Speakers

Founded by Colonel Jennifer N. Pritzker, IL ARNG (Retired), the Pritzker Military Museum and Library, 104 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL, is a non-partisan museum and library that seeks to increase public understanding of military history and the sacrifices made by the men and women who have served. See more at www.pritzkermilitary.org. Through its collection and its programs, the institution is dedicated to serving as a forum for all viewpoints and discussions about the past, present, and future of the military and to preserving those viewpoints for future generations.

Since opening in 2003, it has hosted more than 500 events featuring acclaimed authors, historians, journalists, and scholars.

Leah Cohen, is responsible for the Holt Oral History Project. She coordinates a team responsible for the documentation of oral history interviews of veterans of US Armed Services and others. This effort involves locating participants who would like to share their story, researching their context, interviewing them, transcribing the audio portion. The interviews are posted with an accompanying biography on the website. Learn more: www.pritzkermilitary.org/whats_on/holt-oral-history-program.

Host: Catherine Lemmer

Ann McAveeney is the President and co-founder of Fill a Heart 4 Kids. When Ann learned of the tremendous amount of children in-need in Illinois, she quite her successful career to take in homeless children. Her passion for children grew further. She soon began a program that would give children who have been abused, trafficked and abandoned a chance at a brighter future. Without compensation, Ann worked, tirelessly, to provide children with the necessary tools for a better future. Even more importantly, she gave them hope by showing them there are people that care.
Fill a Heart 4 Kids began in 2007 when the McAveeney family delivered Valentine care packages to 48 children living in a children’s home – to help them heal and feel loved and remembered. Seeing firsthand the amazing effect this small act of kindness had on these kids motivated Ann to grow FAH4K into an organization with year round programs reaching thousands of local children in need, including homeless youth trying to survive. Thousands of 4 Kids Care Packages, school supplies, and Survival BacPacs are hand delivered throughout the year to provide unaccompanied homeless youth and rescued children with critical necessities and much needed items to give them hope for a brighter future.
The momentum Ann has created through Fill a Heart 4 Kids is infectious. In 2017 the 4 Kids Community did more than 18,000 service hours, delivered over 18,000 meals, 20,532 school supplies, winter coats they’ve updated a children’s home, delivered birthday cakes and more!
EVERYONE can make a difference! Fill a Heart 4 Kids provides exceptional opportunities for individuals, families, schools, sport teams, organizations etc. to get involved and HELP! With thousands of volunteers each year, Ann has truly created a passionate community serving more than 1350 local children in need!

Host: Doris Lim