The 25th Anniversary celebration of the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation culminated on Oct. 17 with a gala at the Hilton Chicago attended by 600 guests, raising more than $700,000 to benefit gastrointestinal cancer research and real estate education.
The $700,000 raised,included $200,000 as part of the “live appeal” segment of the program, where guests pledged donations ranging from $100 to $10,000. The $700,000 raised marks the highest fundraiser to date for the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation.
To put that into context, the first dinner of the Foundation, in 1999, was held at Maggiano’s and attended by 70 people.
“We continue to be grateful and incredibly moved by the support that has been given to the Foundation over the course of 25 years,” said Peter Eisenberg, Board President of the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation. “The accomplishments of the Foundation are the result of a collective commitment to cancer research and real estate education as well as the generosity of so many long-time volunteers and donors.”
While celebrating the distinct parallel causes of the foundation, the emphasis of the evening was networking and relationship building. Appropriately, the event began with a 90-minute cocktail and networking reception, transitioned to dinner and concluded with a 60-minute dessert and networking reception.
During the dinner portion of the program, guests heard comments from Steven Elrod, Co-Founding Partner, Elrod Friedman LLP, and Steven Weinstock, Senior Vice President & Regional Manager, Marcus & Millichap; Kristen Young, Executive Director of the Harold E. Eisenberg Foundation as well as Peter Eisenberg.
The Program included a 5-minute video with personal reflections from Eisenberg family members, colleagues and friends of Harold Eisenberg, and key volunteers that have supported the Foundation, as well as students and patients that have benefited from the Foundation’s efforts. Steven Weinstock, Real Estate Education Chair, also shared his personal journey after cancer diagnosis.
The event’s Signature and Premiere Sponsors included Imperial Realty, Pine Tree, Harrison LLP, Old Second National Bank, Marcus & Millichap, Colliers Mortgage, COMAR Properties, Elrod Friedman, Old Second National Bank, Iron Ridge Partners and France Media. Additional table and program books sponsors were also highlighted that evening.
“The work we do, as a Foundation and a community of caring individuals, is so important and impactful,” Young said. “Our goal is to continue to change lives, whether through advances in cancer research or giving young people the opportunity to build their careers through mentorship and education.”
The Eisenberg Foundation hosts and produces numerous events throughout the year. These events are designed to raise funds and awareness for cancer research and to provide education and mentorship opportunities within the commercial real estate industry. Earlier this year, at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting, the following accomplishments in cancer research were highlighted:
· $4 million raised for cancer research
· 27,000 tissue samples donated
· 11 research projects funded
· The creation of the Eisenberg Foundation OncoSET program
· 500 Cancer Care packages delivered to cancer patients
The Foundation’s work in real estate education has produced:
· 1,900 mentorships
· 2,200 Career Day and Real Bright Summit attendees
· 1,000 student participants (in our Real Estate Challenge)
· 200+ mentors
· 100+ university partners
· 44 real estate scholars
· $500,000 in scholarship awards
In addition to the dinner, highlights of the 25th Anniversary of the Foundation included its annual Eisenopoly event raising $215,000; its 14th Annual Real Estate Challenge, which attracted a record 20+ college and university teams; and its Level Program partnership with Wintrust, welcoming 100 high school student from Simeon Academy to tour Wintrust Arena, concluding with its 15th Annual Career Day, attracting 125 college students from across the country.
The work of the Foundation to raise funds for cancer research efforts at the Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University becomes even more important given that, according to Dr. Al Benson, 11% of funding has been cut from the National Institute of Health budget for cancer research.
