Announcing Robert R. McCormick Foundation Investment in New LGC Initiative

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 8, 2019

Media Contact
Candice Warltier
(773) 991-1210 | cwarltier@cs-effect.com

Robert R. McCormick Foundation Invests
in New Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) Initiative
Grant funds participation of nonprofit senior executive in The Daniel Burnham Fellowship to ensure interconnectedness of Chicago’s civic networks

Photo: WTTW/Ken Carl

CHICAGO, IL (April 8, 2019) — The Robert R. McCormick Foundation announced today its support of The Daniel Burnham Fellowship, a new senior executive initiative launched by Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC). Sandra Cordova Micek, president and CEO, Window to the World Communications (parent organization of WTTW and WFMT), has been named the first McCormick Fellow in the inaugural cohort of the Fellowship.

The Daniel Burnham Fellowship is an accelerated civic onboarding experience for senior executives new to Chicago or new to their role, designed to inspire these leaders to mobilize and exert their combined influence and intellect to positively impact Chicago, its future, and the continued economic progress of the region.

“We are grateful for McCormick Foundation’s commitment to supporting our nonprofit and philanthropic leaders in The Daniel Burnham Fellowship,” said Maria Wynne, CEO, Leadership Greater Chicago. “The Daniel Burnham Fellowship is an extension of the work LGC does to connect senior leaders to one another and provide them with the resources and opportunities to drive social change and make an even greater impact in the city of Chicago. We believe the participation of nonprofit executives is critical to rounding out the exposure to the interconnectedness of Chicago’s civic networks for transformative action.”

Cordova Micek is one of 20 senior-level executives participating in the inaugural cohort. The Fellowship is for C-Suite or senior level executives who are new to their role or new to Chicago and want to integrate into the civic fabric of the city, understand its history and future trajectory and build relationships and networks across the Greater Chicago Region. Ultimately, the call to action for these leaders is to drive and impact transformative change to make it possible for Chicago to reach its full potential.

“Sandra is at the helm of one of Chicago’s premier media organizations, where each day presents an opportunity to engage our citizens,” said David Hiller, President and CEO of the McCormick Foundation. “We are confident her experiences through Leadership Greater Chicago and The Daniel Burnham Fellowship will strengthen the relationships among our civic leaders and the media that share their stories.”

“I am honored to be named the McCormick Fellow in LGC’s inaugural cohort of The Daniel Burnham Fellowship,” said Cordova Micek. “Through telling local stories from diverse perspectives, WTTW and WFMT aim to enrich lives, engage communities, and inspire exploration – a purpose that is closely aligned with the goals of this fellowship. In the coming year, I look forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the city, its networks, and the business community.”

About Leadership Greater Chicago

Leadership Greater Chicago (LGC) is the region’s premiere civic leadership development organization. LGC convenes, connects and mobilizes the area’s most promising leaders around key socioeconomic issues through dynamic education and experiential activities. These diverse individuals represent the most prominent corporate, nonprofit, government and education organizations.

LGC creates connectivity among its Fellows to positively impact not only themselves but their employees, their constituents, their clients, their neighbors, and their families. This connectivity is the backbone and strength of the LGC network, enabling leaders to leverage collective resources to make the Greater Chicago Region a more dynamic, inclusive, and collaborative community.

2018 marked the 35th Anniversary of LGC’s founding by The Chicago Community Trust. Since 1983, the LGC Signature Fellows Program has equipped participants with the resources they need to understand how decisions are made, how complex policies are shaped, and how to influence meaningful change. Using the city as a classroom, LGC Fellows learn through interactions with private, public, and nonprofit decision makers, and work as a group to develop critical thinking, analytical, governance, and leadership skills.

LGC Fellows are a distinguished group that includes former First Lady Michelle Obama, Managing Partner of Emerson Collective and former U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, former Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, Chairman of Urban Partnership Bank David Vitale, General Partner of Henry Crown & Company Steve Crown, President and CEO of World Business Chicago Andy Zopp, City  Treasurer Kurt Summers, Senior Executive Vice President and CEO of Exelon Utilities Anne Pramaggiore, CEO of Ariel Investments, LLC John Rogers, Executive Vice President and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility and Global Diversity & Inclusion at Northern Trust Connie Lindsey, Chancellor of City Colleges of Chicago and MacArthur Genius Juan Salgado, President and CEO of Metropolitan Family Services Ric Estrada, CEO of American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois Celena Roldan, President and CEO of Cara Maria Kim, President of Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) MarySue Barrett, and President and CEO of Access Living Marca Bristo. LGC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

To learn more about Leadership Greater Chicago, please click here.

About the Robert R. McCormick Foundation

The Robert R. McCormick Foundation works with communities in Chicagoland and across Illinois to develop educated, informed, and engaged citizens. Through philanthropic grantmaking and Cantigny Park, the Foundation works to make life better in Chicagoland. The McCormick Foundation, among the nation's largest foundations with more than $1.5 billion in assets, was established in 1955 upon the death of Col. Robert R. McCormick, the longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. Find out more at www.mccormickfoundation.org.