Soaring to Success: Anixter Center's 1st Annual Benefit for Ability

Anixter Center proudly presents its 1st annual Benefit for Ability: Soaring to Success! The inaugural event will include a lively cocktail hour, temping silent auction, dinner and an informative program. All proceeds from the Benefit will support the more than 7,400 children and adults living with disabilities who utilize the services of Anixter Center, the largest not-for-profit community rehabilitation agency in Illinois. 

Diane Swonk, Senior Managing Director and Chief Economist at Mesirow Financial, will be honored at this year's Benefit for her achievements.  As one of the most respected economists in the world, Ms. Swonk is frequently called upon by policymakers and business leaders from Washington to Tokyo and beyond.  Her myriad accolades include being rated as one of the top forecasters in the country by The Wall Street Journal and MSNB, and being designated by the Chicago Sun-Times as one of Chicago's most influential women in business. Ms. Swonk sits on several advisory committees to the Federal Reserve Board and its regional banks, and serves on the Council of Economic Advisors for the White House.  

Anixter Center provides an array of services to help people with disabilities and related challenges live, learn, work and play in the community.  Through 37 programs and services at 28 primary locations across greater Chicago, Anixter Center serves more than 7,400 children and adults with all types of disabilities and advocates for their rights to participate fully and equally in society.

Anixter Center was founded in 1919 as an orphanage to care for children who had lost their parents to Chicago's great influenza epidemic.  As the agency acquired new programs and sites and changed names throughout the 1950s, 60s and 70s, its focus broadened to meeting the needs of all people with disabilities in greater Chicago.  Having merged with three independent agencies (CALOR, Chicago Hearing Society, and the National Lekotek Center) since 1997 and expanded to dozens of locations from Chicago to Zion, today Anixter Center is among Chicago's largest nonprofit organizations and is the largest not-for-profit community rehabilitation agency in Illinois.  For more information, please visit www.anixter.org.