2023 Benefit Luncheon Elizabeth and Joseph Walder – Walder Foundation Anthony Moseley and Carla Stillwell – Collaboration Theatre Company Thomas R. Leavens Award – Jennifer M. Mikulina 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
