Lech Walȩsa, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former president of Poland
Robert Kupiecki, Poland’s Ambassador to the United States
Zygmunt Matynia, Poland’s Consul General in Chicago
WHAT
Walȩsa will receive the Lincoln Leadership Prize presented by the Abraham Lincoln
Presidential Library Foundation (ALPLF) at a benefit dinner Thursday, Feb. 9, 2012,
at Chicago’s Four Seasons Hotel. The Republic of Poland’s Ambassador to the United States and the Consul General in Chicago will be among the 350 guests attending the event.
An electrician by trade, the charismatic leader in 1980 founded Solidarity, the Soviet bloc’s first independent trade union. Walȩsa was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1983 and in 1990 became the first democratically elected leader in Poland’s postwar history, a post held for 5 years.
Established in 2006 by the ALPLF, the Lincoln Leadership Prize recognizes outstanding leaders in fields as diverse government, business, science, journalism and the creative arts.
Accepting the responsibilities imposed by history and demanded by conscience, these individuals’ lifetime of service in the Lincoln tradition is marked by great strength of character, individual conscience and an unwavering commitment to the defining principles of democracy.
Previous recipients are Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Retired U. S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, astronaut James Lovell and the late TV host Tim Russert.
Benefit dinner co-chairs are Gregory C. Case, president and CEO, Aon Corp.; Frank M. Clark, chairman and CEO, ComEd; Ellen Costello, CEO and U.S. Country Head, BMO Financial Corp.; Chaz Hammel-Smith Ebert, executive officer, The Ebert Company; Carrie J. Hightman, executive vice president and CLO, NiSource, Inc.; Paul V. La Schiazza, president, AT&T Illinois; Raymond F. McCaskey, CEO (retired), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois; and Gregory D. Wasson,
president and CEO, Walgreen Company.
For more information, please visit www.alplm.org
The $500 tickets and the purchase of tables for 10 benefit the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum Foundation, based in Springfield, Ill.
WHEN
Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2012
5:30-6:30pm cocktail reception | 7:35pm award presentation | 8:20pm portrait unveiling
WHERE
Four Seasons Hotel—8th floor (Delaware Place just west of Michigan Avenue)
PHOTO OPS
–5:30 to 6:30pm the guest of honor and VIPs will be available for photos only.
-7:35pm award presentation by Dr. Carla Knorowski, CEO of ALPLF; photos only.
-8:20pm unveiling of Walȩsa’s portrait painted by Wilmette artist Marla Friedman; photos only.
(All other times, interviews will be available with Dr. Knorowski, event officials and VIPs.)