Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Each spring the Museum hosts its signature event, the Humanitarian Awards Dinner. Now the largest fundraising dinner in the city of Chicago, this high profile evening pays tribute to pillars in our community, Holocaust Survivors and highlights the Museum’s achievements. Distinguished keynote speakers enrich the evening and address the 2,000+ audience with their personal experiences and global analysis of current events. The Humanitarian Awards Dinner is a poignant evening that demonstrates the impact the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center plays in our local community and beyond.

Official Airline of the Humanitarian Awards Dinner

2021 Humanitarian Awards Dinner 

Honorees:

• Exelon Corporation, accepted by Chris Crane, President & CEO
• Scott Swanson, President, PNC Bank, Illinois 

Survivor Legacy Award:                                                                                                  

• Zev and Shifra Karkomi 
  Posthumously

Keynote:

• Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
  Former NBA Star & Activist

2020 Humanitarian Awards Dinner 

Honorees:

• Exelon Corporation, accepted by Chris Crane, President & CEO
• Scott Swanson, President, PNC Bank, Illinois 

Survivor Legacy Award:                                                                                                  

• Zev and Shifra Karkomi 
  Posthumously

Keynote:

• Nikki Haley
  U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations (2017-2019)

The views of our speakers are their own and not necessarily indicative of Museum positions. 

2019 Humanitarian Awards Dinner 

Honorees:

• Our cherished Holocaust Survivors
• John Ettelson, President & CEO, William Blair

Keynote:

• Former President Bill Clinton

2018 Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Honorees:

• Mitchell Feiger, President & CEO, MB Financial, Inc.
• Pamela L. Netzky, Founder & Former President, SkinnyPop Popcorn, now Amplify Snack Brands 

Distinguished Community Leadership Award:

• Robert R. McCormick Foundation, represented by President & CEO David D. Hiller

Keynote Speaker:

• The Rt. Hon. Tony Blair Prime Minister, Great Britain and Northern Ireland (1997-2007)

See our gallery of photos from the event >

2017 Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Honorees:

• Dr. Richard A. Chaifetz, Founder, Chairman and CEO, ComPsych Corporation
• E. Scott Santi, Chairman and CEO, ITW

Keynote Speaker:

• Former First Lady Laura W. Bush (2001-2009)

See our gallery of photos from the event >

2016 Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Honorees:

• Harvey L. Miller, Partner, Benida Group
• Terrence A. Duffy, Executive Chairman and President, CME Group

Keynote Speaker:

• Leon Panetta

See our gallery of photos from the event >

2015 Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Honorees:

• Renee and Lester Crown

Keynote Speaker:

• Walter Isaacson

See our gallery of photos from the event >

2014 Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Honorees:

• John A. Canning, Jr., co-founder and Chairman, Madison Dearborn Partners
• Thomas S. Ricketts, Chairman, Chicago Cubs and Incapital

Distinguished Community Leadership Award:

• Richard S. Hirschhaut, Founding Executive Director, Illinois Holocaust Museum

Keynote Speaker:

• Dr. Henry Kissinger

See our gallery of photos from the event >

2013 Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Honorees:

• William Brodsky, CEO, Chicago Board Options Exchange
• Linda Johnson Rice, Chairman, Johnson Publishing

Survivor’s Legacy Award:

• J.B. Pritzker, Managing Partner, The Pritzker Group

Keynote Speaker:

• Bob Woodward

See our gallery of photos from the event >

 2012 Humanitarian Awards Dinner

Honorees:

• Neil Bluhm, Walton Street Capital
• Don Thompson, McDonalds
• Rick Waddell, Northern Trust

Community Leadership Award:

• Michael J. Rubinstein

Keynote Speaker:

•  Dr. Robert Gates

Humanitarian Award Dinner Videos

These videos are a tribute to the tireless work of the Museum’s Speakers Bureau and the power memory serves to change the future.

• 2014 IHMEC Dinner Video
• 2013 IHMEC Dinner Video
• 2012 IHMEC Dinner Video
• 2011 IHMEC Dinner Video
• 2010 IHMEC Dinner Video