AUSL Annual Benefit Dinner Honors Champion Sponsors and Celebrates Legacy

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Publish date: May 21, 2024
Categories: News from the Network
Post author: Sal Navarro

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The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) gathered with sponsors, supporters and friends for an evening of celebration on Tuesday, May 7th at the Four Seasons Hotel. Over two hundred guests were in attendance to honor the achievements of the last year and recognize the work of AUSL’s educators that empower students every day.

Before the evening program, guests arrived and enjoyed a cocktail reception with one another that set the warm and cheerful tone that carried throughout the night. Ana Belaval, Journalist and WGN Morning News Feature Reporter, hosted the evening’s program.

The lively evening began with a special performance from Solorio Academy High School’s Latin Jazz Ensemble, composed of students and alumni.

Martin J. Koldyke, AUSL Founder and Chair Emeritus, Benefit Chair said, “It’s [AUSL] been a remarkable effort for change. Change for children that’s still going on. Tonight honors the group that has kept this alive and kept this going.”

Powerful moments of the evening were the opportunities to celebrate the impact of our honorees. AUSL honored philanthropists Donna and Jack Greenberg, Northern Trust, and Executive Director Dr. Donald Feinstein for their commitment to bringing equity to education.

AUSL Board Chair and Chicago Managing Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP, Cardelle Spangler, presented Northern Trust with the Corporate Champion Award. Shana Hayes, Chief Social Impact Officer, accepted the award on behalf of Northern Trust in honor of their commitment to providing equitable educational opportunities for children across Chicago. 

“Northern’s support for AUSL goes back to their very beginnings. Just as the founder of Northern Trust believed that thriving communities needed access to quality education, so did AUSL’s founders,” said Hayes. 

“For the last 20 years it has been and continues to be Northern Trust’s privilege to partner with AUSL. We stand with you united to provide the quality teachers that our Chicago students deserve. Once again we thank you deeply for this honor.”

President of DePaul University Robert L. Manuel, PhD presented Donna and Jack Greenberg with the Champion Award in recognition of their continued efforts to creating positive change and uplifting children.

“Thanks to AUSL for this recognition. Thanks to Dr. Feinstein on behalf of the thousands of children and teachers who have better lives because of what he has accomplished. Thank you for being a great leader and an inspiration to all of us,” expressed Donna and Jack Greenberg.

Speakers throughout the evening shared their reflections, gratitude, experiences and celebration of Dr. Feinstein’s visionary leadership and lasting legacy of empowering students, including special remarks by Martin J. Koldyke, AUSL Founder & Chair Emeritus, Robert E. King, AUSL Board Member Emeritus, and Miyoshi Knox, Former Principal & Executive Leadership Consultant.

AUSL is grateful for its philanthropic supporters and programmatic partners, including AmeriCorps, Chicago Public Schools, and DePaul University, who made this a memorable evening. Funds raised from the dinner directly fund AUSL’s mission around the teacher training, coaching, and school leadership development of educators across AUSL’s 91+ Partner Schools in the Chicago Teacher Residency and LiberatED Way Advisory Services.

Watch the full 2024 AUSL Annual Benefit Dinner video below:

Watch the Northern Trust 2024 Corporate Champion Award video below:

Watch the video celebrating our Executive Director, Dr. Donald Feinstein below:

 

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