McCORMICK TRIBUNE FOUNDATION’S CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM AWARDS $100,000 TO ADVANCE CIVIC LEADERSHIP PROGRAM
University of Illinois Benefits from Foundation’s Commitment to Country and Youth
Media Contact:
Kyle Bradbury
312-222-3188
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CHICAGO, Oct. 4, 2005
The McCormick Tribune Foundation board of directors awarded $100,000 to support the Civic Leadership Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The program’s mission aligns closely with the foundation’s belief that an effective democracy depends on the continuing engagement of capable and dedicated leaders.
The two and a half-year Civic Leadership Program is designed to generate a stream of motivated, broadly trained, and ethically aware civic leaders. Each year, the program will admit a cohort of up to 15 Civic Leadership Fellows who will begin the program during their junior year and continue through one year of graduate study to earn a master’s degree and a certificate in Civic Leadership.
“The Civic Leadership Program is the only graduate-level experience of its kind in the state and will serve as a model for civic education nationwide,” said David L. Grange, president and chief executive officer of the McCormick Tribune Foundation. “The McCormick Tribune Foundation is proud to invest in initiatives that guide students in becoming mature and capable civic leaders.”
The Civic Leadership Program will involve three components: an academic portion, which will provide students with a better understanding of democratic processes, ethical responsibilities and analytic tools; a practicum, which will help fellows gain concrete insights into civic affairs through internships, lectures and a mentoring system; and a collaborative public policy research project.
About the McCormick Tribune Foundation
The McCormick Tribune Foundation is one of the nation’s largest charitable organizations, with combined assets of approximately $1.5 billion. In 2004, the foundation approved the distribution of more than $109 million to invest in children, communities and our country in an effort to strengthen our democratic society through innovative partnerships. The foundation, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2005, was established as a charitable trust upon the death of Col. Robert R. McCormick, longtime editor and publisher of the Chicago Tribune. The foundation is an independent nonprofit, separate from Tribune Co., with substantial holdings in Tribune Co.
The foundation provides assistance in four program areas—communities, education, journalism and citizenship—and funds a special initiatives program. Through its grants, the foundation seeks to improve the social and economic environment; encourage a free and responsible discussion of issues affecting the nation; enhance the effectiveness of American education; and stimulate responsible citizenship. For more information, visit http://www.mccormicktribune.org/.
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