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.

Howard Learner, 1990

Howard Learner At the 25th Anniversary Dinner in May 2009, we were delighted to honor Howard Learner, founder and Executive Director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center (ELPC) with the 2009 Distinguished Fellow Award. Due to Howard’s outstanding leadership, ELPC is widely recognized as leading the charge on strategic policies to achieve environmental progress together with economic development. Howard and ELPC are policy innovators in promoting clean energy and Midwest high-speed rail development to create new “green” jobs, spur economic growth and reduce global warming pollution.

Howard is widely respected for his strategic vision and commitment to marrying environmentalism and economic growth. He served as a Senior Advisor on Energy and Environmental Issues to the Obama for President Campaign and his clean energy policy strategy has gained support from a diverse coalition of national, state and local policymakers, business groups, labor and environmental and civic organizations. The breadth of Howard’s commitments outside of ELPC are equally impressive –Friends of Israel’s Environment (Chair), American Council on Renewable Energy (Director), Citizen Action Illinois (Board Member), and Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University Law School. Howard was the founding President and Chairman of the Citizens Utility Board.

We thank Howard for his leadership and congratulate him as our 2009 Distinguished Fellow.

Distinguished Fellows Award

LGC established the Distinguished Fellow Award to honor a Fellow who has made a significant leadership contribution to the community.

Recipients