title
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION HONORING THE LIFE AND PHILANTHROPY OF ANN LURIE
WHEREAS, Ann Lurie, a revered philanthropist whose generosity and leadership profoundly impacted academic, cultural, social service, and healthcare institutions in Chicago and beyond, will surely be missed; and
WHEREAS, Ann Lurie was recognized as one of the nation’s leading philanthropists, who actively engaged in the projects she supported and made substantial contributions to institutions such as Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the University of Michigan, and numerous global health and education projects; and
WHEREAS, Ann Lurie was born and raised in Florida, the only child of a single mother. Ann earned a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing from the University of Florida before working in public health and later as a pediatric intensive care nurse at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, following the death of her husband Robert H. Lurie in 1990, Ann dedicated herself to raising their six children and continued her commitment to philanthropy, becoming president of Lurie Investments and president and treasurer of the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Foundation; and
WHEREAS, Ann is a lifetime member of the Board of Trustees of Northwestern University. Ann’s philanthropy at Northwestern University includes over $60 million in donations, the establishment of the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Robert H. Lurie Medical Research Center, which significantly advances medical research and patient care; and
WHEREAS, Ann established two professorships at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine and was honored with the Ann Lurie Professorship in Oncology for her immense generosity towards cancer research and patient care; and
WHEREAS, Ann serves on the National Honorary Committee of the National Osteoporosis Foundation and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for National Institutes of Health. Ann made a transformative $100 million gift to build the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, the most significant philanthropic commitment in the hospital’s history; and
WHEREAS, Ann significantly impacted the medical community, particularly in pediatric care. Ann’s endowment of $1.3 million to the Adolescent Medicine Trials Network for HIV/AIDS research at Children's Memorial Hospital was instrumental in advancing critical medical research; and
WHEREAS, Ann’s philanthropic efforts extended beyond Chicago. She gifted $37 million to the University of Michigan, founded the Africa Infectious Disease Village Clinics, Inc., and supported numerous health, education, and environmental initiatives in Africa, China, and Nepal. Ann also created an annual Christmas party for low-income children at St. Vincent DePaul Center and backed the creation of the Greater Chicago Food Depository; and
WHEREAS, in 2015, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences inducted Ann. Ann also received numerous awards for her humanitarian contributions, including the Grant Goodrich Achievement Award from the Northwestern Alumni Association, the Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter Award for Humanitarian Contributions to the Health of Humankind, and the Anti-Defamation League’s Lifetime of Achievement Award.
WHEREAS, Ann Lurie funded The Lurie Prize through the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, recognizing outstanding achievements in biomedical research, and supported Research America’s John Edward Porter Legacy Award.
WHEREAS, Ann Lurie’s generosity and leadership have left an indelible mark on numerous institutions and individuals, making her a national treasure whose legacy will endure.
NOW, THEREFORE, WE, BILL LOWRY, COOK COUNTY COMMISSIONER OF THE 3rd DISTRICT, AND TONI PRECKWINKLE, PRESIDENT OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONER, that we honor and celebrate the life and legacy of Ann Lurie, recognizing her extraordinary contributions to health care, education, social services, and the arts;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT MEMBERS OF THE BODY, that we extend our deepest condolences to Ann Lurie’s family and her many friends and colleagues who mourn her passing; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a copy of this Resolution be presented to the family of Ann Lurie as a symbol that we commit to continuing Ann Lurie’s legacy of compassion, generosity, and dedication to improving the lives of others, striving to emulate her exemplary spirit and philanthropic vision.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED: a copy of this Resolution will be filed with the Office of Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowry 3rd. District.
end