and important than ever.

For every person whose story we share, there are hundreds more like them, ready to seize their learning opportunities.

Creating life-changing experiences for our hardworking, dedicated students and faculty is our highest priority. Many of these experiences are a direct result of private support.

The NIU Foundation Northern Illinois University provides a life-changing experience for its students, faculty, and staff through its educational programs, research, artistry, diversity of social interactions, and outreach. The lives of its graduates are shaped in part by their NIU experience which, in turn, enables them to enrich their workplaces and communities.

NIU Alumni Association The NIU Alumni Association is a supporting organization of Northern Illinois University and is focused on building lifelong relationships with NIU alumni, prospective students, corporate partners and friends. The association offers programs, hosts special events, and partners with various departments/organizations in support of NIU. All graduates of Northern are members of the NIU Alumni Association and are entitled to its benefits and programs.

The NIU Foundation’s mission is to energize and connect the private sector with the NIU community to secure and steward resources that support the future and growth of NIU. For more information or to become a Red and Black sponsor, contact: Alberta Solfisburg, NIU Foundation | 815-753-7339 | asolfie@niu.edu 4

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