Skip to Main Content
Left to Right: Michelle Obama, Cari Sacks, Michelle Collins, Barbara Bowman

Erikson Institute Annual Luncheon 2022

The event honored Erikson Alumna and Trustee Cari Sacks, who has spearheaded numerous philanthropic efforts on behalf of Erikson including student scholarship support and critical funding to establish Erikson’s Center for Children and Families in Chicago’s Little Village community.

Former First Lady Michelle Obama joined us for an in-person conversation with Erikson Life Trustee and Chicago business leader Michelle Collins. Funds raised from the event will support Erikson’s innovative programs that empower early childhood advocates to shape a more equitable world conducive to the growth and development of all young children.

Erikson co-founder Barbara Taylor Bowman, who has known Sacks for decades, presented her with the Spirit of Erikson award. Governor J.B. Pritzker congratulated Sacks via pre-recorded video.

Mariana Souto-Manning, President of Erikson Institute, expressed her gratitude for Sack’s dedication to Erikson programs and initiatives. “Cari is always looking toward what could be more just and equitable. She is very committed to Chicago public schools, to divested communities and to making sure the future is better than the present. Erikson is better because of her,” she said.

Watch a highlight reel from the event

2022 Erikson Institute Annual Luncheon Highlight Reel

Host Committee & Sponsors

As of November 1, 2022

Special thanks to Erikson Institute’s 2022 Luncheon Host Committee for their profound commitment to the children, families, and communities we serve.

Presenting Sponsors

GCM Grosvenor
Sabrina Gracias
Cari & Michael Sacks
Sara & James Star, Nancy & Steve Crown

Founding Partners

The Bluhm, Helfand, Wolf
& Kaul Family
Janet & Craig Duchossois
Mary & Paul Finnegan
Kenneth C. Griffin
The Harris Family Foundation
 Kathy Harris
 Caryn & King Harris
 Toni & Ron Paul
 Pam Szokol
 Linda & Bill Friend
 Stephanie & John Harris
Lindy & Michael Keiser
Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation
Lori & Ross Laser
Liz & Eric Lefkofsky
The Malkin Family
Judy & Ray McCaskey
Motorola Solutions
Pritzker Traubert Foundation
M. Jude Reyes
Patrick G. & Shirley W. Ryan
Sandy & Will Sterling
James C. Tyree Foundation
Zell Family Foundation

Benefactors

Abbott
Wendy & Jim Abrams/The Eleven Eleven Foundation
Eric Adelstein & Gail Basch, M.D.
Sheri, Mark, David, Patti & Myrna Bartelstein
The Bellick Family
Virginia & Norman Bobins
Alisoun & Stephen Brewster
Rita & John Canning
Rick & Dee Dee Chesley, DLA Piper
Jane & Bob Clark, Clayco
Michelle L. Collins
ComEd, an Exelon Company
Comer Family Foundation
The Joseph & Bessie
Feinberg Foundation
Allison & Brian Feltzin
Marilyn & Larry Fields
Ginny & Peter Foreman
Ikram & Josh Goldman
Andi & Jim Gordon
The Herr Foundation
Shawn & Lewis Ingall
J.P. Morgan
Anne L. Kaplan
Katrin & Jeremy Katz
Sara & Kip Kirkpatrick
Kovler Family Foundation
Schuyler & Jonathan Levin
Peggy & Yung Bong Lim
The Litowitz Family Foundation
Andrew & Joan McKenna Foundation
Diane Goldstick Meagher & Tom Meagher
Jill & Paul Meister
The Neisser Family Foundation
Ashley & Pam Netzky
Northern Trust
Jane & Daniel Och
Kathy R. Pick
PNC Financial Services, Inc.
Michelle & Fred Pollock
Carol Prins & John Hart
J. Christopher & Anne N. Reyes Foundation
David S. Richter
Kenneth, Julie & Elise Sacks
Anne E. Leibowitz Fund/Joy Segal
Rebekah & Ilan Shalit
Sidley Austin
Karyn & Bill Silverstein
Elenne Song & Soheil Esmailzadeh
The Sundheim Family Foundation
Ventas
Patty & Dan Walsh
Susan & Robert Wislow
Charitable Foundation
Sheri & Sherwin Zuckerman

Patrons

Anonymous
Bank of America Chicago
BMO Financial Group
The Boeing Company
Chicago Cut Steakhouse
Cresset Capital
EY
Katie & Brent Gledhill
Grub Hub
Sheila & Joseph Gutman
The Harris Family Foundation/ Linda & Bill Friend
Illinois Tool Works Inc.
Fay & Daniel Levin
Martin Nesbitt & Dr. Anita Blanchard
RSM US
The Diamond & Schwartz Families
Mary Sextro Black
Jenni Sorenson & John Holmes
Underwriters Laboratories Inc.
Wintrust Financial Corporation

Advocates

The Alter Group
Aronberg Goldgehn
Astor Investment Management
Barbara T. Bowman
John & Jacolyn Bucksbaum Family Foundation
Buffett Early Childhood Fund
Maree G. Bullock
Macol & Jose Cerda, Gail & Vaughn Buffalo
Christopher House
CIBC US
Scott Goodman, Farpoint Development
Fifth Third Bank
Beth & Larry Gies
The Irving Harris Foundation
Beth & Kenneth Karmin
Katherine Mann & Mitchell J. Lederer
Patricia & Robert Lane
Rabbi Steven Lowenstein & Julie Stark
Anne & Mitch Macknin in honor of Lucy Behn and her Erikson degree (2020 Master of Science in Child Development)
Gail & Frederick Manning
Robert R. McCormick Foundation
Mesirow
Brad Meyers
Lara & George Moynihan
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
David & Robin Small
Mariana Souto-Manning
The Spencer Foundation
Start Early
Steans Family Foundation
Susan A. Stone
Sunshine Charitable Foundation
U.S. Bank
Utopic / @properties, The Phelps-Hanson Kardosh Group
Adrienne White-Faines & Larry Faines, M.D. / Global Zero
Wilson Garling Foundation
YWCA Metropolitan Chicago

Donors

Catherine M. Adduci
Colleen Ahearn
Bank of America
Marlene Breslow-Blitstein & Berle Blitstein
Lisa Meyer & Nate Eimer
Lois & Stephen Eisen
Jessica Fairchild
Nanci Garoon
Mary & Norman Geller
Frank L. Gettridge
Goldman Sachs
Myrna & Jerome Goldstick
Stacy Grundy
Nickol R. Hackett
Amy E. Heifetz & Daniel P. Shapiro
Ben W. Heineman, Jr.
The Heller Group
Meg & Skip Herman
Patricia J. Hurley & Associates
Jaffee Family Foundation
Linda Johnson Rice
Tina Koegel
Fifi & Ron Levin
Levy Family Partners
Gary Metzner
Michael O’Halleran
Bridget O’Neill
Thomas O’Neill
Mr. & Mrs. Scott Pearson
Lisa & Richard Perry
Prescient Solutions
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Linda Johnson Rice
Trisha Rooney
Lynn Sasamoto & Todd Kurisu
Berta Shapiro & John Friedland
Bob Sullivan
Dia S. Weil
Judy Wise

Luncheon Committee

Diane Goldstick Meagher & Tom Meagher
Co-Chairs

Special Thanks to our Luncheon Committee

Eric Adelstein
Sheri Bartelstein
Leslie Bluhm
Virginia Bobins
Sabrina Gracias
Anne Kaplan
Lori Laser
Liz Lefkofsky
Kate Neisser
Sara Crown Star
Sandy Sterling
Dia Weil
Helen Zell

For more information contact Erikson’s Luncheon team