September 23, 2021

Updates from BOMA/Chicago Foundation
Scholarship Recipients

Caroline Foulk
2020 Full Designation Scholar
Property Associate for JLL at 333 South Wabash
 
I just passed six months at my most recent assignment, 333 South Wabash. Between owner visits, ice cream socials and implementing the Rise Buildings App at our property, it’s been a busy and fun summer with plenty of opportunities to see well-known colleagues and even make a few new connections.

I was lucky enough to make a short trip down to Galesburg, IL to visit my alma mater, Knox College, with a few other alumni. Not much has changed in the four years since graduating!

The rest of my summer was spent building a community garden from scratch in my neighborhood, McKinley Park, which led to my collaboration with several neighborhood groups to apply for city-owned property to serve as a permanent home for the garden and a “nature play” area for teens and children in the area. The above picture is me at the McKinley Park lagoon.

In other good news, my youngest brother recently moved to Colorado to join the elevator union out there, and one of my sisters was promoted to lead pastry chef at Gibson’s. I am still on track to complete my RPA designation by the end of the year.

I also want to encourage my peers to apply for the Full Designation Scholarship. This is a need-based scholarship that pays the full $10,000 tuition for the RPA. Applications are open and are due on October 28.

Thank you to BOMA/Chicago for all the support I have received through this scholarship!
BOMA/Chicago Foundation Special Event:
Diversity in CRE Soiree on October 21
We invite you to become a sponsor of the BOMA/Chicago Foundation's Diversity in CRE Soiree, which will be held outside on Thursday, October 21 from 5:30PM to 7:30PM at River Point (444 West Lake). Sponsors and attendees of the Soiree will enjoy delicious food and drinks, unparalleled city views, live music from a jazz quartet...and much more!
 
The Foundation has not hosted a fundraiser since 2019 and we are hoping you can support us by sponsoring the Soiree. Because of the limited event capacity, we will not be selling individual tickets to the event. All tickets are part of a sponsorship package. Both Building and Affiliate Members, along with the entire Chicagoland CRE community, are encouraged to show their support through a sponsorship. You do not need to be a member to sponsor.

The money raised from the Soiree will support the Foundation’s initiatives – which includes three scholarship programs, internships, career fairs, building tours, high school and college outreach, financial empowerment classes and other programing, including the Reginald L. Ollie Inclusion and Outreach Scholarship.

The two sponsorship opportunities are:

  • Gold Sponsor ($3,500): Only 1 Gold Sponsorship remains! Sponsorship includes four event tickets and many other benefits.

  • Silver Sponsor ($2,500): Sponsorship includes two event tickets and other benefits.

For more information about these sponsorship opportunities, please contact Jaclynne Madden via email or call 312-870-9608. 
Thank you to our Soiree Sponsors!

The BOMA/Chicago Foundation Launches Foundation Fund Campaign
The BOMA/Chicago Foundation and our 26-year-old Diversity Committee are 100% committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in commercial real estate. As we continue to expand our efforts, we also need to expand and grow our resources. Under the leadership and guidance of CRE leaders and our Board of Directors, we have launched the BOMA/Chicago Foundation Fund campaign.

Our goal is to raise $250,000 by the middle of 2022. Donations and the interest earned from them will be unrestricted. We will use these funds to support all of the Foundation’s current and future programming, including scholarships, career days, building tours, financial empowerment classes, internships and more.

You and your company can play a part in supporting the BOMA/Chicago Foundation. Make a donation today! Click here to be directed to our Foundation Fund donation webpage. Thank you in advance for your support!

The BOMA/Chicago Foundation is qualified as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donations to the Foundation are tax deductible as charitable contributions or as ordinary and necessary business expenses. Donors should check with their tax advisors.
Diversity Committee Hosts Financial Empowerment & Housing Seminar
On September 14, the BOMA/Chicago Foundation Diversity Committee hosted its very first Financial Empowerment and Housing Seminar for janitorial staff and security guards in Chicago. The Foundation partnered with JP Morgan Chase and the Chicago Urban League to teach a 90-minute class about budgeting, saving, credit and money management.

We would like to thank the following Diversity Committee members for making this class possible: Teresa Amaro (CBRE), Bridgette Battle (LJ Sheridan) and Tamala Ballard (EQ Office). You can view photos of the Financial Empowerment class here.
 
If you would like to help us continue to make events like the Financial Empowerment seminar possible, then we invite you to attend and sponsor the Foundation's October 21 Diversity in CRE Soiree.
Diversity Committee Hosts Virtual CRE Career Days at Chicagoland High Schools & Colleges
Diversity Committee Helps Member Companies Hire Summer Interns
The BOMA/Chicago Foundation and Diversity Committee launched a brand-new internship program this year. Through our close relationships with National Louis University (NLU), DePaul University and local universities, we were able to connect with amazing college professionals looking to learn more about commercial real estate.

We are so proud to announce that the Diversity Committee assisted five college students secure CRE internships for the summer of 2021! Able Services hired one intern who is a student at the Illinois Institute of Technology (Kassidy Moy). Hines hired two interns, one from NLU (Tiffany Brown) and one from DePaul University (Khush Mistry). Glenstar also hired two summer interns from NLU (Joselin Rogel and Jose Berber). All students have completed their internships and are back at school. You can view pictures of our interns here.

Thank you so much to Able Services, Hines and Glenstar for helping us launch the intern program. We also thank Lance Knez (Hines), Kiersten Nelson (Hines), Claribel Quintana (NLU), Brian Staunton (Able Services), Mike Giese (Glenstar), Bridgette Battle (LJ Sheridan), Liliana Leon (JLL) and Blanca Lopez (JLL) for all of their support.
 
Are you looking to hire full-time or part-time interns in 2021 or 2022? If so, please reach out to Jaclynne Madden and she will connect you with students from local colleges and non-profits.
Become a Diversity Ambassador Today!
Meet your peers and volunteer at our diversity events!
Are you passionate about enhancing diversity, inclusion and equity within our industry? Then we want you to join us as a Diversity Ambassador!

By becoming a Diversity Ambassador, you will help the Diversity Committee and Foundation:

  • Facilitate honest conversations about diversity and inclusion by encouraging others (and yourself) to share stories and experiences
  • Educate and mentor underrepresented high school and college students about the CRE industry
  • Recruit underrepresented professionals to the CRE industry and create professional advancement opportunities
  • Host building tours, job shadow days and networking events
  • Plan D&I education programs

BOMA/Chicago members and our community-at-large are encouraged to become Diversity Ambassadors. You will work hand-in-hand with our Diversity Committee in making measurable, positive steps in diversifying the CRE industry. Our future leaders are right here in our own community and YOU can make a difference by volunteering alongside us.
Diversity Committee & Ambassadors Volunteer at Humboldt Park Block Party & Backpack Drive
On August 14, six BOMA/Chicago Foundation Diversity Committee members and Ambassadors volunteered at the Our Lady of the Angels Mission Backpack Drive.

A special thank you to Garrett Diamond (Stuart Dean Company), Caroline Foulk (JLL), Leon Harmon (JLL), Tammie Gunter (MB Real Estate), Kelly Hales (Hines) and Catherine Hughey (JLL) for volunteering their morning and afternoon to set up/break down the block party, serve lunch and engage with the hundreds of Humboldt Park families who attended. You can view photos of our volunteers here.

The BOMA/Chicago Foundation Diversity Committee and Ambassadors are always the first to step up and lend a helping hand to our Chicagoland community. Thank you again to our volunteers!
Diversity Committee & Ambassadors Hosted Summer Gathering to Celebrate Our Successes!
The BOMA/Chicago Foundation Diversity Committee and Ambassadors celebrated our ongoing successes on August 20 at the home of Freddy Flores (Vantage Elevation). Freddy and his wife, Veronica, welcomed us into their gorgeous home and showed us so much love and hospitality.

The diversity team has grown close over the past few years and, after many months of Zoom meetings, we were finally able to meet. It was a gorgeous afternoon full of fun and laughter!

Do you want to become a Diversity Ambassador? Learn more here!
Learn More About the BOMA/Chicago Foundation
The Foundation offers scholarships, CRE career days & more!

The mission of the BOMA/Chicago Foundation is to advance the development of emerging talent in commercial real estate, inclusive of underrepresented groups, through education, exposure and outreach. Learn more by visiting our website and watch a video highlighting our mission and volunteers.
You are receiving this email because you are a BOMA/Chicago member or have previously engaged with the BOMA/Chicago Foundation by attending an event or volunteering. If you would like to unsubscribe and no longer receive our Foundation emails, please click on the "Unsubscribe" link below.