2009 Women on the Move Luncheon Celebrated Bold, Imaginative & Collaborative Women
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The 2009 National MS Society, Greater Illinois Chapter Impact Award Winners (from left): Julia Chavez, Senior Vice President and Community Relations Manager for Bank of America (Collaborative); Barbara Bates, Entrepreneur, Designer and Philanthropist, Barbara Bates Foundation (Imaginative); The Honorable Lisa Madigan, State of Illinois Attorney General (Preeminent Impact Award); and Melody Spann-Cooper, President of WVON Radio and Chairman of Midway Broadcasting Corporation (Bold)
WOMEN LEADING THE WAY TOWARDS A WORLD FREE OF MS
CHICAGO -- On Tuesday, May 19, 2009, the National MS Society, Greater Illinois Chapter launched its first to-be-annual Impact Awards at the 2009 Women on the Move Luncheon, which was presented this year by the Nielsen Company and held at the Renaissance Hotel in Chicago. Meteorologist Tracy Butler of ABC 7 News Chicago served as Mistress of Ceremonies and the keynote address was given by Laurel Bellows, a principal of The Bellows Law Group, P.C.
The Impact awards highlight women in Illinois who demonstrate exceptional leadership and improve the lives of women and men living with disabilities or chronic illness, are underinsured or impoverished. Luncheon co-sponsors include EMD Serono, Pfizer, ABC 7 Chicago, Clear Channel Radio Chicago, WGCI-FM, V103, 103.5 KISS-FM, WLIT-FM, Inspiration 1390 and WNUA.
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and prominent Chicago-area women leaders were honored as "dedicated leaders in the movement to meet the needs of the underserved in Illinois, including people living with MS," said Lisa Rollins, vice president of development for the Greater Illinois Chapter. "We salute their commitment to equity and social justice with these awards."
The Greater Illinois Chapter's debut Impact Award honorees were cited for achievements that are Bold, Imaginative and/or Collaborative. The Honorable Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan received the 2009 Preeminent Impact Award for achievements that demonstrate all three qualities.
BOLD
The 2009 National MS Society Impact Award for Boldness Awarded to Melody Spann-Cooper, for declaring all things are possible. Recognizing the untapped potential in WVON—which when she took over as the station’s first female president was only broadcasting 15 hours a day at 1,000 watts on AM radio—Spann-Cooper brokered a "power deal" with Clear Channel Radio Chicago that enabled WVON to switch to the FM dial and broadcast at 10,000 watts, 24 hours a day!
IMAGINATIVE
The 2009 National MS Society Impact Award for Imagination was awarded to Barbara Bates, whose imagination as an entrepreneur, designer and philanthropist has brightened the lives of Chicago residents and enhanced our community. The Barbara Bates Foundation strives to uplift the spirits and attitudes of Chicago's disadvantaged inner-city teens living in poverty. Since its inception, the Foundation has discovered that the donation of a designer gown or tuxedo can go a long way towards encouraging teens to want to "really be somebody" and set goals for themselves. Upon graduation, 80 percent of the students supported by her foundation go on to further their educations at two- and four-year colleges.
COLLABORATIVE
The 2009 National MS Society Impact Award for Collaboration was awarded to Julie Chavez, for believing in collective power and inspiring others to action. Chavez’s leadership over the past 20 years in banking, community development and Latino empowerment serves as inspiration to women across the city.
THE 2009 PREEMINENT IMPACT AWARD
Our highest honor was awarded to The Honorable Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in recognition of exemplary Bold, Imaginative and Collaborative achievements that have combined to make a discernable impact on the community by transforming the political status quo through principled leadership, by putting policy before politics and by focusing her work as the state’s top legal advocate on protecting the people and communities of Illinois.
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Women on the Move, formerly known as Women Against MS, is a nationwide education and fundraising program founded in 1999. Each year more than 20 chapters host Women on the Move Luncheons to educate communities about MS and give from the heart to help friends, family members and colleagues. For more information about, or to sponsor or to host a table at the 2010 Women on the Move Luncheon, please contact Vice President of Development Lisa Rollins at lisa.rollins@ild.nmss.org or 312.423.1154. |
