The first two 2007 United Way Tocqueville Breakfasts featured Chicago sports teams. To kick off our Tocqueville Breakfast series in April, we focused on a relatively new sports enterprise in Chicago and nationwide—women’s basketball. In fact, the Chicago Sky, the Woman’s National Basketball Association team in Chicago, tipped off its first season just two years ago.

Margaret Stender, president and CEO of the Chicago Sky was our keynote speaker. Ms. Stender has an extensive background as a successful business woman and basketball player. She brings with her 21 years of marketing and business management experience working for some of the country’s top corporations, including Quaker/PepsiCo Beverages and Foods, Rand McNally & Co, and Ameritech New Media. Ms. Stender gave attendees an overview of the Chicago Sky corporation and their role in metropolitan Chicago.

“The Chicago Sky is an up-and-coming team willing to work hard to win,” said Pam Strobel, co-chair of the United Way Tocqueville Society. “Their organization is lined with fresh talent—from its players on the court and its coaching staff, to its helm led by Margaret.”

The second Tocqueville Breakfast held in May, was hosted by a Chicago team with decades of history on Chicago’s North Side—the Chicago Cubs. At this event, attendees heard from John McDonough, president of the Chicago Cubs and a member of the organization since 1983. Under McDonough’s leadership, the Cubs have revamped both their roster and staff and have also enjoyed their 22 highest attendance totals in team history—including three consecutive seasons with an attendance mark of more than three million fans.

McDonough spoke about America’s favorite pastime, which over the years has become an industrious, productive, multi-billion dollar business, as well as how to give back to the community. Through their charitable foundation Cubs Care this ball club supports youth sports programs, programs for children with special needs and for victims of domestic violence.

“The Cubs have a strong commitment to enacting positive change in its local Wrigleyville community and throughout the metropolitan area,” said Deb DeHaas, co-chair of the United Way Tocqueville Society.

The Tocqueville Breakfast series is comprised of small, informal breakfasts hosted by various industry leaders from around the metropolitan Chicago area. Each event brings together Society members and other business and community leaders to share ideas and knowledge about business and philanthropy. Upcoming Tocqueville Breakfasts will feature Michael Moskow, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve of Chicago, on August 14 and Emily Barr, president and general manager of ABC 7 Chicago, on October 3. If you are a Tocqueville Society member and would like to attend one of these breakfasts, please contact Whitney Templeton at (312) 906-2295.