RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, The Republic of France has promoted Chicagoan Dr. Carla Knorowski to the rank of Officer in its National Order of Merit (L'Ordre National Du Merite). The award was bestowed upon Knorowski by Consul General of the Midwest in Chicago, Mr. Yannick Tagand, at a private ceremony at The Fortnightly of Chicago on Saturday, October 8, 2022; and
WHEREAS, The Chicago City Council has been informed ofthis honor by Alderman Thomas Tunney of the 44th Ward; and
WHEREAS, Knorowski is an alumna of Harvard University's Institute for Higher Education Management Development Program; and is a three-time graduate ofthe University of Illinois at Chicago, earning a PhD in Public Policy and Political Science and an MA and BA in Communication; and
WHEREAS, Knorowski has been recognized for her many achievements throughout her career, particularly in raising funds for arts, culture and education. She has served in leadership positions as a Managing Director of the Chicago Humanities Council, CEO ofthe Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation and currently as President and Chief Development Officer for the Naval War College Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Knorowski is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, University Club of Chicago serving on its Civic Affairs Committee, a member and former director of the Society of Midland Authors, Association of Fundraising Professionals, Private Directors Association and a former Trustee ofthe Naval War College Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Knorowski is the author of Gettysburg Replies: The World Responds to Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address (Lyons Press, 2015) and Under Lincoln's Hat: 100 Objects That Tell the Story of His Life and Legacy (Lyons Press, 2016, co-authored with James M. Cornelius). Her writing also is featured in Lincoln: An Intimate Portrait (Life Books, 2014); and
WHEREAS, Knorowski was bestowed the rank of "Officer" for her body of work and efforts to raise funds and awareness for the restoration and rebuilding of the historic Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, FR. Knorowski serves on the board of directors of the Friends of Notre-Dame de Paris (FoND), which she joined in 2019; and
WHEREAS, Shortly after a catastrophic fire swept through the iconic, centuries-old Cathedral-a UNESCO World Heritage Site-Knorowski organized a global virtual fundraising event whose participants included cellist and one-time Paris resident Yo-Yo Ma, actress Glenn Close, filmmaker Ken Burns, journalist Scott Simon and Notre-Dame Cathedral's titular organist Olivier Latry among others. She continues to work with her French and American directors of FoND to raise much-needed funds for the Cathedral's restoration; and
WHEREAS, Knorowski also has worked with the Paris-Chicago Sister Cities Committee to raise funds to cast and erect a statue of Illinois' favorite son and 16th President ofthe United States, Abraham Lincoln, in the French capital of Paris. Like the Cathedral, this project is ongoing; and
WHEREAS, Knorowski is a cultural explorer and has traveled more than 89,000 miles en route to visiting all the cities, villages and towns in the world named, "Paris." Inspired by Ernest Hemingway's literary allusion that "Paris is a moveable feast" Knorowski has set forth on a
goodwill journey to visit the world's Parises bridging cultural gaps between French and American cultures, traditions and people. At the midpoint of the journey, she presented an American flag which had flown over every Paris in the United States to the City of Paris, France as a tribute to the City of Light and all her fellow Parises. Her journey continues; and
WHEREAS, The National Order of Merit, steeped in history, was created on December 3, 1963, by then-President ofthe Republic Charles de Gaulle, who was later bestowed membership. It is the second national Order of France, the first being the Legion of Honor. It is under the authority ofthe Grand Master, President ofthe Republic Emmanuel Macron. The Order recognizes distinguished civil or military service. Annually it is awarded to approximately 3,000 French citizens and 300 citizens of foreign nations; and
WHEREAS, Said Knorowski upon receiving the award, "It is a humbling honor to be recognized as an Officer in the National Order of Merit of France. I am wholly and proudly an American citizen, but I am also a citizen ofthe world and it is in this spirit that I have embraced France and graciously, she has embraced me. I shall not only hold sacred this honor you have bestowed upon me this evening, I shall continue to earn it";
WHEREAS, A long-time 44th Ward resident, Knorowski is an exceptional Chicagoan worthy of our recognition and gratitude; now, therefore
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and members of the City Council of the City of Chicago, assembled this 16th day of November 2022, do hereby congratulate and honor Dr. Carla Knorowski for her elevation to the rank of Officer in the National Order of Merit and her many academic, philanthropic and literary accomplishments; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Dr.
Knorowski as a symbol of our esteem and gratitude.
Thomas M. Tunney Alderman, 44th Ward