Women of Concern Awards Luncheon Honors Two Outstanding Women on Fri., Feb. 28 at Hyatt Regency Chicago

Concern Worldwide U.S., the international humanitarian organization, will honor Marie Tillman, President and Co-Founder of the Pat Tillman Foundation, with the 2014 Leadership Award, and Susan Walsh, Founder and President of Little by Little, with the 2014 Humanitarian Award for their outstanding humanitarian and philanthropic leadership at its Women of Concern Awards Luncheon in Chicago on Friday, February 28, 2014 with a reception at 11:00 a.m. and luncheon and awards program at 12:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, 151 East Wacker Drive.

"Marie Tillman and Susan Walsh are not only pioneers in their respective fields-they are inspirations for positive change," said Joseph Cahalan, CEO of Concern Worldwide U.S. "Their compassion and commitment to bringing equal access to healthcare and helping veterans and active service members fulfill their academic dreams have undoubtedly touched and transformed the lives of thousands of people."

In response to the nationwide outpouring of support following her husband Pat Tillman's death in 2004, Marie Tillman co-founded the Pat Tillman Foundation, where she served first as a member of the Board of Directors and now as President. In 2008, Marie led the effort to redefine the Foundation's mission by developing the Tillman Military Scholars Program, which aims to create the next generation of leaders by helping a select group of veterans, active service members and their spouses to fulfill their academic dreams. To date, 290 Tillman Military Scholars-representing 34 states and attending 92 academic institutions nationwide-have been awarded more than $4.1 million in scholarship support. A native of San Jose, CA, Marie graduated with honors from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She worked in Marketing and Production at the Arizona Republic and ESPN and her memoir, The Letter, was released in June 2012. Marie currently lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and family.

Susan Walsh has been a pediatric nurse for more than 30 years, and an educator in the graduate nursing program at the University of Illinois in Chicago. In 2006, having led medical teams several times a year into Haiti, Sue and her husband Brian founded Little by Little to improve health and well-being in the Haitian village of Gramothe. On January 12, 2010, Sue and her medical team were working in Haiti when the devastating earthquake struck. Little by Little provides support to those in need and promotes self-reliance and sustainability through educational initiatives. In addition to continuing mission trips to provide basic healthcare, especially to mothers and children, Little by Little's long term goal is to advance the maternal child wellness center and support sustainability and reciprocity for the villagers of Gramothe. Sue is a graduate of the University of Illinois, and author of the 2011 book, Walking in Broken Shoes: A Nurse's Story about Haiti and the Earthquake. Sue and her family currently live in the Chicago suburbs.

Now in its 16th year, the event attracts more than 600 guests including members of Chicago's business and community leaders and raises more than $340,000 for Concern's work with the extreme poor. Marie Tillman and Susan Walsh will join past honorees of the Chicago Women of Concern Award Luncheon such as Shirley Welsh Ryan, Mari Gallagher, Catherine Bertini, Samantha Power, Mary Dempsey, Avis LaVelle, Justice Anne Burke, Aimee Mullins and Mary Houghton.

Felicia Middlebooks of WBBM Newsradio will emcee the event. The Chicago Women of Concern Awards Luncheon honors women who have demonstrated the qualities of justice, generosity, and compassion in their work and daily lives. Ticket prices are $150 per ticket and $1,500 per table. Corporate sponsorship packages range from $3,000 - $20,000. To purchase tickets, please visit concernusa.org or call (312) 431-8400. Funds raised through the event will support Concern's work to break the cycle of extreme poverty in 25 of the world's poorest countries. Follow #ConcernWomen and @Concern on Twitter for more information and live update from the ceremony.

About Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide is a non-governmental, international humanitarian organization committed to the relief, assistance and advancement of the most vulnerable people in underdeveloped countries of the world. Concern works in the areas of emergency response, education, livelihoods, health, and HIV and AIDS in 26 of the world's poorest countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and the Caribbean, and has saved countless lives, relieved suffering and provided opportunities for a better standard of living for millions of people. For more information, please visit www.concernusa.org or follow on Twitter and Facebook.

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