Chicagoland Tocqueville Society members attended the 13th annual Tocqueville Recognition event at Carnivale restaurant in Chicago this month. The colorful reception featured a Latin flare complete with Nuevo Latino cuisine and a special performance by a preschool dance troupe from United Way partner agency Hogar Del Nino.

Hosted by Harris Bankcorp and Tocqueville Society co-chairs, Deb DeHaas and Sheila Penrose, Society members were given an update on the issues facing Chicagoland’s Latino communities and the programs United Way supports to address those needs. Ray McCaskey, president and CEO of Health Care Service Corporation was also welcomed as the newest United Way Tocqueville Society co-chair.

DeHaas, Penrose and McCaskey received an award for their tireless commitment to the United Way of Metropolitan Chicago Tocqueville Society. Tony Anderson, vice chair and Midwest managing partner of Ernst & Young accepted an award on behalf of the accounting firm for its generous sponsorship of the Million Dollar Challenge Grant, which matches any new or increased gifts at Leadership or Tocqueville levels dollar for dollar. Steve Solomon, director of corporate relations of Exelon, the parent company of ComEd, also accepted an award on behalf of Exelon for their sponsorship of the African American Challenge Grant, which matches 200% any gift over $1,000 to the African American Initiative.

Pictured: Ray McCaskey, Health Care Service Corporation president and CEO; Sheila Penrose, Jones Lang LaSalle board chair; Tony Anderson, Ernst & Young vice chair and midwest managing partner; Deb DeHaas, Deloitte managing partner, and Steve Solomon, Exelon director of corporate relations were honored for their commitment to United Way.

United Way took part in Abbott Laboratories’ Molecular Division Agency Fair in Des Plaines. About 350 Abbott employees visited the fair where they received information on the importance of supporting United Way to help people achieve self-sufficiency.

William Blair & Co., L.L.C., a Chicago-based investment firm, recently kicked off their United Way campaign with a Bears tailgate party. About 300 employees came out to learn about United Way volunteer opportunities and Project Blueprint, a United Way program that prepares professionals to serve on nonprofit boards. The highlight however, was the news that in one day, William Blair employees raised an impressive $284,000, the most ever raised in one day for a workplace campaign. The total included a generous $75,000 gift from an anonymous individual. William Blair has been partnering with United Way for more than 20 years. Congratulations to William Blair for their generous support of United Way!

Pictured: Julie Conner human resoruces associate, Bob Newman director of research and United Way ECC and Jill Meyers research administrator for William Blair & Co. L.C.C. attend the Chicago Bears tailgate and United Way campaign kickoff.