Women of Compassion

Last month 200 guests gathered at the Mid-America Club in Chicago, Illinois to honor Marjorie Craig Benton and Nancy Searle – two of Chicago’s most esteemed philanthropists – at the Midwest’s inaugural UNICEF’s Women of Compassion Luncheon.  Hosted by the Midwest Regional Office of the U.S. Fund for UNICEF, the award is designed to recognize women in the Chicago region who are making a difference in the lives of children and women.  Marjorie Craig Benton has served as a Public Delegate to the United Nations, chair of the White House Fellows Commission, and a board chair of Save the Children Federation. Her continued work for equality and justice for women and children align with the goals of UNICEF, which aims for a day in which all girls and boys will be given equal protection and rights. Sharing UNICEF’s belief that every child has a right to education, Nancy Searle has championed education including helping launch the charter school movement in Chicago. This includes forming New Schools for Chicago, an organization that has started more than 70 schools that offer underserved children a much-deserved and needed education. Ms. Searle also volunteers on several community and cultural institution boards. Two UNICEF representatives were on hand to pay tribute to the honored women. Pamela Fiori, a U.S. Fund for UNICEF National Board Member and Editor at Large for Town & Country, served as emcee for the event that also showcased the work of UNICEF. Frequently in the middle of this lifesaving work is senior UNICEF advisor for its Public Alliances and Resource Mobilization Office, Lisa Doughten, who presented a first-hand account of what it is like working on the front lines in poverty stricken areas. In accepting UNICEF’s Women of Compassion award, Marjorie Craig Benton quoted another inspiring woman, Gabriella Mistral, Chilean Nobel Prize Poet, saying “We are guilty of many errors and many faults, but our worst crime is abandoning children, neglecting the foundation of life. Many things we need can wait. The child cannot. Right now his bones are being formed, his blood is being made, and his senses are being developed. To him we cannot answer “tomorrow, his name is today…” Nancy Searle concluded her acceptance speech with an inspiring call to action: “The development and growth of the charter school start up fund began as an idea about how to leverage change in a failing system. That one idea continues to change educational outcomes for children in our city. Everyone in this room today has the capacity to be a leader or to positively influence change for our children and our city, the nation and the world through the donation of your time, talents and resources. Everyone has the capacity to make a difference in their own way. I ask each of you to consider the possibilities…and make no small plans.” Thanks to the UNICEF Profile Series Steering Committee and luncheon co-chairs, Wendy Serrino and Joseph Silich for their hard work to make this event possible.