Make Room for Debate Luncheon honoring former Attorney General Lisa Madigan a success!
Executive Director, Dr. Toinette Gunn (C), along with CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson, Honoree Lisa Madigan, States Attorney Kim Foxx and Attorney General Kwame Raoul (L to R)
Chicago Debates celebrated 21 years of providing debate to Chicago Public School students at our 8th Annual Make Room for Debate Luncheon on June 12th. Former Attorney General Lisa Madigan was honored at the event with the 2019 Champion of Debate award as we celebrated the Chicago students who are becoming the next generation of leaders through the transformative activity of debate. Joining Chicago Debates and former Attorney General Madigan were Attorney General Kwame Raoul, States Attorney Kim Foxx, and CPS CEO Dr. Janice Jackson.
The event raised over $46,000 in less than an hour through day-of giving, with help from a matching gift of $10,000 from Third Coast Underwriters President, Marguerite Dixen, who sits on the Board of Directors. The money raised during the event will help Chicago Debates expand debate into two new schools next year, ensuring we reach our goal of bringing the benefits of debate into 95 schools by 2020.
“We need everyone’s engagement and commitment to civil and productive debate to understand the problems and create the solution,” said former Attorney General Madigan in her remarks at the luncheon. “Youth who have access to the Chicago Debates program are going to be ready to take on those responsibilities. They are going to be our leaders now and in the future. It is my greatest hope that Chicago Debates’ students recognize and use their power to make our world – their world – a better place.”
The 8th Annual Make Room for Debate luncheon was co-chaired by Rishi Agrawal, Founder, The Agrawal Firm; Farissa Knox, Founder & CEO, RLM Media & WRUW Productions; and Lerry Knox, Co-Founder & CEO, Sovereign Infrastructure Group. The event was Platinum sponsored by Allstate and Gold sponsored by Husch Blackwell, iManage, Jenner & Block, Kirkland & Ellis, Massey & Gail, Performance Trust, and Third Coast Underwriters.
Additional thanks to our speakers, Kelvin Castro, Amado Candelario and Hollis Griffin, Jr.
