In times of crisis, leaders step forward with creative solutions. On June 14, Aspen Institute CEO and best-selling author Walter Isaacson told the crowd gathered for Conservation International’s Chicago fundraising dinner that the time for leadership on the environment is now. Citing Benjamin Franklin, Albert Einstein, and the Wise Men who forged U.S. policy during the cold war as examples of individuals who stepped forward to meet the demands of their times, Isaacson explained that creativity and imagination are crucial to solving our environmental problems.
CI CEO and Chairman Peter Seligmann explained to the audience his optimism that genuine leadership will soon rise to meet our Earth’s environmental challenges. Seligmann described the present as an open moment, saying that people from top levels of business and government are recognizing the need for positive change.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. CEO Lee Scott was on hand to accept CI’s Global Conservation Hero award on behalf of Wal-Mart associates worldwide. Scott expressed his personal and professional admiration for CI, pointing out that no other environmental organization was willing to agree to a meeting with Wal-Mart until CI partnered with the retailer.
Former Vice President Al Gore made a special video appearance, congratulating CI for its groundbreaking, innovative work preventing species extinction. Pointing out that we are facing extinction at a rate comparable to the five great extinction events in our planet’s history, Gore said, “This time there’s no asteroid. It’s us!”
CI not only gave Chicago guests food for thought, but also locally grown, organic meat and vegetables. In honor of Conservation International’s mission, carbon from the event was offset through investment in Madagascar’s Makira rainforest and the plants used for décor are being repurposed by Urban Habitat Chicago on green roofs and urban gardens.
Chicago Dinner Committee:
Chairs
Paula and Jim Crown
Susan and Nicholas J. Pritzker
Co-chairs
Jackie and John L. Bucksbaum
Judy and Jamie Dimon
Harrison Ford
Ann and Thomas L. Friedman
Andi and Jim Gordon
Joyce and Judson Green
Anne and Ken Griffin
H. Fisk Johnson, Ph.D.
Gretchen and Jay Jordan
Anne and Chris Reyes
Julie and Brian Simmons
Gillian and Robert K. Steel
Tina and Byron Trott
Special thanks to our generous sponsors:
Hotspot Investors
Abbott Laboratories
Rita and John Canning
Cindy and Christopher Galvin
David G. Herro and Jay Franke
ITW
McDonald's Corporation
Northern Trust
United
Ann Ziff