Hundreds of friends, faculty members and civic leaders gathered June 4 in the grand ballroom of the Palmer House Hilton to salute the centennial of the University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration.
The celebration included performances by children's groups, dinner and talks by university leaders.
SSA is an extraordinary institution that is defined by the significance of the research and knowledge development of the faculty, contributions and leadership of our graduates, and engagement and partnerships with dedicated social institutions and social service institutions, said Dean Jeanne Marsh. With dedicated social institutions and social service organizations, SSA faculty are conducting the research and developing knowledge that drives programs and innovation in these institutions and communities in Chicago and beyond, she added.
Marsh cited, in particular, research on health disparities, urban school reform, youth gun violence and work on intervention models to improve parenting and child protection.
Marsh announced that the gala raised $250,000 for research, leadership development and community engagement activities. She praised the support the school has received over the years from government leaders, civic leaders and philanthropists, including Julius Rosenwald, University Trustee and CEO of Sears, Roebuck and Co.
The event, which television newsperson Renee Ferguson emceed, honored Frank Clark, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ComEd, who received the Julius Rosenwald Award for Distinguished Civic Leadership. SSA alumnus Ron Huberman (A.M.,'00) also was recognized for his service as Chief Executive Officer of the Chicago Public Schools.
Clark is a member of the Visiting Committee for SSA and a member of the Board of Trustees for the University of Chicago Medical Center. Clark was recognized for contributing extraordinary momentum to SSA's proven education and research programs that forge public collaborations and constitute the engine for developing Chicago's social and human service leadership. Partnering with nonprofits, agencies and community organizations, SSA has revealed new approaches for helping struggling neighborhoods, public schools and improving conditions for distressed families, the school said in honoring him.
