Previous Honorees
2022 Benefit Luncheon
Erin Harkey - Commissioner of DCASE
Homer Hans Bryant - Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center
& Hiplet
Eugene Sun Park and Jason Matsumoto - Full Spectrum Features
Erika Ratcliff and Charlique C. Rolle - Congo Square Theatre
Howard and Darlene Sandifer - Chicago West Community Music Center
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Stacy Streur
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Marci Rolnik Walker
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Rose Ann Vargas
2021 Benefit Luncheon
Jimmy Johnson - Chicago Blues Legend
Katie and Tim Tuten - The Hideout
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Kevin J. Conway
Distinguished Service to the Arts Award - Perkins Coie
2020 Benefit Luncheon
Mary Lane - Chicago Blues Legend
James Ginsburg - Cedille Records
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Ruth Kaufman
2019 Benefit Luncheon
Allen Turner - Arts Philanthropist, Advocate, Collector
Madeleine Grynzstejn – Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Robert L. Margolis
Moderator – Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune
2018 Benefit Luncheon
Josephine Lee – Chicago Children’s Choir
Pierre Lockett – Forward Momentum
Joan & Robert A. Clifford
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Carol Anne Been
Moderator – Alison Cuddy, Chicago Humanities Festival
2017 Benefit Luncheon
Renee Fleming – World-Renowned Opera Singer
Anthony Freud – The Lyric Opera of Chicago
Greenberg Traurig, LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Michael A. Clark, Sidley Austin LLP
Moderator – Phil Ponce, Chicago Tonight
2016 Benefit Luncheon
Tony Karman – EXPO CHICAGO
D’Arcy Stuart – The Second City
Leavens, Strand & Glover, LLC
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Barry Irwin, Irwin IP LLC
Moderator – Aaron Freeman
2015 Benefit Luncheon
Liz Carroll – International Award-Winning Irish Fiddler and Composer
Mark Howard – Choreographer and Founder – Trinity Irish Dancers
Sidley Austin LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – William H. Frankel
Introduction – Orla McBreen, Consul General of Ireland
Moderator – Rick Kogan, WGN
2014 Benefit Luncheon
Derrick Carter – American House Producer and DJ
Jim DeRogatis and Greg Kot – Co-Hosts of WBEZ’s Sound Opinions
Holland & Knight LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – William E. Rattner
2013 Benefit Luncheon
Michelle T. Boone, Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events
Henry Fogel – Roosevelt University
Joe Segal – Jazz Showcase
The John Marshall Law School
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Andrew L. Goldstein
2012 Benefit Luncheon
Barbara Gaines and Criss Henderson – Chicago Shakespeare Theatre
Bruce Iglauer – Alligator Records
Ann Murray – International Music Foundation
Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Ellen Sandor
2011 Benefit Luncheon
Scott Anderson - Law Bulletin Publishing Company
Tony Fitzpatrick – Artist, Playwright, Actor
David C. Hilliard – Pattishall McAuliffe Newbury Hilliard & Geraldson LLP
Marc Kelly Smith – Founder, International Poetry Slam
Thomas R. Leavens Award – John Iltis
2010 Benefit Luncheon
Fred Anderson – Jazz great
Scott and Judy McCue – Philanthropists
Kit Woods – SAG/AFTRA
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Jerry W. Glover
2009 Benefit Luncheon
Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video
Richard H. Driehaus - Philanthropist
Joffrey Ballet
Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Paul H. Singer
2008 Benefit Luncheon
Ella Jenkins – Legendary Educator and Entertainer
Victory Gardens Theater
WFMT
McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Peter J. Strand
2007 Benefit Luncheon
Christopher G. Kennedy - Merchandise Mart Properties, Inc.
Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus
Old Town School of Folk Music
Foley & Lardner LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Julieanna L. Richardson
2006 Benefit Luncheon
The People’s Music School
Roche Edward Schulfer, Executive Director and Robert Falls, Artistic Director -
Goodman Theatre
Alene Valkanas - Executive Director, Illinois Arts Alliance
Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Scott Hodes
2005 Benefit Luncheon
Jerry Butler – Chicago Music Legend
Brenda Sexton – Managing Director, Illinois Film Office
Writers’ Theatre and Michael Halberstam, Artistic Director
Melvin L. Katten and Allan B. Muchin – Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award – Konstantinos Armiros
2004 Benefit Luncheon
Mary Dempsey - Commissioner, Chicago Public Library
John Mahoney - Actor, Stage, Film & Television
Ed Paschke - Artist, Educator
Winston & Strawn LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Mary Hutchings Reed
2003 Benefit Luncheon
Tony Jones - President, School of the Art Institute of Chicago,
Co-CEO of the Art Institute
Jeff McClusky - Independent Radio Music Promoter
Jackie Taylor and The Black Ensemble Theater
Marc R. Kadish – Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Linda S. Mensch
2002 Thirty Years Of Service
Roger Ebert - Film Critic, Journalist, Chicago Sun-Times
Ramsey Lewis - Jazz Musician
Steven P. Berkowitz and Marwen Foundation
Joyce Sloane - Founder, Second City
Thomas R. Leavens Award - R. Thomas Howell, Jr.
2001 artlaw @lunch
Lerone Bennett, Jr. - Editor, Ebony Magazine
New Art Examiner
Radio Arte WRTE 90.5 FM
Joe Shanahan - Owner, Cabaret Metro
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Patricia A. Felch
2000 artlaw @lunch
Margaret Taylor Burroughs - Founder, DuSable Museum
of African American History
Henry Godinez - Artistic Director, Goodman Theatre
Richard Gray - President, Art Dealers Association of America
Arlene Rakoncay - Executive Director, Chicago Artists’ Coalition
Thomas R. Leavens Award - William C. Weinsheimer
1999 art+soul
Abena Joan P. Brown - Co-Founder, President & Producer, eta Creative Arts Foundation
John Callaway - Former Senior Correspondent and Host ‘Chicago Tonight’
Joan Harris - President, Harris Foundation
Pepe Vargas - Executive Director, International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago
Thomas R. Leavens Award - James N. Alexander
MC - Robin Robinson, Anchor Fox News Chicago
1998 Our Kind Of Creative Town
Bruce DuMont - Founder and President of the Museum of Broadcast Communications
Ronne Hartfield - Executive Director of Museum Education, The Art Institute of Chicago
Ruth Ratny - Founder, Screen Magazine
Organizations: Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum and Sara Lee Corporation
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Raymond I. Geraldson, Jr.
MC - Bill Kurtis, Veteran TV Journalist
1997 Silver Anniversary Gala
Hope Abelson - Arts Patron and Philanthropist
Fred Fine - Director of Public Affairs for Columbia College
Scott Hodes - Senior Partner at Ross & Hardies and Co-Founder of LCA
Sidney R. Yates - Illinois Democrat Congressman, 9th District
Thomas R. Leavens Award - Thomas R. Leavens
MC - Joel Daley, Anchor WLS-TV