The 16 Best Cookbooks of 2021

When we downsized two years ago and moved to a new home, I knew it was time to jettison some cookbooks to get my collection down to a “manageable” size. So, I bit the bullet and did it, donating over 200 (!) cookbooks to charitable auctions and local libraries and bookstores. But full confession here, […]

2021 Holiday Gift Guide: The Best Gifts for Everyone on Your List

Although holiday shopping can be exhausting, it’s actually good for you. A Harvard Business School study found that giving gifts, money or donating to others increases our happiness more than spending that money on ourselves. So, go ahead and spoil the ones you love this year. Not only will it lift your mood, but your […]

Where to See Holiday Lights Around Chicago This Season

The magical holiday season is upon us! Here are nine spots where you can savor seasonal light installations.   Art on theMart Art on theMART, in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, is continuing its holiday program with The Joffrey Ballet. Showcasing images from the Christmas classic “The Nutcracker” and set to […]

Dr. Helene Gayle: Giving Back Has Always Been ‘Part of Who I Am’

Dr. Helene Gayle has devoted the majority of her life to aiding the most vulnerable of populations. After more than two decades with the CDC, where she led initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS, Gayle has directed her recent philanthropic efforts to Chicago. In 2017, Gayle was named the president and CEO of Chicago Community Trust and […]

John Edwardson on Hard Work, Giving Back and ‘The Right Thing to Do’

In December 2020, John A. Edwardson, former CEO of United Airlines and CDW, delivered a commencement speech at his alma mater, Purdue University. Susan B. Noyes, Better’s founder, was so struck by Edwardson’s speech that she recently hosted a fireside chat with him to learn more about his journey as a businessman, father, and philanthropist. […]

John Edwardson on Hard Work, Giving Back and ‘The Right Thing to Do’

In December 2020, John A. Edwardson, former CEO of United Airlines and CDW, delivered a commencement speech at his alma mater, Purdue University. Susan B. Noyes, Better’s founder, was so struck by Edwardson’s speech that she recently hosted a fireside chat with him to learn more about his journey as a businessman, father, and philanthropist. […]

Let Down by the System: How the “Varsity Blues” College Admissions Scandal Took Down a Stanford Sailing Coach

John Vandemoer spent more than a decade as Stanford University’s sailing coach before he was conned by college placement counselor Rick Singer, who had approached him under the guise of helping a sailing program that needed both donations and help finding recruits to stay afloat. He was unwittingly caught up in the “Varsity Blues” scandal, which […]