Evanston MashUp to Honor Trailblazing Chief of Police, Northwestern Dance Marathon and Evanston Community Foundation

Evanston, Illinois, Sept. 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evanston’s first African American chief of police and a long-standing partnership between a local university and foundation will be honored at the 2017 Evanston MashUp taking place on Sept. 12, 2017, at Northwestern University.

The Evanston MashUp is an annual celebration of all things Evanston under one big tent – designed to bring people together. Guests hail from many of the city’s neighborhoods, and range from entrepreneurs to executives, artists to accountants, musicians to mathematicians. Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty and Northwestern President Morton Schapiro serve as co-captains of the event, which is hosted by Northwestern University in coordination with the City of Evanston, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and other business partners.

At the event, two awards will be handed out. Bill Logan will receive the 2017 Corrine Passage Spirit of Evanston Award. Northwestern University Dance Marathon and the Evanston Community Foundation will accept the 2017 Evanston/Northwestern Catalyst Award.

“I am so pleased at my first MashUp as mayor of this wonderful city to honor our first African American police chief, as well as the collaborative spirit of NU Dance Marathon and the Evanston Community Foundation,” Hagerty said. “Chief Logan and NUDM/ECF exemplify the intent of the MashUp to collaborate and create relationships and programs that stand the test of time and better the lives of those in our community.”

Corrine Passage Spirit of Evanston Award
The Corrine Passage Spirit of Evanston Award is presented to an Evanstonian who has performed outstanding service to the community and who embodies the mix of qualities that represent the city: courage, compassion, vision and creativity. Bill Logan exemplifies all of these qualities, and it was for this reason that he was selected to receive this award. Logan, who was born and raised in Evanston, has achieved many firsts in his life and career.

At Evanston Township High School, he was the first black football captain, first black winner of the Myerson award for football excellence and first black senior class vice president. With the Evanston Police Department, he became the first black lieutenant, captain and deputy chief as well as chief of police. Within the community, he was a co-founder of the Chessmen Club, which provides service to the youth and elderly; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), a nationwide organization for African American police officers; and the Fellowship of Afro-American Men (FAAM) youth basketball league, which is entering its 49th year.

Nationally, Logan is perhaps best known for pioneering community policing, designed to bring police and the community closer together. He established foot and bike patrols and working groups to align the police with community and business organizations. He also helped develop and implement victim-assistance programs in Evanston.

After 30 years, Logan retired from the Evanston Police Department and took on another new role: Director of Safety and Security at ETHS, where he stayed for nearly 20 years. While there, he introduced the school’s first crisis plan, hot line, training programs and a visitor sign-in system.

“To me, it’s a true honor to be recognized for doing things for others in the Evanston community,” Logan said.

Previous winners of the Spirit of Evanston Award include Jennifer Pritzker and Dawn Overend; Bob and Patty Reece; Dick Peach; and Susan Trieschmann.

Catalyst Award
The Evanston/Northwestern Catalyst Award recognizes a person or organization that embodies the spirit of community partnership and collaboration between Northwestern University and the City of Evanston that should be celebrated and modeled in other areas. The partnership between the Northwestern University Dance Marathon (NUDM) and Evanston Community Foundation epitomizes this award, and is why the two organizations will be named the 2017 recipients of the Catalyst Award.

NUDM is one of the largest independently student-run philanthropies in the country whose mission is to unite the Northwestern, Evanston and the Greater Chicagoland Community in philanthropic fundraising, awareness and education. For nearly 45 years, more than 1,000 dancers and committee members annually dance for 30 hours straight to benefit different community organizations. NUDM has supported the Evanston Community Foundation for more than 20 years. 

“We are honored and grateful to receive the Evanston MashUp Catalyst Award. NUDM could not exist without the continued support of Northwestern University and the Evanston community,” said Daniel Nussbaum and Jamie Newman, the executive co-chairs of NUDM 2018. “Almost 21 years ago when our organizations started this partnership, no one could have imagined the effect it would have in bringing our communities together. We are happy to provide funding for ECF grant recipients so that they can do what they do best. Our relationship, however, goes beyond the money—each year, dancers volunteer at organizations supported by these grants, strengthening the bonds that unite the Northwestern and Evanston communities. We are incredibly fortunate to partner with the Evanston Community Foundation for our 21st year and are excited for many more years of working with an organization that has such an amazing impact in our community.”

The Evanston Community Foundation is dedicated to helping Evanston thrive as a vibrant, inclusive and just community. Going beyond grants, the Evanston Community Foundation challenges the community to think about solutions that can be applied on a large scale. The foundation believes that the power of philanthropy is to shine a light on promising solutions.

“The Evanston Community Foundation is honored and humbled to share the 2017 Evanston MashUp Catalyst Award with NUDM,” said Diana Cohen, the Evanston Community Foundation board chair. “The recognition of our longstanding partnership and collaboration with NUDM to make a meaningful difference in our shared community is much appreciated. We learn from the NU students every day and value the real and vibrant impact they have on Evanston. We also are honored to follow in the footsteps of the prior recipients of the Catalyst Award.”

For more than 20 years, the effective and long-term partnership between NUDM and the Evanston Community Foundation has resulted in:

• Approximately 10% of the Dance Marathon’s annual proceeds ($1.1M total) being donated to the Evanston community
• Nearly 300 grants being awarded by the Evanston Community Foundation to approximately 130 organizations
• Providing tuition support in the Midtown Education Foundation’s programs through an endowment made possible by the Dance Marathon

Past winners of the Evanston/Northwestern Catalyst Award include the Northwestern/Evanston Skilled Trades Training Program; Northwestern University and City of Evanston police departments; professors at Northwestern University who founded a company in Evanston that had a significant impact on the city; Evanston Fire and Life Safety Services; Office of STEM Education Partnerships between Northwestern University and Evanston Township High School; Lending for Evanston and Northwestern Development; and former Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl and Northwestern President Morton Schapiro.

Evanston MashUp Details
The eighth annual Evanston MashUp kicks off at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The event is an opportunity for entrepreneurs, executives, artists, professionals, city leaders and CEOs to gather to celebrate the contributions of those in the Evanston community.

In addition to the awards ceremony, there will also be a “ChowDown at the MashUp,” featuring 35 local restaurants, libations, awards and entertainment. Join the celebration and enjoy a late summer evening with amazing food, great music, and the eclectic and electric essence of our community. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, promoting and growing business in the community.  

To purchase tickets, register online at evanstonmashup.com. Tickets are $95 per person until Sept. 6; $125 thereafter. Tickets are $50 each for young professionals (35 or younger) or 2 for $75 (bring a friend!). Visit evanstonmashup.com for complete details.

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A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/98d7205d-134f-4112-a4e5-ed2eb289d36f

Marina Marich
Evanston MashUp
847-868-2049
[email protected]