Annual Benefit

OnWord 2021

OnWord 2021

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The American Writers Museum annual benefit, took place in-person on August 31, 2021 and virtually September 2, 2021. Thank you to our sponsors, honorees, and attendees. You truly made this an event worth writing about!

Make a contribution to the benefit here

2021 Leaders & Honorees

  • HOST AND MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Rebecca Makkai
  • EVENT CO-CHAIRS: John W. Estey and Jane Irwin
  • CULTURAL AND CIVIC LEADER HONOREE: AWM Founder Malcolm O’Hagan
  • PRESENTER OF THE INSPIRATION AWARD: Jenny Xie

Special appearances by writers Scott Turow, Alice McDermott, Billy Collins, Dana Gioia, Tayari Jones, Peter Sagal, and more.

Program Highlights

  • PERFORMANCE READINGS: Lookingglass Company Artists
  • PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT: Dark Testament: Black Writers on Racial Justice, Past and Present
  • STUDENT WRITING COMPETITION: Recognition of Winners
Learn more about the Onword 2021 Student Writing Competition

HOST COMMITTEE

PATRONS

Roger and Julie Baskes

BMO Harris Bank

Bulley & Andrews, LLC

S. Leigh Pierson and Douglas R. Conant

John and Cathie Estey

Werner and Marleen Hein

Jane Irwin

The O’Hagan Family

Jerre and Mary Joy Stead

Wintrust Financial Corporation

Benefactors

Dennis Abboud/ReaderLink

Anonymous

Barb and Mike Cabay

Marion A. Cameron

Ellen and Don Clark

Robert A. and Joan E. Clifford

Jay and Robin Hammer

Hill and Cheryl Hammock

Catherine Mouly and Ted Carlson

National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA)

Patrick O’Hagan and Paula Llaneza

Dominique Raccah and Raymond Bennett

John W. and Jeanne M. Rowe

Roberta Rubin

Larry Shulman and Rhonda Rochambeau

S&C Electric Company Fund

The Steans Family

Sponsors

Anonymous

Davinder K. Anand – The Neilom Foundation

Gail C. Bent

Lloyd and Kathryn Bettis

Scott and Beth Brady

Patricia and Robert Bridgeman

Amy and Paul Carbone

Carey Cranston and Ellen Tritschler

Carolyn Curiel and Mark Van Fleet

Edith and Gerald Falk

Robert and Gena Franden

Mary and Robert Haft

The Hotchkiss Family

Hummer Mower Associates

Ivan and Kathy Kane

Christine and Glenn Kelly

Daniel Korengold and Martha Dippell

Coco and Ethan Meers

Grove Mower and Brooke Hummer

Judy Pomeranz

John and Diane Riley

Lynne and Larry Robinson

Sarah Schrup

Michael and Tracey Scodro

Chicago Council of the American Writers Museum