2022 Stories of Impact
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DONOR HIGHLIGHTS
PADMA VENKATESAN
DONOR
Padma Venkatesan immigrated to the U.S. from India as a child. As her parents worked to build a life in a new country, Venkatesan often saw them extend a helping hand to others, or receive one themselves. This taught her early on about the role generosity plays in building a strong community.
SUSAN BART
DONOR AND PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR
Susan Bart is an estate planning attorney and wealth advisor at ArentFox Schiff.
When it comes to her own philanthropy, Bart’s approach is both strategic and big-picture. She supports a variety of causes such as education, civil liberties, the environment, and the arts.
MARY RICHARDSON-LOWRY
DONOR
At a young age, Mary Richardson-Lowry’s grandmother, a social worker and missionary, taught her that philanthropy can manifest in many ways. From providing meals to seniors to helping those in need, her grandmother’s influence seeded a lifelong desire to give back to her community.
MORGAN OLENSKI
NEXT-GENERATION PHILANTHROPIST
Morgan Olenski grew up in a world that’s more connected than ever before. Yet, this young philanthropist is constantly asking herself what she can do to make life better in her own backyard. “Giving back to your community helps you feel grounded and engaged. That adds purpose to your day-to-day and your entire life,” she says.
PEPSICO
CORPORATE PARTNER
PepsiCo’s history in Chicago goes back nearly 100 years. Today, its operations in the region include Frito-Lay, PepsiCo Beverages North America, Quaker Oats, and Gatorade – businesses with more than 5,000 employees.
THE TRUST FONDLY REMEMBERS OUR FRIENDS AND PARTNERS WHO HAVE RECENTLY PASSED
MATTIE BUTLER
COMMUNITY LEADER
Born in Mississippi and raised in the Cabrini-Green housing development, Mattie Butler became known as a fierce advocate for social equality and housing affordability. A longtime resident of Chicago’s Woodlawn neighborhood, Butler co-founded Woodlawn East Community and Neighbors (WECAN) after a 1980 fire in the community killed 13 children. Through Butler’s leadership as a housing activist, public officials and community leaders co-created a policy roadmap reflecting a shared vision for Woodlawn. The Preservation of Affordable Housing’s Mattie Butler Apartments were named in her honor. Born into a musical family, Butler was also a professional singer, touring for 40 years with her brother, soul singer Jerry “The Iceman” Butler.
J. IRA HARRIS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER
J. Ira Harris was instrumental in putting Chicago on the map as a powerful hub for investment banking. While working at the Chicago offices of Blair & Co., Salomon Brothers, and Lazard Freres & Co., Harris was involved in countless high-profile deals. He also formed a consulting firm, J.I. Harris & Associates, and founded Alternative Investing Management LLC with his son, Jon. A committed philanthropist, Harris was a life trustee or director of many Chicago-area nonprofits, including Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Chicago Public Library Foundation, and the Big Shoulders Fund. He was also a longtime supporter of his alma mater, the University of Michigan, which conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on Harris in 2012.
MARCIA SLATER JOHNSTON
DONOR
In addition to her 50-year career as a print and broadcast journalist in Chicago, Marcia Slater Johnston was devoted to supporting the aging population. She was a founder and convener of Make Room @ The Table and MR@TT Digital, two organizations working to alleviate isolation and foster social connection for older adults. The Coalition to End Social Isolation, of which Johnston was a member, established the Marcia Slater Johnston Award to recognize outstanding leadership in reducing social isolation and promoting connection in the aging community. Johnston also served as advisor to the Harry G. and Charlotte H. Slater Family Fund of the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, which provides seed funding for pilot programs focused on improving the quality
of life for older Milwaukeeans.
NORMAN A. KWAK
DONOR
Norman A. Kwak was a former co-owner of Nortech Telecommunications. He also previously worked at Sweetheart Cup, Englewood Electric, and Illinois J. Livingston. Born with a severe disability, Kwak dedicated much of his philanthropy to helping people whose experiences mirrored his own, and the staff who supported them. He established the Lois G. Kwak Nursing Scholarship at Northwestern Medicine Palos Hospital in memory of his mother. Kwak hoped his generosity would encourage more outstanding nurses to continue their education, and also inspire other philanthropists to create similar scholarships. He served on the board of the Anixter Center and was a major donor to YMCA Camp Independence, Fisher House Foundation, Little Sisters of the Poor, and Boy Scouts of America.
HAROLD LUCAS
COMMUNITY LEADER
Harold Lucas, known as the “Godfather of Bronzeville,” was a community organizer who believed in the power and influence of Black Chicagoans, especially Bronzeville residents. As the founder and president of the Black Metropolis Convention and Tourism Council, Lucas understood the importance of cultural heritage to Bronzeville’s economic future. His leadership helped save many historic Bronzeville buildings, including the Overton Hygienic and the Chicago Bee, which are now national landmarks. Lucas was a committed supporter of Black media such as the South Street Journal, a publication that served Bronzeville. A skilled leader, he had a talent for rallying people who shared his passion for improving his community, empowering its residents, and uplifting Black voices.
SHIRLEY NEWSOME
COMMUNITY LEADER
Shirley Newsome was a tireless advocate for neighborhood revitalization on Chicago’s South Side. As head of the North Kenwood-Oakland Community Conservation Council, Newsome was instrumental to North Kenwood and Oakland receiving landmark district status. Her leadership also contributed to the marked decrease in vacant lots in the city’s 4th Ward. As an advisor to the University of Chicago, Newsome counseled the university on its role in the community and supported efforts to improve public safety. In the late 2000s, she chaired both the South East Chicago Commission and the Quad Communities Development Corporation. Newsome retired in 2006 from a 40-year career with the federal judiciary as an executive and judicial assistant, legal secretary, and stenographer.
JOAN K. NOVICK
DONOR
A pioneer in advertising and marketing, Joan K. Novick discovered her love of writing while contributing to a local paper as a teenager. Among her many professional accomplishments was founding Jerry&Joan Creative, a Chicago advertising agency. The same open-mindedness and curiosity that helped Novick soar in her profession inspired her to strengthen her community and advocate for those in need. Although she had many causes dear to her heart, when the time came to make her estate plans, Novick decided that an unrestricted gift to the Trust’s endowment would create the greatest impact. She made the Trust the sole beneficiary of her estate with a gift of approximately $2.2 million. Through her generosity, Novick ensured that organizations in the city she called home for more than 50 years would support thriving communities for years to come.
JOHN W. ROWE
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER
As chairman and CEO of Exelon, John W. Rowe steered the Chicago-based energy company through several mergers and transformed its commitment to diversity and equity. He was a leading voice on energy and environmental policy, and he contributed his time, money, and skill as a fundraiser to many causes, particularly education, energy, and immigration reform. The Rowe Family Charitable Trust contributed millions of dollars to higher education, the arts, and community health organizations. Rowe co-founded two Chicago charter schools and served on the boards of several institutions, including the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, National Commission on Energy Policy, Illinois Business Immigration Coalition, the Chicago History Museum, Field Museum, and Illinois Institute of Technology.
JON VEAL
COMMUNITY LEADER
Jon Veal believed in the power of art to transform communities and make the world a better place. He was the co-founder of alt_Chicago, an artist-led nonprofit on Chicago’s West Side that seeks to revitalize communities through art. Created in response to trauma’s impact on the community, alt_Chicago is rooted in the belief that art can be a tool of healing and revolution. Veal’s dedication to his community was reflected in the work of the organization, which became known for its free community markets and the “Project Stamp” campaign documenting West Siders’ lives through portraits. Veal was also an accomplished multidisciplinary artist who used performance, images, and poetry to examine race and social justice.