Past Honorees 

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Benjamin Franklin Award

2020 Sherre Jennings Cullen, CFRE
2019 Christine Zrinsky
2018 Mary Ladish Selander
2017 Elizabeth J. Hughes
2016 Michelle M. Sherbun. PCC, ELI-MP
2015 Diane M. McKeever
2014 Christopher Jabin
2013 Penelepe Hunt
2012 Charles L. Katzenmeyer
2011 Francine Friedman, CFRE
2010 Dorothy Speidel
2009 Betty Bergstrom, CFRE
2008 Edith H. Falk
2007 Mary Jane Drews
2005 Jamie Phillippe, CFRE
2004 Jonathon Heintzelman
2003 W. Joseph Gartner, CFRE
2002 Maria Mangual
2001 Marilyn Benuska, CFRE
2000 Mark A. Dennis, Jr.
1999 Christine O’Neill Singer
1998 G. Dennis Conroy, CFRE
1997 Farrell L. Frentress
1996 William D. Fissinger
1995 Randy Holgate
1994 George Engdahl, CFRE
1993 Deborah Strauss, CFRE
1992 Herbert E. Newman
1991 Willard E. White
1990 Jimmie R. Alford, CFRE
1989 Clyde P. Watkins, CFRE
1988 Larry R. Ter Molen
1987 Marian J. Gifford, CFRE
1986 Thomas R. Sanders
1985 William Z. Cline
1984 Thomas G. Sanberg, CFRE
1983 Richard P. Trenbeth
1982 Charles R. Feldstein
1981 Sheldon Garber
1980 Edgar T. Britton
1979 Thomas Dunworth
1978 Margaret L. Eves
1977 George M. Rudolphy

Distinguished Philanthropist Award

2020 Helen Zell
2019 Alexandra C. and John D. Nichols
2018 Kenneth C. Griffin
2017 COL (IL) Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired)
2016 Kimball & Karen Anderson
2015 Thomas M. Owens
2014 Dick & Susan Kiphart
2013 John & Rita Canning
2012 Diane Gustafson Hill
2011 The Duchossois Family
2010 Mike and Pat Koldyke
2009 Richard H. Driehaus
2008 Bruce & Diana Rauner
2007 The Sasser Family
2006 Ann Lurie
2005 Lois & Harrison Steans Family
2004 Patricia & Vincent Foglia
2003 Hope Abelson
2002 Jim and Kay Mabie
2001 Dorothy C. & Egon J. Menker
2000 Marian Pawlick
1999 The Siragusa Foundation
1998 Mr. & Mrs. Patrick G. Ryan
1997 Sidney L. Port
1996 Joseph P. & Jeanne M. Sullivan
1995 Barbara Levy Kipper
1994 Susan and Lewis Manilow
1993 Charles C. Haffner III
1992 Jerome H. Stone
1991 Jack and Dollie Galter
1990 The Searle Charitable Trust/Searle Family
1989 Lucia Woods Lindley
1988 Jessie V. & W. Clement Stone
1987 Lehman Foundation
1986 The Regenstein Foundation
1985 The Crown Family
1984 A. N. Pritzker
1983 Marion M. Lloyd
1982 Irving B. Harris
1981 Dr. and Mrs. Edwin J. DeCosta
1980 Gaylord Donnelley
1979 Mr. and Mrs. Foster G. McGaw

Emerging Philanthropist

2020 Chanel Coney
2019 Dan Weishar
2018 Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation
2013 Kerry and Sarah Wood

Executive Leader Award

2020 Adela Cepeda
2019 George S. Wright
2018 Ilene Gordon
2017 Greg Brown
2016 Jesse H. Ruiz
2015 William A. Rudnick
2014 Bob Arthur
2013 Allan Muchin
2012 Frederick H. Waddell
2011 Carol Lavin Bernick
2010 John W. Rowe
2009 Frank M. Clark
2008 Edward M. Liddy
2007 Lester N. Coney
2006 Denis & Sondra Healy
2005 Ronald Gidwitz
2004 Edward A. Brennan
2003 Pam Strobel
2002 Richard L. Thomas
2001 Deborah L. DeHaas
2000 James R. Donnelley
1999 W. James Farrell
1998 William Osborn
1997 Christie Hefner
1996 John H. Costello
1995 John W. Rogers, Jr.
1994 Edgar D. Jannotta
1993 Frank W. Considine
1992 Andrew J. McKenna
1991 George D. Kennedy
1990 Newton N. Minow
1989 Arthur R. Velasquez, Jr.
1988 John H. Bryan, Jr.
1987 Edward G. Gardner
1986 James J. O'Connor
1985 Marshall Field V
1984 James J. Brice
1983 Donald S. Perkins
1982 James F. Bere
1981 Frederick G. Jaicks
1980 Robert Leys
1979 John T. Trutter
1978 William Ingram
1977 E. Stanley Enlund

Professional Grantor Award

2020 Evette M. Cardona
2019 Christine O’Reilly
2018 Julie Chavez
2017 James D. Parsons
2016 Steve Solomon
2015 Rosemary Matzl
2014 Francia Harrington
2013 Bradford L. Ballast
2012 Ellen Alberding
2011 Deborah Liverett
2010 David Pesqueira
2009 Mary Ann Mallahan
2008 Eileen A. Sweeney
2007 Kassie Davis
2006 Anne Roosevelt
2005 M. Catherine Crowley Ryan
2004 Richard Turner
2003 Merri Ex
2002 Amina J. Dickerson
2001 Alice Cottingham
2000 Rebecca Stimson
1999 Marilyn Hennessy
1998 Sarah Solotaroff
1997 Jill Darrow
1996 Diane M. Smith
1995 Joyce Grant
1994 Nikki Stein
1993 Joanne C. Ford
1992 Marj Lundy
1991 Sunny Fischer
1990 Jean Rudd
1989 Iris J. Krieg
1988 Nicholas Goodban
1987 Craig Kennedy
1986 Ellen J. Benjamin
1985 Handy L. Lindsey
1984 Nadine Van Sant
1983 William N. Clark
1982 Lizabeth G. Sode

Outstanding Community Leader Award

2020 Ricardo Estrada
2019 Liz Thompson
2018 Joy Aruguete
2017 Mike and Mariann Stanton
2016 Diane Latiker
2015 Raul I. Raymundo
2014 Valerie S. Lies
2013 Grant Achatz & Nick Kokonas
2012 Bernarda Wong
2011 Joseph Podlasek
2010 Lisa Nigro
2009 Rev. Michael M. Boland
2008 Suellen G. Long
2007 Michael C. Cook
2006 Jerome H. Stone
2005 Henry Tews
2004 Gabrielle Lyon & Paul Sereno
2003 Ada Addington
2002 Rutha E. Gibson
2001 Kompha Seth
2000 Margaret Smith
1999 Jessie Woods
1998 Marca Bristo
1997 Sokoni Karanja
1996 Patty C. Crowley
1995 Thomas Tunney
1994 Rafael Ravelo
1993 Mary Nelson
1992 Agaliece Miller
1991 Irene Johnson

Outstanding Volunteer Award

2020 Claudia Winkler
2019 Richard W. Hutson
2018 Michael Matters Foundation
2017 Toni Sandor Smith
2016 Susan Staehely
2015 Captain James A. Lovell, Jr.
2014 Charles B. Lawless
2013 Bob Lee
2012 Elizabeth Luxem
2011 Lois Zoller
2010 Linda I. Celesia
2009 Donna LaPietra & Bill Kurtis
2008 Audrey Tuggle
2007 Lawrence Howe
2006 Don Jackson
2005 Robert Reusché
2004 Judy Keller
2003 Caryn Platt Tatelli, AM, LCSW
2002 Joseph A. DiCara, MD, MPH
2001 Eugene “Gene” Morris
2000 Robert “Bud” Lifton
1999 Ann Barzel
1998 Mrs. James (Ellen) O'Connor
1997 Nancy Klimley
1996 Chuck Hogren
1995 O. Robert Nottelmann
1994 Andrew Thomson, M.D.
1993 Katherine S. Mayer
1992 Sidney Epstein
1991 Judith S. Block
1990 M.P. "Pete" Venema
1989 Natalie G. Heineman
1988 Marjorie Craig Benton
1987 Joan W. Harris
1986 Norman Ross
1985 Mrs. Charles J. Runner
1984 Betty Reneker
1983 Reverend Dr. Kenneth B. Smith
1982 Mrs. Louis L. Perlman
1981 Junia Hedberg
1980 Stanley M. Freehling
1979 Honorable Michael J. Howlett
1978 Mrs. Malcolm N. Smith

Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy Award

2020 Felix Castillo
2018 Jahkil Jackson
2017 Brennan O'Connell-Miller and Katherine Young
2016 Swifty Foundation Board of Directors
2015 Dylan Full
2014 Students of the Chicago Academy For the Arts
2013 Nathan Pautsch
2012 Homeless Experts Living Life’s Obstacles (H.E.L.L.O.)
2011 Consolidated High School District #230
2010 Students of Glenbrook South High School
2009 Athlete’s CARE
2008 Elizabeth Abello
2007 Northwestern University Dance Marathon
2006 Wheaton Academy Zambia Project

President's Award

2020 John Huebler, CFRE
2019 Jacquelyn M. Bonavia, CFRE
2018 Judy T.Lindsey, CFRE
2017 Michelle M. Sherbun, PCC, ELI-MP
2016 Grant Gilbert, CFRE
2013 Alexander F. Pope, CFRE
2011 Marilyn Benuska, CFRE
2009 Marilyn Foster Kirk, CFRE
2008 Jill Koski, CFRE
2007 Doug Diefenbach
2006 Juan Calixto, CFRE
2005 Cynthia L, Schmidt, CFRE
2003 Barbara Ellen Talisman
2002 Jay Frey, CFRE
2001 Elizabeth Fallon Quilter, CFRE
2000 Michael Godnick
1999 Heather T. Hutchison, CFRE
1998 Jamie Phillippe, CFRE
1997 Diane M. McKeever, Ph.D., CFRE
1995 Talmadge D. Betts, CFRE
1994 Paul P. Pribbenow, Ph.D., CFRE
1993 Tamara L. Nelson, CFRE
1992 Sandra C. Danforth, CFRE
1991 Edith H. Falk, CFRE
1990 Abbie J. von Schlegell, CFRE
1989 Joan Goldstein, CFRE
1988 Betty Bergstrom, CFRE
1987 Wendy Fisher, CFRE
1986 Sally Ver Schave-Iberg, CFRE
1985 Susan Church
1984 Dorothy Holmes Darby, CFRE
1983 Richard L. Heiss, CFRE
1981 Vernon J. Dockery, CFRE
1980 Nike B. Whitcomb, CFRE
1979 C. Wilson Schroeder, CFRE
1978 Donald A. Campbell, Jr. CFRE

Special Award

2014 The late Jimmie R. Alford
1996 Smith Barney Chicago Mercantile Foundation
1994 The late Arthur Rubloff

Founders’ Award

2016 The Chicago Community Trust
2012 Marshall Field V
2008 Sandra P. Guthman
2001 Arthur W. Murray
1999 Bruce Newman
1994 Donors Forum of Chicago
1987 Eleanor P. Peterson
1984 Edgar D. Powell
1980 L. Aumund Andre