Dear CAC Team,
I am pleased to announce that Emily Dreke will be joining us as the new VP of Development effective June 21. Emily comes to us most recently from the Chicago Foundation for Women where she has served as the Chicago Development Officer. When Emily started CFW in 2011, they raised approximately $1,700,000 a year in fundraised revenue. Last year, CFW raised $4,600,000. This year, in a year of pandemic, CFW welcomed nearly 900 new donors to its community and is on track to grant out $3.2 million – the largest total annual grantmaking in CFW’s history. These numbers speak to themselves in attesting to Emily’s fundraising experience. Prior to CFW she served as Assistant Director of Alumnae Relations and Annual Giving at The University of Chicago and worked as a fundraiser for US Senator Russ Feingold. When asked what attracted her to CAC she stated: “I am thrilled to be joining the CAC team at this critical juncture in the organization’s growth. I look forward to partnering with the talented and visionary staff, board, volunteers, members and donors to ensure the CAC has the resources necessary to reach new heights in the coming years.”
I am also happy to say that we have been able to “bring back” Jennifer Lucente McElroy on a contract basis to help with our social media. Jennifer initiated our social media program over ten years ago and launched the highly successful “85 Tours in a Year” challenge https://sixtyinchesfromcenter.org/85-architectural-tours-in-a-single-year/. She met her now husband on a tour and left to start a family. We are excited that she is back helping us as we enter our busy summer season. And an added benefit – she also took our docent training so knows us well.
Please join me in welcoming Emily and Jennifer to our team!