On Tuesday, May 15, 2018 Family Focus honored three outstanding Chicago individuals and institutions with the Bernice Weissbourd Award for Family Support at our annual Anniversary Gala. The event raised more than $500,000 for Family Focus programs at our seven community centers and featured participant and Family Focus staff member Shantel Smith as keynote speaker. It was an excellent evening for staff, community leaders, and Family Focus donors to come together. Click here to download our special gala-edition of the newsletter.
2018 Bernice Weissbourd Award for Family Support Honorees
Sidley Austin, a leading Chicago law firm that has cultivated a tradition of pro bono service and giving back since it’s founding in 1866. Around the globe and in Chicago Sidley Austin devotes more than 120,000 pro bono hours annually to serving those most in need. Sidley Austin has been dedicated supporter and friend of Family Focus for many years.
Irving Harris Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago. The foundation focuses on healthy development and care of very young children and their families, supporting arts and culture, and draws on Jewish values to support positive social change. Irving Harris was responsible for the founding of Family Focus with Bernice Weissbourd.
Bryan Samuels, the Executive Director of Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, and formerly the commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families (ACYF) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. He spent his career building the capacity of children of welfare systems.
Keynote Speaker: Shantel Smith
Shantel became involved with Family Focus when she was 17 years old. As an Englewood resident, Shantel joined a young mothers group when she became pregnant with her son. Shantel, now a staff member, uses her perspective as a former participant to help others who seek support from Family Focus.
View Images from the Gala:
Host Committee
| Barbara Bowman | Representative Elizabeth Hernandez | Geoffrey A. Nagle, Ph.D. |
| Lester Crown | Mary and Richard Gray | Dolores G. Norton, Ph.D. |
| Arne Duncan | Francia Harrington | Toni Preckwinkle |
| Senator Richard J. Durbin | Joan W. Harris | Diana Mendley Rauner, Ph.D. |
| Janice Feinberg | David D. Hiller | Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky |
| Merri and Mitchell Ex | Valerie B. Jarrett | Eric Sean Smith |
| Sunny Fischer | Susan Kiphart | Harrison I. Steans |
| Representative Robyn Gabel | Representative Linda Chapa LaVia | Jennifer Steans |
| Katie and Brent Gledhill | Laura and Lew Leibowitz | Robin Steans |
| Phyllis Glink |
Special thanks to our sponsors:
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Gold Sponsor Irving Harris Foundation |
Premier Sponsors Anderson Merchandisers |
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Silver Sponsors The Crown Family
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Patron Sponsors Ariel Investments |
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Bronze Sponsors Fifth Third Bank |
Individuals Supporters Merri and Mitchell Ex |