EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Each year, the Niagara Foundation publicly recognizes individuals and organizations in the Chicago community who have distinguished themselves in their profession and contributed their time, energy, leadership, and dedication to the cause of dialogue, peace, understanding, education and community service.
Niagara 2015 Community Service Award
Chicago Community Trust
Received by: Terry Mazany
President and Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Community Trust
Niagara 2015 Lifetime Leadership Award
Andrea Zopp
Former President & CEO of Chicago Urban League
U.S. Senate Candidate
Niagara 2015 Fethullah Gulen Award
Suzanne Morgan
Founder of Sacred Space International
Founded in 2006, the Peace & Dialogue Awards seek to encourage leaders in the Chicago community to continue to be forces for positive change, to inspire thoughtful dialogue about the issues facing our community and our world, and to bring together the best and the brightest in the city to work together towards a more peaceful future.
Not a member? Become one here to have special access to all Niagara Foundation events including complimentary access to our “Chicago Global Family” and “Friends in Faith” events for one year!
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. If you wish to be placed on the waitlist for this event, please contact Josh Heine, Communications & Membership Coordinator at [email protected].
Date
Thursday, November 5th, 2015
Formal reception 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm held in The Library on the 8th floor
Dinner and award presentation 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm held in the Cathedral Hall on the 9th floor
Venue
University Club of Chicago
76 E Monroe Street, Chicago, IL 60603
The Niagara Foundation Peace and Dialogue Awards are a unique way to grow your network and establish relationships with leaders in the corporate, government, nonprofit, education, faith communities and media sectors in the Chicagoland area and beyond. We invite you to join us on November 5, at the University Club of Chicago and connect with our vast network.
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED. If you wish to be placed on the waitlist for this event, please contact Josh Heine, Communications & Membership Coordinator at [email protected]
CLICK TO RSVP
The dress for the occasion is business attire.
5:30 – 6:30 PM
VIP reception (by invite only)
7:00 – 8:00 PM
Dinner
8:00 – 9:00 PM
Award Presentation
Niagara 2015 Community Service Award
Chicago Community Trust
Received by: Terry Mazany
President and Chief Executive Officer, Chicago Community Trust
Niagara 2015 Lifetime Leadership Award
Andrea Zopp
Former President & CEO of Chicago Urban League
U.S. Senate Candidate
Niagara 2015 Fethullah Gulen Award
Suzanne Morgan
Founder of Sacred Space International
Every year we honor people for their commitment to Peace and Dialogue. Our awardees include leaders in the corporate, education, government, non-profit, communities and media sectors. Please see our list of past honorees who have demonstrated the values needed to create more cohesive communities and better our society.
We hope that you will consider sponsorship of this annual event with attendees ranging from leaders in the corporate, government, nonprofit, education, faith communities and media sectors. Such sponsorship will notably help our local Chicago headquarters advance current programs and events and implement new ones. Please see the packet below for a list of all sponsorship opportunities.
Fethullah Gulen
Turkish Muslim scholar, thinker, and poet
M. Fethullah Gulen was born in the small village of Korucuk, in Erzurum Province, Eastern Turkey, in November 1938. Known by his simple and austere life style, Mr. Gulen has been from his earliest years a gifted Islamic scholar and thinker, and a creative writer and poet. His father taught him Arabic, and initiated in him his profound love of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and his Companions. Later he continued his studies under the guidance of some of the most prominent Islamic scholars in Eastern Turkey. He received further training in the religious sciences.
Mr. Gulen, so distinguished himself that he was asked to begin teaching when he was only fifteen. He did so while continuing his studies in the religious sciences. Blessed with extraordinary oratory skills, even at young age, Gulen was recognized as one of the more accomplished Islamic preachers in the early 1950s, mentioned in the same breath with some of the more learned scholars, many years his senior, in Eastern Anatolia. Gulen devoted his life trying to solve society’s ills and spiritual sufferings, and inspired the establishment of many charitable organizations to serve the welfare of the underprivileged. He published a number of well-known books, most of which remain on the best seller list in Turkey, and have also been translated into English. These include The Infinite Light, Questions, Towards the Lost Paradise, and Truth through Colors. At a time when humanity is in a desperate need of leaders and role models, we find a true innovator and an inspirational leader as well as a deeply good man in M. Fethullah Gulen.
When he retired from formal teaching studies in 1980 he had inspired a whole generation of young students, many of whom are leaders in their communities today and of course, Niagara Foundation itself, especially they are the purpose of this evening, all based upon the work of this man.