Fellows » Distinguished Fellows Award
LGC established the Distinguished Fellow Award to honor a Fellow who has made a significant leadership contribution to the community.
For the first four years, the Chicago Community Trust provided a $25,000 award that the Distinguished Fellow could designate to the
organization of his or her choice. Today, the Distinguished Fellow has the opportunity to name an organization of his/her choice as
LGC’s Annual Holiday Party Beneficiary. Donations made at this annual event typically range from $4,000 to $7,000. LGC alumni are
eligible to nominate their peers for the award, which is awarded at the annual dinner.
Richard Townsell, 2004
Richard Townsell was Leadership Greater Chicago's fifth Distinguished Fellow. Richard was named Executive Director of Lawndale Christian Development Corporation in 1992. He brought his life experience growing up in poor communities and his previous work experience as a high school teacher for five years to the task of transforming one of Chicago's most impoverished neighborhoods. Under Richard's leadership North Lawndale has benefited from almost 200 units of housing, child care spaces for over 200 children, educational enrichment programs for over 600 youths in the community, and, most importantly, a sense of empowerment that they now have a say in their future. As a leader in the work of United Power for Action and Justice, Richard has worked on social justice and empowerment issues on a metropolitan scale.
Distinguished Fellows Award
LGC established the Distinguished Fellow Award to honor a Fellow who has made a significant leadership
contribution to the community.
Recipients