Concern Worldwide Holds Annual Women of Concern Brigid Awards 2/25

Concern Worldwide will hold its annual Women of Concern Brigid Awards luncheon on Friday, February 25, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, 1 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL. The 2011 Women of Concern Brigid Awards luncheon honors three outstanding Chicagoland women for their exceptional achievements. A silent auction featuring national and local celebrities' new and gently used handbags and wallets will also be a highlight. The funds raised from this event will support Concern Worldwide's Maternal and Child Health programs in Haiti, Rwanda and Malawi.

The 2011 Women of Concern Brigid Awards luncheon this year recognizes three women whose daily lives and work reflect justice, generosity and compassion. The honorees include Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke; Honorary Life Director of The Chicago Council of Global affairs, Patricia Blunt Koldyke; and Terrie McDermott, the Executive Director of the Department of Women's Justice Services. More than 700 guests annually attend this event that honors the significant accomplishments of three women who reflect justice, generosity and compassion in their work and daily lives. Chairing the event this year will be Carol Deely and Susan Flynn.

Concern Worldwide was founded in 1968 and is non-governmental, international humanitarian organization committed to the relief, assistance and advancement of the most vulnerable people in the underdeveloped countries of the world. Concern Worldwide works in 28 of the world's poorest countries across Africa, Asia and the Caribbean, implementing emergency response programs and long-term development programs in the areas of education, health, livelihoods and HIV and AIDS. Concern Worldwide has saved countless lives, relieved suffering and provided opportunities for a better standard of living for millions of people. www.concernusa.org

2011 Women of Concern Brigid Award Honorees
Anne M. Burke
Anne M. Burke is Supreme Court Justice, First District. She received her B.A. degree in education from DePaul University in 1976 and her J.D. degree from IIT/Chicago-Kent College of Law in 1983. She was admitted to the Federal Court, Northern District of Illinois, in 1983, the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit in 1985, and certified for the Trial Bar, Federal District Court in 1987. In that same year, Governor James Thompson appointed her Judge to the Court of Claims and, in 1991, she was reappointed by Governor Jim Edgar. Burke was the first woman to serve on the Illinois Court of Claims. In April 1994, she was appointed special counsel to the Governor for Child Welfare Services. In August 1995, she was appointed to the Appellate Court, First District. In 1996, she was elected to the Appellate Court, First District, for a full term. Upon the retirement of Justice Mary Ann G. McMorrow in 2006, she was appointed to the Illinois Supreme Court. She was elected to a full 10-year term in November 2008.

Justice Burke has also chaired the lay National Review Board of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops which investigates accusations of clerical sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church.
She is married to Alderman Edward M. Burke, and they are the parents of five children, Jennifer (Jim Murphy), Edward (Jackie), the late Emmett, Sarah, and Travis, as well as five grandchildren.

Patricia Blunt Koldyke

Patricia Koldyke and her husband Mike founded Golden Apple Foundation with the concept that every child deserves an excellent teacher and that every excellent teacher deserves recognition. Since its inception in 1985, Golden Apple has grown into an institution that continues to recognize gifted teachers, and also prepares and strengthens teachers who make a critical difference in the lives of all children, with a special emphasis on those teaching children from disadvantaged schools.

In 2007, Patricia and Mike Koldyke established the Patricia Blunt Koldyke Fellowship in Social Entrepreneurship at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, where Pat has served as a board member for more than 20 years. Through the Fellowship Mr. & Mrs. Koldyke acknowledge emerging leaders who have been recognized for their social entrepreneurship and continuing contributions to their communities.

Ms. Koldyke has served as an honorary co-chair, along with Maggie Daley, of the Women in Global Development Forum to highlight the leadership role of women in major development initiatives throughout the world.

Ms. Koldyke has four children and eight grandchildren.

Terrie L. McDermott
Terrie McDermott is the former Executive Director of the Department of Women's Justice Services. She established this department with former Cook County Sheriff Michael F. Sheahan in 1999 to promote and administer the integrated model of substance abuse and mental health treatment program for women offenders. Ms McDermott designed three gender specific programs to address the underlying issues of incarcerated women. These three programs include MOM's Program, Women's Residential Program and Female Furlough Program; which successfully treat women and give them a chance to be mothers and reunite with their families.

Among many groups, Ms. McDermott is a member of the Illinois Public Health and Corrections Taskforce, Children of Prisoners, Salvation Army Corrections Board and Mental Health Courts Steering Committee.

Ms. McDermott is a graduate of Chicago State University with a degree in education.

Concern Worldwide's annual Women of Concern Brigid Awards Luncheon will be held on Friday, February 25, 2011 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, 1 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL. For tickets, phone (312) 431- 8400 or visit www.concernusa.org.

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