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Welcome! C H I L D R E N ’ S P L A C E A S S O C I AT I O N presents Once Upon a Time... H L OV E WIT OM C H I C AG FR O Annual Gala Celebrating Children’s Place Association’s CH AM PI O N F O R C H I C AG O ’ S M O ST V UL N E R A B L E C H I L D R E N T H U R S D AY, A P R I L 2 9 , 2 0 2 1 C H I C AG O, I L L I N O I S
OUR TEAM CAT HY K RIE G E R, LCSW, MA, MA, M BA Pres i dent & CE O JO HN SW E E N E Y, MBA SHAN TAL A LO N SO, J. D. De put y E x ec ut i v e Di rec t o r Chi ef De v el o pm ent & C om m u n ic ation s Of f ic e r DAN IE L L. D E VE R MAU RICE F E A R S, SR . R et i red Di rec t o r o f De v el o pm ent Chi ef Ini tia tiv e s Of f ic e r SU SAN RE YNA-G U E RRE RO, LCSW LAU RE N M. SMI T H , M J -L E L , SPH R , Chi ef Pro g ram O f f i c er SHR M -SC P Chi ef H um an R e sou rc e s Of f ic e r OUR MISSION B ui l di ng a se c u re an d hop e f u l t od ay so chi l dre n fa ci n g he a l t h i ss u e s ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and po v e rt y su c c e e d t om or ro w Children’s Place Association extends a special thank you to the following companies and individuals who made the 2021 Gala a tremendous success: 2 0 2 1 G al a Co mmi ttee Memb er s B ad ger Pres s Cy Fred r i cs E mp l oyees o f Ch i l d ren’s Pl ace As s o ci ati o n F l y i n g Ho u s e Med i a Je wel l E ven ts Cater i n g Jo s e p h Lei gh D es i gn s Sar ah D r ak e D es i gn SK PR VE S Rare Tea Cel l ar This evening would not be possible without you.
FROM TONIGHT’S CO-CHAIRS I first learned about Children's Place Association in 2009 through work colleagues. I was invited to visit the Early Learning Center in Humboldt Park to spend a day with the children in their classrooms. I immediately felt their sense of energy, passion and joy of youth. It was at this moment I knew Children's Place Association was doing incredible, life-changing work for some of the most From the President and CEO of vulnerable children and families in Chicago. CHILDREN’S PLACE ASSOCIATION As a Gala Co-Chair, I have had an opportunity to work with a wonderful group of people to help spread the message of the unbelievable work being done to When children are overwhelmed by illness and poverty, it takes the courage and compassion of a champion to support the organization. transform their lives. Once upon a time, a group of caring Chicagoans took on that role, creating a place where the most vulnerable children can grow and thrive. My family and I currently reside in the near west side of Chicago, not that far from the Early Learning Center. I believe there is a fundamental responsibility to support the most underserved communities in our city, to For thirty years, Children’s Place Association has persevered, helping Chicago’s most vulnerable children and families – make the families in these communities stronger, and provide these children with opportunities they would not those struggling with serious health issues, poverty, hunger, homelessness and isolation. Our programs continue to otherwise have without out support. We sincerely appreciate your support and thank you for joining us for our provide nursing care, early education, emergency assistance, secure homes, mental health counseling and more to nearly 2021 Virtual Gala. 400 children and caregivers every year. International programming, launched in 2007, brings services and resources to hundreds of the world’s most vulnerable children in the Caribbean and Africa. George Aliaga, 2021 Gala Co-Chair, Marsh This year, Children’s Place is again doing what we do best-gearing up to meet the challenges of a new generation of children and families, a generation struggling to make their way in a westside community long beset by decades of systemic racism and disinvestment. Working with community members and nonprofit and corporate partners, our I first became involved with Children's Place Association in 2012. I knew collective vision is to transform West Humboldt Park into a place where children thrive. immediately after I met the families and children supported by the organization that I needed to get involved. The positive impact this organization has made in Launching this spring, Child Thrive will provide mentoring for youth, health and wellness for children and families, the Chicago community is tremendous. economic development and a wealth of other opportunities in our own Child Thrive Resource Center. As Gala Co-Chair, I have learned so much about Children's Place and its people – For 30 years, the vision and generosity of our founders and supporters have transformed thousands of lives. And you the people that commit their lives to ensuring Chicago's most vulnerable children make that possible. You are truly champions for Chicago’s most vulnerable children. have a bright future ahead of them. I am excited and honored to be a part of an organization that makes such a meaningful and lifelong impact. I want to express our thanks to the 2021 Gala Co-Chairs, Danielle Haddad and George Aliaga, for their leadership and to the entire Gala Committee for their dedicated efforts. Special thanks to our honorees, Alex Kotlowitz and Maria The committee and I have put a lot of hard work into tonight's program, and we sincerely thank you for joining Woltjen, and our emcee Robin Robinson. Finally, thank you to our sponsors, contributors, and auction/raffle donors for us. We hope you walk away from this event feeling empowered that your contributions, however large or small their extraordinary generosity. they may be, can make a life-changing difference. Thank you again for making the time to attend and learn more about an incredible organization. Please enjoy yourself this evening, and thank you for your support! Danielle Haddad, 2021 Gala Co-Chair Cathy Krieger, LCSW, MA, MA, MBA President & CEO
2021 CHAMPION FOR CHILDREN AWARDEES Thank you for celebrating Children’s Place Association’s 30th anniversary with us. In honor of this occasion, we recognize two Chicagoans who have helped change the lives of vulnerable children over the past three decades – husband and wife Alex Kotlowitz ROBIN ROBINSON and Maria Woltjen, our Champion for Children Awardees. Distinguished Gala Moderator ALEX KOTLOWITZ 2021 Chicago Champion for Children Award Honoree Robin Robinson is an award-winning journalist and respected thought leader whose three decades of reporting is marked by in-depth coverage of social justice issues, politics, significant people and events. Alex Kotlowitz has spent his career writing about America’s poorest neighborhoods – Her passion is connecting people to their collective power to create change. deeply intimate tales of struggle and perseverance. His most recent book, An American Summer: Love and Death in Chicago, tells the stories of individuals altered by gun violence. As a facilitator, moderator, interviewer and convener, Robin believes relationship is everything and that every His other books include the national bestseller There Are No Children Here, which the New relationship begins with a conversation. From sharing the stories of individuals to reveal common goals, to York Public Library selected as one of the 150 most important books of the twentieth century. His acclaimed amplifying the purpose that drives an organization, Robin works to harvest collective wisdom and produce documentary, The Interrupters, premiered at Sundance and was awarded an Emmy and a Film Independent Spirit Award. action. “The difficult topics that we are most afraid to address are often the things that matter most. Creating His other honors include two Peabodys, a George Polk Award and the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award. Alex is a a safe space for divergent voices to be heard and honored is not only possible, but necessary.” professor at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He lives in Chicago with his wife, Maria Woltjen. In 2016, Robinson’s activism in social justice and neighborhood empowerment led her to an executive role Tonight, Alex will discuss finding empathy through the power of stories. He will share accounts of those touched by gun within the Chicago Police Department as Director of Restorative Justice Strategies. Her mission to build trust violence in Chicago neighborhoods – and the love and forgiveness he’s witnessed in the aftermath in these communities. among officers and their fellow community members, founded in the importance of relationship, led to several culture-shifting initiatives and unprecedented dialogue processes that remain part of policy and training. MARIA WOLTJEN Robinson describes her mission in public safety “among the most important work I have ever done.” 2021 Chicago Champion for Children Award Honoree Robin is trained in the restorative practice of Circle Keeping and the public participatory dialogue models Maria Woltjen is the Founder and Executive Director of The Young Center for of World Café and Open Space Technology. She also holds certification as a trainer from the International Immigrant Children’s Rights. A national organization with offices in eight cities, The Association of Trauma Professionals. Young Center is a champion for unaccompanied and separated immigrant children who are detained and subject to deportation. It advocates for their best interests, safety and The recipient of numerous awards, including 6 EMMYs from the well-being. The Young Center pioneered the implementation of the “best interests of Midwest Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and the child” standard for children caught up in the immigration system. The Young Sciences, the Excellence in Reporting award from the National Center also conducts national policy advocacy to incorporate children’s best interests Association of Black Journalists and, in 2013, she was honored by into practice, policy and immigration law. Maria is the recipient of the 2013 American the national Women's Media Center for her investigative reports on Constitution Society Ruth Goldman Award, the 2017 UNICEF Chicago Humanitarian human trafficking. Award and one of Chicago Magazine’s 2018 Chicagoans of the Year. She lives in Chicago with her husband, Alex Kotlowitz. Born in Chicago, Robinson spent her younger years in California, earning a B.A. in Journalism from San Diego State University and Tonight, Maria will be talking about the importance of listening to vulnerable children and their families to better starting her news career at KGTV in San Diego. In 1983, she understand their lives. According to Maria, “In order to help these children, we must first understand what they want returned to the Chicago as a reporter/anchor for WBBM-TV and what their families want… we have to take our lead from them and guard against imposing what we think is best.” before moving to WFLD-TV in 1986 to launch the station’s inaugural newscast, where she remained for 28 years.
30 th An n i v ersar y After two years of fundraising and construction, Children’s Place 1994 Association opens a 10-bed Residential C H ILD REN’S PLAC E Center providing 24-hour nursing care 1993 The Auxiliary of Children’s Place for HIV/AIDS-affected children, one ASSO CI ATIO N MILE STON E S of the first in the nation. Association is founded to provide a platform for volunteer involvement and financial support; the group’s primary project is the annual Once Upon a Time Gala. Children’s Place launches a Foster/Adoptive Care program to provide substitute care for children Volunteers organize a black-tie orphaned by AIDS. A small group of concerned fundraiser to benefit Children’s Place; individuals comes together to address Thanks to a $1 million anonymous gift and the the annual Once Upon a Time Gala 1991 support of many other donors, The Children’s Place an urgent issue – infants and young 1989 will become a major source of children neglected, abandoned or left Association opens its doors as the Midwest’s first support. Held at The Art Institute of 1995 pediatric residential center for HIV/AIDS-affected parentless because of HIV/AIDS. infants and children. The 10-bed group home is Chicago, the event netted $94,000. The founders’ goal was to create a April 10, 1989: located in Chicago's Humboldt Park community. nurturing place where these children Children’s Place Association Pictured in 1991 (from left to right): Founding Respite and case management services A Summer Day Camp opens could get the care they needed. received its nonprofit status. board member Tony Bale, CEO Cathy Krieger, are launched to support low-income for HIV/AIDS-affected Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, Illinois HIV/AIDS-affected families. children, the only one its Governor Jim Edgar and Alder man Luis Gutierrez. A Junior Board is created to kind in Chicago. encourage young professionals to take an active role in service 1996 1999 projects and fundraising, called: 1998 Professional Partners of Children’s Place Association. Responding to the need for On World AIDS Day, the U.S. Supportive Housing Program is specialized daycare for Department of Health and launched with three fully furnished HIV/AIDS-affected families, Human Services and the Chicago apartments for formerly homeless The “Building Hope” capital campaign raises The Children’s Place Department of Public Health HIV/AIDS-affected families. KaBOOM! and volunteers from $2.7 million, and construction is completed on launches the “Building Hope” present separate awards to CNA HealthPro and Levy the Arthur E. Jones Early Childhood Care & capital fundraising campaign Children’s Place, recognizing Restaurants install a playground Learning Center, serving 57 infants and to develop its second building the organization’s pioneering at the Early Learning Center. preschool-age children per day and Supportive in the Humboldt Park/Logan work in developing services for Legendary singer Barry Manilow Housing for families facing homelessness. Square area. children affected by HIV/AIDS. donates his performance at the annual “Once Upon a Time” Gala, drawing a crowd of 840 guests. 2005 2003 2004 CONTINUED 2001 Children’s Place Association The Early Learning Center With the transmission of HIV from celebrates its 10th anniversary The first Chicago Champion for 2000 at the Once Upon a Time mother to child diminishing due to partners with Ounce of Children Award is presented to Mesirow Prevention Fund to launch medical advances, Children’s Place Gala, raising $520,000. Financial at the annual Gala. Then-CEO Head Start programming adapts and widens its focus to help of Mesirow Financial, Jim Tyree, accepts for pre-K children. children and families with other the award. Pictured: the late Jim Tyree with life-changing health conditions. Richard Price of Mesirow Financial.
Two new classrooms are added Through the lease of six 2008 The organization launches to the Early Learning Center, additional apartments, Children’s Place International to 2007 Children’s Place International making room for 16 additional Children’s Place expands its The original 10-bed Residential help children overcome poverty and begins work in Haiti, providing children, increasing total Supportive Housing program Center is renovated, enhancing disease in the Caribbean and Africa. food, clean water, housing support, capacity to 73. for families to nine units. its capacity to serve medically school tuition and access to medical complex children. The “Once Upon a Time” Gala care to 382 HIV/AIDS-affected children and adults in year one. raises a record-breaking $606,000 2010 The Christopher Family net at Chicago’s Civic Opera House. Foundation grants $125,000 to support the opening of the The first “Illinois Youth and 2011 Administration Center in the HIV/AIDS Forum” is hosted by The West Loop and the re-design of Children’s Place, bringing together Children’s Place adds two new the Residential Center offices 2009 medical experts, service providers, classrooms to its Early Learning and playroom. policymakers, and youth themselves. Center, expanding daily capacity to 73 children; eligibility is also widened to serve children with other health conditions. 2015 Children’s Place International 2016 expands to Southern Africa, Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago presents partnering with the Marang Child Community First Award to Children’s Place in Care Network Trust in Botswana. recognition of the new West Humboldt Place Children’s Place weathers state Cathy Krieger, Children’s Place opens West Humboldt development (opened in 2015), providing budget crisis. With extra help President & CEO, Place, a 13-unit apartment building apartments and support services for families who from supporters, Children’s Place receives “2011 offering Supportive Housing for face health issues and housing insecurity. maintained all programming – with Advocate of the families challenged by serious illness no cuts in services – during 2016-17 Year” Award from 2014 and homelessness. The building Children’s Place celebrates its 25th Anniversary. State of Illinois budget crisis that AIDS Legal Counsel includes on-site social services. forced many nonprofits to curtail of Chicago. Children’s Place breaks ground on its Children’s Place International Launches Global human services. third building, West Humboldt Place, Takeda Pharmaceuticals grants Fellows, partnering with Midwest-area universities, Children’s Place launches Child to expand housing availability and Children’s Place International $305,000 teaching hospitals and nonprofits to provide Margaret Scotellaro, MD, and Thrive to address the impact of support services for families challenged to improve health outcomes for pro bono expertise to frontline child-serving husband, Paul Kent, MD, honored violence and disinvestment in by health issues and poverty. vulnerable children and families in Haiti. international partners in Africa and the Caribbean. for commitment to pediatric the West Humboldt Park medical care and their personal neighborhood of Chicago. Foster/Adoptive Care helps 82 dedication as adoptive parents. Child Thrive project awarded Responding to the COVID-19 health abused or neglected children, historic $550,000 in startup crisis, Children Place secures more than including 47 with health issues $100,000 in special funding to help 140 and disabilities. Ten children Through in-country partners, funds through State of Illinois Children’s Place International R3 (Restore, Reinvest and vulnerable Chicago families – including were adopted or reunited with 2018 impacts the lives of 2,000 Renew) program. 200+ children – ensuring they had their birth families. access to food, medical care, housing children/youth in Africa and and other essentials. the Caribbean. 4,000+ children and youth in Haiti, Children’s Place secures a 2020 Kenya, Tanzania and the Dominican 2021 2019 boost in government support, Republic benefit from health and including funding to make educational programs supported by needed capital improvements Children’s Place International. Children’s Place completes at the Early Learning Center. 2017 Original Children’s Place program, renovation of the Early Learning Center outdoor play area, with More than 300 volunteers the Residential Center, closes after 29 funding from Head Start/Ounce of assist through hands-on Employees from corporate partners years of caring for medically-complex Prevention, City of Chicago and projects, fundraising activities lend helping hands for first annual abused/neglected children. State of Illinois. and Board leadership. Volunteer Day of Service.
2 0 2 1 Fund- a - Prog ram FO U N D IN G RE SO U RCE PART N E R - CHILD T H R I V E C HI L D T H R IVE For 30 years, Children’s Place Association has partnered with local communities to build a better tomorrow for Chicago’s most vulnerable children – those challenged by health disparities, poverty and racial injustice. Our services stabilize vulnerable PRE SE N T IN G AN G E L SPO N SO R children and strengthen families so they can build a more promising future. While we are proud of how far we’ve come in the past 30 years, there is still an urgent need to help children facing health inequities and violence in their communities feel safe and have access to critical support services that allow them to thrive. We PLAT IN U M AN G E L SPO N SO RS are excited to have you be part of this work. Later this year, Children’s Place will launch Child Thrive, a new initiative based in West Humboldt Park – a high-need area struggling with the impact of systemic racism and disinvestment. The goal is to help this westside community transform from one of the harshest places to be a child into a great Danielle Haddad and James Litinsky place to grow up… a neighborhood where every child can THRIVE. G O L D A N G E L S PO N SO R S I N D I V I D UA L A N G E L F RIEND S OF CH ILD REN’S A core element is creation of Child Thrive Resource Center, where residents will SP O N SO R S PLACE A SSOCIATION access mental health, primary health care, youth programming and initiate Brenda Asare Elizabeth Lee Joseph Fabusiwa Laura and Steven Litinsky community sponsored activities to bolster response to neighborhood violence Dr. Oron and Kristen Daihes Paul Ingersoll Jennifer Livingstone and social determinants of health. Children’s Place Association leads the project, Nancy and Ted Otto HSBC Philanthropic Programs Cara McCall with partners JPA (Juvenile Protective Association), Rush University Medical Thomas Myers Carol Miller Diana and Bruce Rauner Center and West Humboldt Park Development Council. John Sweeney Leslie Mulert John F. Ward and Amy Hardgrove Anne Wick Janet Myers By contributing during tonight’s Cheryl Potts 3 0 T H A N N I V E R SA RY Fund-a-Program segment, you FRIENDS OF CHILDREN’S Larry Pusateri SU PPO RT E R S Robin Robinson will help us launch Child Thrive and ensure that Children’s Place has Anonymous Donor PLACE ASSOCIATION Matthew Roma the financial resources to make this new project a success. Robert Bale Shantal Alonso David Roseman Devon Bank David Armstrong Shayda Safapour Patrick Frangella Fredi Bensdorf Please stand with Children’s Place and help change the future for Gordon Scott Marie Godush Kathryn Bergin Chicago’s most vulnerable children. Breck Seitz Robert Howe Henrietta Bertelsman Catherine Ryan Marsh Joseph Burke Kathleen Ryan Sellew Raymond Mulligan Eric Cittadino Elizabeth Sheedy Bob Ryan John Connors Erik Skamser SmithBucklin Robert Coulton Cornelia Maude Spelman Sam Dewey Sarah Swift I N D I V I D UA L L E A D E R Michael Donavan Robin Therme SP O N SO R S Cheryl Gelfond Sabrina Timmins Brian Collins Kate Gronstal Shawn Vaughn David Finkelstein Toni and Patrick Hanrahan Diana Ware Julia and David Fleischner Kristin Kelly Maureen West Founding Resource Partner Brian Greenblatt Meg Kevane Adrienne Whitney-Boykin Harold Kessler David Koucherkavich MJ Wood Binita Kwankin Stephanie Krol Andrew Rubenstein Bridgid Kyle Courtney Wright
BOARD OF DIRECTORS LEADERSHIP ADVISORY COUNCIL Bob Ryan, Chair Robert T. Bale* WINDY CITY RAFFLE Goldfish Swim School Founding Board Member FIRST PLACE PRIZE Christopher Murphy, Vice Chair/Treasurer Langdon D. Neal* RSM US Neal & Leroy, LLC Windy City Diamonds! Josephine Calderon, Secretary Richard S. Price Shine like the Magnificent Mile with Northern Trust Mesirow Financial this stunning suite of diamond jewelry! Brenda B. Asare* Mrs. John R. Walter, Co-Founder Diamond and white gold Jennifer Yamina Bar Necklace from The Alford Group The Auxiliary of Children’s Place Association Dana Rebecca. Diamond and rose gold Sarah Leah Four Burst Huggie earrings with a hinged, snap-back closure. Robert T. Bale* * Indicates past Board Chair Luxury Package valued at $2,750 Founding Board Member Kristen Daihes Cathy Krieger, Ex Officio, President & CEO Courtesy of: Opex Analytics Children’s Place Association John J. Durso, Attorney at Law Joseph Fabusiwa DLC Group Danielle Haddad 2021 ONCE UPON A TIME GALA COMMITTEE CNA SECOND PLACE PRIZE $1,000 Amazon Gift Card Harold A. Kessler, MD CO-CHAIRS ViiV Healthcare George Aliaga, Marsh Raymond J. Mulligan Danielle Haddad, CNA Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois (retired) RECRUITMENT CHAIR Edward F. Otto* Matthew Roma, CIBC Ted Otto Group, LLC THIRD PLACE PRIZE Kathleen Ryan Sellew* COMMITTEE MEMBERS Curated Gift Basket including Wine, Tea, Marsh USA Inc. (retired) Speaker’s Book, and more! Fredi Bensdorf, Community Volunteer Michael Silverman* David Blocker, QBE North America SmithBucklin Cassandra Garcia, Pfizer John F. Ward Bryan Luedecking, Northern Trust Jenner & Block Nancy McCallum, Ventas, Inc. Michael Silverman, SmithBucklin Gwendolyn Smith, Litera Microsystems Andrew Wakeford, Zurich
Investing in what matters Thank you, Children’s Place "bm1;ou=om7bm]bmƐƖƒƕķ;vbuo_-vbm;v|;7bm_-|l-;uvķ Every child deserves the chance to thrive. That’s why CNA bm1Ѵ7bm]ou]-mb-ঞomv|_-|blruo;|_;Ѵb;vo=|_ov;-uom7vĺ proudly supports Children’s Place Association in its efforts to help Chicago’s most vulnerable children become healthy, om]u-|Ѵ-ঞomvķ_bѴ7u;mĽvѴ-1;vvo1b-ঞomķ=ouƒƏ;-uvo=0;bm] happy and successful adults. -1_-lrbom=ou_b1-]oĽvlov|Ѵm;u-0Ѵ;1_bѴ7u;mķ-m7_;Ѵrbm] 1_bѴ7u;m-m7=-lbѴb;v0u;-h|_;11Ѵ;vo=ro;u|-m7bѴѴm;vvĺ mesirow.com cna.com “CNA” is a registered trademark of CNA Financial Corporation. Certain CNA Financial Corporation subsidiaries use the “CNA” trademark in connection with insurance underwriting and claims activities. Copyright © 2020 CNA. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. © 2021, Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. 20200102 19-0617-CSR All rights reserved.
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WE ARE PASSIONATE Zurich is proud to sponsor the Once ABOUT WORKING Upon A Time Gala benefiting Children’s TOWARDS A Place Association. We salute their efforts BRIGHTER FUTURE. to build a secure and hopeful today, so children facing health issues and poverty succeed tomorrow. zurichna.com ©2018 Zurich American Insurance Company. All rights reserved.
QBE is proud to support the Children’s Place Association’s Once Upon a Time Gala QBE and the links logo are registered service marks of QBE Insurance Group Limited. © 2019 QBE Holdings, Inc. 162094-AD (03-19)
congratulations IMPACT!
Thank you to everyone who has made the 30-year journey with Children’s Place Association! If you believe in our mission, please join us for the next 30 years! Please contact Shantal Alonso, Chief Development and Communications Officer. salonso@childrens-place.org 773-923-4505 700 North Sacramento Boulevard, Suite 300 Chicago, Illinois 60612 CHILDRENS-PLACE.ORG
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