Please join the Better Government Association at our annual luncheon on Thursday, September 23, 2021. After this long year of separation, the BGA looks forward to gathering in person at the Fairmont Chicago. For those that wish to participate from the comfort of their home or office, we will orchestrate a live feed of the event. Proceeds from this event will help support the BGA's high-impact investigative journalism, essential fact-checking, advocacy on behalf of good governance and activities that engage citizens in demanding effective leadership and policies.
The BGA will present the Daniel L. Goodwin Watchdog Award posthumously to long-time adviser and supporter, Jim Mabie. The BGA is honored to pay tribute to Jim's legacy of ardent support for investigative journalism. In 2020, Jim made a leadership gift to help launch the BGA's Fund for Illinois Investigative Reporting, which so far has helped establish two new reporting positions in the BGA's newsroom. Best remembered professionally for his long tenure in the investment business and founding of Chicago Capital, Mabie was one of Chicago's leading philanthropists, with interests that also included classical music, arts education and equitable economic opportunity. He was instrumental in recruiting new chief executives both for WBEZ and WTTW and helped launch the Chicago News Cooperative. A thoughtful civic leader, businessman and mentor, Jim lent his disciplined approach to philanthropy and commitment to excellence to the BGA's drive to bring good government to Chicago and across Illinois. His legacy will always be remembered.
This year’s special Luncheon guest is David M. Rubenstein, Co-Founder and Co- Chairman of The Carlyle Group, one of the world’s largest and most successful private investment firms. He also hosts The David Rubenstein Show: Peer-to-Peer Conversations and Bloomberg Wealth with David Rubenstein on Bloomberg TV, and is the author of The American Story: Conversations with Master Historians and How to Lead: Wisdom from the World’s Greatest CEOs, Founders, and Game Changers. David is a philanthropic leader to non-profits across the nation and serves on numerous boards, including locally as a Trustee of the University of Chicago, where he graduated from its law school in 1973 and served as editor of the Law Review.
Mr. Rubenstein will be in conversation with BGA President David Greising as they discuss the Luncheon's theme: Character Matters.
Jim Mabie (posthumous), 2021 Daniel L. Goodwin Watchdog Awardee
David M. Rubenstein, 2021 Special Luncheon Guest
If possible, kindly consider check or wire transfer payment for gifts of $5,000+.
Event Contact: Jennifer Breslin
Please send payments to:
Better Government Association
c/o PJH & Associates, Inc.
205 West Wacker Drive
Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60606
About Better Government Association
The Better Government Association (BGA) is one of the nation’s oldest nonpartisan, nonprofit investigative journalism and civic advocacy organizations. Founded in 1923, the BGA has devoted close to a century to promoting transparency, efficiency, and accountability in government in Chicago and across Illinois.
Today, the BGA continues to provide the public with trustworthy, unbiased information about its government and elected representatives. With three autonomous program areas—Investigations, Policy, and Civic Engagement—our team uncovers waste and wrongdoing in government, holds elected officials accountable, litigates for open records and meetings, advocates for good government, and empowers citizens to engage and act. In the wake of the catastrophic collapse of the local news industry and, more recently, the barrage of criticism aimed at undermining the credibility and effectiveness of the mainstream media, the work of the BGA is essential to holding our elected officials, government agencies, and those that seek to represent us accountable. The health and sustainability of the Fourth Estate is more important than ever to protecting our democracy.
For more information about the BGA, please visit http://www.bettergov.org/