1. family and parenting
2. children

BELIEVE IN KIDS
ANNUAL DINNER
CELEBRATING WHERE POSSIBILITY LIVES
The Board of Directors of Chicago Youth Centers,
Honorary Chairs Jerald Gary and Lauren Snelling, LCSW,
and Presenting Sponsor Northern Trust
Invite you to join us
Thursday, May 14, 2015
Believe in Kids Dinner
CELEBRATING WHERE POSSIBILITY LIVES
Cocktail reception and silent auction viewing begin at 5 p.m. Main Dining Room
Dinner and program begin at 7 p.m. Grand Ballroom
The Standard Club
320 South Plymouth Court
Chicago, IL 60604
We look forward to seeing you at Chicago Youth Centers’ signature event, honoring those committed to
unlocking the possibilities that exist within our children, families, and city, including Presenting Sponsor
Northern Trust, Spirit of Youth Award Winner Roger Shores, Honorary Chairs Jerald Gary and Lauren
Snelling, and keynote speaker Michael Brandwein.
Attended by more than 400 corporate and civic leaders throughout the city, this event not only celebrates
Chicago Youth Centers’ impact on children and families—it enables the organization to continue its
transformative work.
More than 85% of every dollar we raise from the Believe in Kids Annual Dinner is invested in our programs
that reach children in some of Chicago’s most challenged communities. Your investment in this event
lasts more than one evening: it truly changes lives.
Chicago Youth Centers began in 1956 as a simple, audacious idea. Two Chicago businessmen, Sidney
Epstein and Elliott Donnelley, believed that every child deserved a safe space to grow and thrive.
The world has changed a lot in the intervening years, but Chicago Youth Centers’ fundamental
commitment has not. For nearly 60 years, Chicago Youth Centers has been a community-based,
Chicago-centric organization. Every day, we work to build the ultimate 21st century learning
environments, designed to help children get – and stay – on track toward a productive and
successful life.
With eight neighborhood centers on the south and west sides of the city, a residential camp and
retreat center in Michigan, and a staff of expert, dedicated professionals, Chicago Youth Centers
serves more than 4,000 children and families annually. To put children, ages 3-18, on a path to
success, we surround them with the social capital they need – safe spaces and a place to belong,
family engagement, and community resources – to manage the transitions they face at every stage
in their academic and emotional development.
Thanks to you, Chicago Youth Centers is more than a safe haven for thousands of kids making their
way between childhood and adulthood, between today and tomorrow.
Chicago Youth Centers is a place where possibility lives.
Honorary Chairs Jerald Gary
Lauren Snelling, LCSW
Growing up in Chicago’s Chatham and South Shore communities, Jerald Gary understands adversity.
He also knows what it takes to overcome challenges: hard work, belief in oneself, and the support
of a community. Today, as President and Chief Investment Officer of Community Capital Investment
Partners and Chairman of the Chicago Regal Foundation, Gary is committed to revitalizing his
childhood neighborhoods and giving other children the opportunity to realize their unique strengths.
Gary began his career at LaSalle Global Securities and Trust Services and later worked at Chicagobased Electronic Knowledge Interchange and Killerspin LLC. Dedicated to education, he also sits on
the Associate Boards of Providence St. Mel School and the Merit School of Music.
An advocate for children and licensed clinical social worker, Lauren Snelling has experience as a
trauma therapist at LaRabida Children’s Hospital in Chicago’s South Shore neighborhood, and also has
provided adult, child, and group therapy at Brookline Community Mental Health Center. She continues
to be invested in the provision of mental health services and is passionate about the importance of
mentoring relationships. Today, as Research Analyst for the University of Chicago’s Place Lab, Snelling
focuses on codifying a community development model that uses art and culture as catalysts for
change. Dedicated to rejuvenating individuals and communities, she is a mentor at MetroSquash and
member of the National Association of Social Workers.
Spirit of Youth Award Winner Roger Shores
Roger Shores, Senior Executive of The Marmon Group, has served on Chicago Youth Centers’ Board
of Directors since 2008 and his legacy will be felt for years to come. As the immediate past Board
Chairman, he led the organization’s recent impact study and was instrumental in the development of
Chicago Youth Centers’ strategic plan. Passionately committed to the city’s children and families, his
transformative leadership embodies the organization’s mission, vision, pillars, and values. As someone
who truly brings out the possibilities within others, it is fitting that he be recognized at this event.
The Spirit of Youth Award is Chicago Youth Centers’ highest honor. It is awarded to those who have
demonstrated a commitment to the children of Chicago Youth Centers and the greater Chicago community.
Presenting Sponsor Northern Trust
Celebrating its 125th anniversary, Northern Trust has made a lasting impact on the communities
it serves worldwide. Since 1889, Northern Trust has advanced a culture of caring, investing in
social welfare initiatives that provide low- and moderate-income families with critical resources,
including housing, food, employment and health care. In the last five years alone, Northern Trust has
contributed more than $70 million to support non-profit and non-governmental organizations. As
the Presenting Sponsor of Chicago Youth Centers’ Believe in Kids Dinner, Northern Trust continues to
invest in a brighter future by empowering children to experience their possibility and promise so they
can become future leaders in the workplace, community, and City of Chicago.
Keynote Speaker Michael Brandwein
Michael Brandwein is an internationally recognized expert on management, communication,
leadership, team-building, and customer service. Best known for his engaging teaching methods, he
understands the importance of developing youth and shaping the next generation of leaders. He also
has trained Chicago Youth Centers’ staff to refine their approach when working with children.
Brandwein has presented in all 50 states, in most provinces of Canada, and on six of the seven
continents. He is the author of four best-selling books, and wrote and presented three Emmy®
award-winning televisions programs. We are honored to include him in our program and know his
message will be entertaining and inspiring.
Chicago Youth Centers extends a special
THANK YOU
TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS
for their commitment to Chicago’s kids.
Dixie Adams, IBM
Craig D. Jeffrey, Bryan Cave LLP
Chairman of the Board
William J. Kelley, Jr., Kraft Foods
Gordon Lang, Jr., Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
Richard G. Baer, Jr., TCF Bank
Judy Macior, Experian
Jacob A. Beidler, Institutional Capital LLC
Catherine Main, University of Illinois at Chicago
Beth Byster Corvino
Amy Weiss Narea
Marc E. Cosentino, The Northern Trust Company
Ken O’Brien, RR Donnelley
Patrick T. DeLacey, Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
Adam J. Patnaude, Orbitz
Charles G. Denison, Moelis & Company
Charles C. Pikul, Ernst & Young LLP
Eugene DeRamus
Al B. Reid, Abbott Laboratories Inc.
Philip Doherty
Ross Rocklin, United Airlines
Brian E. Donahue, CareerBuilder, LLC
Kristen C. Rossi, Morgan Stanley, Investment Banking
John Dvorak, Wintrust Commercial Banking
Raymond L. Rusnak, Jr.
Sidney Epstein, Epstein
Hilary Bishop Scott
Richard Erwin, Experian
Roger Shores, The Marmon Group, LLC
Daniel M. Feeney, Miller Shakman & Beem LLP
Steven Weinstein, Altair Advisers LLC
Stephanie Feeney, IBM
Anna Wermuth, Meckler, Bulger, Tilson, Marick, and
Eric J. Gorman, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP
Pearson LLP
Patrick M. Hardiman, Winston & Strawn LLP
Edward A. Wiertel, Jr.
John B. Hillman, Fiduciary Financial Partners LLC
Henry Wisniewski
EVENT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Chicago Youth Centers (CYC) would like to thank and recognize Northern Trust as the Presenting Sponsor
for the Believe in Kids Dinner - Celebrating Where Possibility Lives.
Available sponsorship opportunities include:
$25,000 LEADING SPONSOR
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One VIP table for ten with priority seating at the Dinner
Recognition from the stage at the Dinner
Signage with logo at the Dinner
Linked logo recognition on CYC’s website, www.chicagoyouthcenters.org
Linked logo recognition in all email promotions for the Dinner
Recognition in Dinner Program Book
Recognition in any press releases or advertising about the Dinner
Acknowledgment in CYC’s Annual Report
Four VIP tickets to CYC’s Bronze Ball on June 26 at Elliott Donnelley Youth Center
$10,000 SUPPORTING SPONSOR
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One VIP table for ten with priority seating at the Dinner
Signage with logo at the Dinner
Logo recognition on CYC’s website, www.chicagoyouthcenters.org
Logo recognition in all email promotions for the Dinner
Recognition in Dinner Program Book
Recognition in any press releases or advertising about the Dinner
Acknowledgment in CYC’s Annual Report
Two VIP tickets to CYC’s Bronze Ball on June 26 at CYC’s Elliott Donnelley Youth Center
$5,000 PARTNERING SPONSOR
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One table for ten at the Dinner
Signage with name at the Dinner
Recognition on CYC’s website, www.chicagoyouthcenters.org
Recognition in all email promotions for the Dinner
Recognition in the Dinner Program Book
Acknowledgment in CYC’s Annual Report
Two tickets to CYC’s Bronze Ball on June 26 at CYC’s Elliott Donnelley Youth Center
$500 Individual Ticket
$250 Young Professional Ticket (40 and below)
Contact
For more information about the Dinner or to become a sponsor, please contact
Vakarie Christian at Vakarie.Christian@chicagoyouthcenters.org or 312-913-1700 ext. 424.
Event sponsorships and tickets also are available online at www.chicagoyouthcenters.org.