5th Annual Philanthropy Awards

Nothing matches the excitement we share as a team at Make It Better when it comes time for the Make It Better Foundation to bestow its annual Philanthropy Awards on outstanding and deserving nonprofits. This year, for the Fifth Annual Philanthropy Awards, the Make It Better Foundation honors — and we celebrate — three impactful and inspiring organizations that join the illustrious group of 37 previous winners.

Each winning organization is showcased through a special video and coverage across all Make It Better platforms. Winners also receive vital marketing training and networking opportunities to help them spread awareness of their mission and garner support. This year’s winners will be honored in our special celebration, generously emceed by CBS 2 Chicago, at Wintrust’s Grand Banking Hall on May 3. Make It Better most gratefully thanks our presenting sponsor Wintrust, as well as Imperial Lamian and Tracy Clifford Style, for their support of this celebration.

The Make It Better Foundation’s Academy of Judges — a vibrant community of esteemed venture philanthropists, past winners, sponsors and thought leaders — selects winners based on excellence, scalability, efficiency, leadership and effectiveness. The Academy of Judges includes:

Susan B. Noyes, Founder, Make It Better Foundation
Nancy Searle
Sharon P. Krone, Secretary, Make It Better Foundation
Sandy Tsuchida, Treasurer, Make It Better Foundation
Mindy Fauntleroy
Seth Weinberger, Founder, Innovations for Learning
Katie Taylor, Development and Communications Manager, Northwestern Settlement
Neli Vazquez Rowland, Co-Founder and President, A Safe Haven
Seth Green, Executive Director, Youth & Opportunity United
Michael Rosengarden, Owner, Autohaus on Edens
Lou Bank, Chief Operating Officer, Dolores Kohl Education Foundation
Jeanne Bishop, Assistant Public Defender and Author, Cook County Public Defender
Greg Cameron, Executive Director, Joffrey Ballet
Emilia DiMenco, President and Chief Executive Officer, Women’s Business Development Center
Katherine Elmer-DeWitt, External Initiatives Manager, Academy of Global Citizenship
Jean M. Franczyk, President and Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Botanic Garden
Nancy Gianni, CEO & Founder, GiGi’s Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers
Utica Gray, Chicago Regional Director, Fresh Start Caring for Kids Foundation
Jonathan Heuring, Development and Communications Director, Snow City Arts
Sarah Kerndt, Vice President, Pathways.org
Liv Livingston Howard, Director of Nonprofit Executive Education, Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University
Kim Michelson, Executive Director, Beyond Sports Foundation
Cindy Rawlings, Vice President, Wintrust Bank
Shawnelle Richie, Director of Communications and Public Affairs, CBS 2 Chicago
Joi-Anissa Russell, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Moran Center for Youth Advocacy
Eftiola Trebicka, Development Associate, Housing Opportunities and Maintenance for the Elderly
Eric Weinheimer, President & CEO, Forefront
Crystal Williams, Assistant Director, Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management at North Park University
Barbara Wolf, Director of Charitable Giving, Invest for Kids

The Make It Better Foundation is also grateful for the generous support from award sponsors Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan in honor of pathways.org and Kellogg Nonprofit Executive Education Team.

Click on each winner’s name or photo below to learn more about the organization and watch their video. Congratulations to the winners!