Colleen Gleason Community Spirit Award
May 31, 2022
“It was an honor to attend the Junior League of Chicago’s annual member meeting. We were overwhelmed with emotion and pride as they recognized Colleen and her generous spirit in such an amazing way!” - Christine and Mike Gleason
The Junior League of Chicago, ‘JLC’, celebrates 110 years! The primary focus of the Junior League is to train women for volunteer service and spark their interest in the social, economic, educational, civic, and cultural conditions of their community.
The Community Spirit Award is announced at the JLC annual member meeting. It recognizes a Junior League member who goes above and beyond in their commitment to the JLC mission in the community. This year the award was renamed the ‘Colleen Gleason Community Spirit Award’.
The Colleen Gleason Community Spirit Award will continue to be awarded each Spring to a member who demonstrates her passion for helping others and represents the JLC as an organization that makes a difference in the Chicago community.
The JLC leadership chose to rename the award in Colleen’s name based on her commitment to giving back and her example for other members.
There were many awards and recognitions given at this JLC event. Christine and Mike were excited for their turn to announce the name of the special young woman to receive the award in Colleen’s name.
“Colleen embodied the League’s values of camaraderie, community service, and respect to all. This award will keep her memory alive while honoring other outstanding JLC members.” - JLC President Melissa Schumacher
The 2022 Colleen Gleason Community Spirit Award was bestowed to Erika Kowall!
Melissa Schumacher (JLC President), Erika Kowall (award recipient), Christine and Mike Gleason
“Erika, was genuinely touched and honored to have received this award. She had made sure to come introduce herself to us and had so many wonderful things to say about Colleen!”
"Being the first recipient of the Colleen Gleason Community Spirit Award was a privilege and the highlight of my nine-year Junior League career. This award is meant to both honor Colleen as a passionate, giving, thoughtful woman and represent the spirit of why women get involved and stay involved in the JLC. This award embodies the attributes and demonstrates the passion that Colleen had for the JLC, and it is with great enthusiasm that I proudly accepted it. It is my mission to continue to spread the positive and ambitious spirit of Colleen throughout the entirety of my time in the Junior League."
- Erika Kowall, Junior League of Chicago, Advocacy Vice President
Christine and Mike were so happy that Colleen's passion to help others will be remembered with this legacy by JLC. Congratulations this year to Erika and all future award winners!
“Baby girl, you continue to make us proud and inspire us to help others in your honor.”
Photo credit: Mandy Dempsey Photography