WHEREAS, Fraricesca Maher Edwardson, Chief Executive Officer ofthe American Red Cross, Greater Chicago Region, a chartered unit of the American Red Cross, has announced her intention to step down from her position in early 2016; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed of her retirement by Alderman Edward M. Burke; and
WHEREAS, Francesca Maher Edwardson has provided outstanding guidance and leadership to the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago, serving more than 9.4 million people in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties and Northwest Indiana for more than ten years; and
WHEREAS, Francesca Maher Edwardson is the daughter ofthe late Edward Marciniak, former Deputy Commissioner of the City of Chicago Department of Development and Planning and President of the Chicago Institute of Urban Life at Loyola University, and Virginia Volini Marciniak, the founder of Arts North; and
WHEREAS, Francesca Maher Edwardson is a graduate of Loyola University with degrees in economics and law, both earned with honors; and
WHEREAS, In May 1984, Francesca Maher Edwardson received an appointment to serve as Director of the Securities Department for the State of Illinois from Secretary of State Jim Edgar; and
WHEREAS, As the first woman to hold this key posting, Francesca Maher Edwardson served with distinction until January 1987; and
WHEREAS, Upon leaving state government, Francesca Maher Edwardson joined the corporate/securities group as a partner at the Chicago office of the law firm of Mayer Brown from 1989 to 1993; and
WHEREAS, UAL Corporation, a predecessor to United Continental Holdings Inc., and its principal subsidiary United Airlines, appointed Francesca Maher Edwardson Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary; and
WHEREAS, In the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Francesca Maher Edwardson, as a member ofthe corporate executive team, effectively met the overwhelming challenges facing UAL and helped steer the company through the crises; and
WHEREAS, The American Red Cross, Greater Chicago Region, selected Francesca Edwardson to serve as Chief Executive Officer, succeeding the retiring William L. Braden on January 10, 2005;and
WHEREAS, With a strong commitment to furthering the cause of humanitarian and volunteerism within the region, Francesca Maher Edwardson elevated the profile of The American Red Cross, Greater Chicago Region in its mission to feed, clothe and house the victims of fire, flood and other disasters; and
WHEREAS, In her capacity as Chief Executive Officer, Francesca Maher Edwardson spearheaded many innovative programs including Ready Rating, an on-line pilot program to assist area businesses and schools by providing aquatic training and preparing for disaster; and
WHEREAS, Under the skilled leadership of Francesca Maher Edwardson, The American Red Cross, Greater Chicago Region has raised significant funding to support ongoing relief efforts to aid victims ofthe 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011; and
WHEREAS, Francesca Maher Edwardson has served in volunteer leadership positions for many non-profit and professional organizations, and currently sits on the Boards of Trustees ofthe Lincoln Park Zoo and the Rush University Medical Center and the Boards of Directors of JB Hunt Transport Services, Inc. and The Chicago Network; and
WHEREAS, Over the course of her career Francesca Maher Edwardson has been accorded many individual honors and accolades; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council assembled this twenty-ninth day of July 2015, do hereby recognize and thank Francesca Maher Edwardson for her distinguished service and leadership of the American Red Cross, Greater Chicago Region and wish her continued success and happiness as she begins this next chapter of her life; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Francesca Maher Edwardson.
Alderman Edward M. Burke Alderman, 14th Ward