Chicago State University Foundation opens nomination for 4rd Annual Essence of an Angel Awards

CHICAGO - Jan. 22, 2014 - PRLog -- (CHICAGO)  -- The Chicago State University (CSU) Foundation (http://www.csu.edu/foundation/) is now seeking nominations for the 4^th Annual “Essence of an Angel” awards which recognizes the achievements of some of the city’s most distinguished women leaders. The event celebrates and acknowledges the achievements single mothers have made to the Chicago community while raising scholarship funds for CSU students who are also single mothers.  Nominations close on Friday, February 7, 2014 and the 2014 "Essence of an Angel Scholarship Luncheon" will be held on Sunday, APril 13 from 12 - 3 p.m. where five women will receive the annual award.

The "Essence of an Angel" Scholarship Luncheon raises funds to support single mothers who attend CSU and are in need of scholarship assistance. Over 50% of the students at CSU are women, and of that number, over 25% are single parents. In acknowledgement of this, the CSU Foundation celebrates the achievements of current and former single mothers who have made significant contributions to CSU and the Chicago community.  The 2013 honorees wereStephanie D. Neely, Treasurer, City of Chicago (mailto:www.chicagotcitytreasurer.com); Dee Robinson-Reid, President, Robinson-Hill Hospitality Group (mailto:www.rh-hg.com); Norma J. Williams, Founder, and Chief Alignment Officer, NJW Companies (http://www.njwassociates.com); Jacquelyn Tolliver, Chief Deputy Clerk Traffic/1^st Municipal District, Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County and; Deborah Wilborn, a graduate of Chicago State University.

"I can't thank CSU enough for recognizing the importance of lifting up single mothers both through this great recognition and by providing financial support to their single mother students,” said 2013 honoree Williams. “Lifting up mothers, lifts up the entire community.”  “We are extremely proud to showcase the extraordinary success and achievements of these women whose lives and careers set an example for our students,” said Katéy Assem executive director of the CSU Foundation. “This is a highly anticipated event on the Chicago State University calendar”.

Nomination forms are available on the CSU website and should be returned along with supporting material, postmarked on or before February 7, 2014, to friends@csu.edu. Nominations can also be sent via mail to the Chicago State University Foundation, 9501 S. King Drive, ADM 322, Chicago, IL 60628.

Criteria for the awards include:

Exemplary, engaged and committed parent balancing a myriad of responsibilities;
Commitment to serving others in the greater community;
Excellence in job performance or field of endeavor;
Commitment to CSU and it’s mission;
Service as a role model for CSU students, faculty, or staff;
An effective leader who is changing the paradigm of what it means to be a “Single Mom”.

About Essence of an Angel

The purpose of the “Essence of an Angel” Scholarship Luncheon’s is to celebrate the achievements of women in their professional and personal lives as single mothers, and to acknowledge and celebrate the impact single mothers have made on CSU and the Chicago community. Funds raised through the event provide financial support for single mothers attending CSU. Any full-time CSU student, who is a single mother, is not currently a scholarship recipient and meets the grade point average criteria may apply.

About the Chicago State University Foundation

The Chicago State University Foundation (http://www.csu.edu/foundation/) was chartered in 1967 and incorporated in 1968 as an independent, charitable organization with the sole purpose of soliciting, receiving, and administering private gifts to Chicago State University.  The CSU Foundation is committed to “helping one student at a time” by raising funds to support CSU students and programs. Visit the Chicago State University Foundation on Facebook, Twitter (cs_fdn) and LinkedIn.