Mother McAuley to Host Celebration 2013

The Board of Trustees of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School will host Celebration 2013 on Saturday, April 20, 2013.  This annual event benefits the Mother McAuley Endowment for Student Scholarship and Financial Aid.  The event will take place at Mother McAuley High School and begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. Music and entertainment provided by The Mix. Mark Nilsson, contributor on the ABC7 Chicago television program, 190 North, will serve as master of ceremonies.

A raffle and auction will feature items such as Disney World Park passes, a table for eight at the annual Misericordia Christmas Brunch, Chicago White Sox tickets, autographed sports memorabilia and more.

The Celebration 2013 co-chairs are Josè and Kathleen Garcia of Oak Lawn, Michael and Peggy Evans Rourke ’76 of Beverly, and Timothy and Kathleen Sterk of Evergreen Park, all parents of McAuley alumnae and witnesses to the benefits of a McAuley education.

This annual endowment fundraiser celebrates individuals who exemplify the charism and values of Catherine McAuley, continue the tradition of the Sisters of Mercy, and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to our mission. This year, Frances Robinson ‘74 will be honored with the Catherine McAuley Leadership Award and Jennifer Costello Fortner ’94 with the Distinguished Alumna Award. The Sister Agatha O’Brien Catholic Service Award will be presented to Sr. Sheila Lyne, RSM.

Catherine McAuley Leadership Award

As the recipient of the Catherine McAuley Leadership Award, the school pays tribute to the Fran Robinson ’74 for her demonstrated leadership and constant support of the mission of the school in providing a quality Catholic, liberal arts education for young women. Fran’s own McAuley education remains a source of immense pride. In 2008, Fran established The John V. and Mary Anne Robinson Scholarship in honor of her parents, who sent five daughters to Mother McAuley High School. Two tuition scholarships are awarded to incoming McAuley freshmen and are renewable for up to four years. 

Following her 1974 McAuley graduation, Fran attended Boston College, graduating with honors.  She returned to Chicago to attend Chicago Kent College of Law and began her legal career as an Assistant Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Subsequently, she became partner in the law firm of Davis and Robinson and continued her career as a trial lawyer. Fran has tried more than 20, first-degree murder cases and has lectured at Boston University, Harvard University, and Suffolk Law School.  She has been a frequent guest commentator regarding legal matters on Boston television.  Additionally, Fran has served as a member of the Massachusetts Judicial Nominating Commission. She lives outside of Boston with her husband, John Donohue, and is the proud mother of three sons: Matthew, Kevin and Jack Donohue.

Distinguished Alumna Award

As the recipient of the Distinguished Alumna Award, the Mother McAuley community honors Jennifer Costello Fortner ‘94 for her exemplarily work in furthering the ministry of Catherine McAuley. In 2010, Jenny and her husband, along with Mary Anne Smrz, established the Jan Malloy Scholarship Fund in memory of  Jan Malloy, former McAuley Alumnae Coordinator. Jan passed away in 2009 after a long battle with ovarian cancer.

Jenny is a private wealth advisor in the Investment Management Division (IMD) at Goldman Sachs in Chicago.  She joined Goldman Sachs in 1998 as a financial analyst and was named managing director in 2011. Jenny is also the co-head and founder of the Goldman Sachs Chicago Women's Network, and a member of the firm-wide Women’s Network and IMD Women’s Network Steering Committees.  She served as a mentor for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, an initiative to offer a business and management education to women entrepreneurs.

Jenny serves on the board of the Big Shoulders Fund, providing support to the Catholic schools in the neediest areas of inner-city Chicago. She is on the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Illinois. Jenny also volunteers on the Program Committee for Aspire and on the Advisory Committee for ARZU Studio Hope, helping women in Afghanistan break the cycle of poverty.  Jenny is a member of The University of Chicago Women’s Board and has served on the Visiting Committee for The University of Chicago.  In 2008, she was awarded the Highest Leaf Award for leadership and entrepreneurship from the Women’s Venture Fund.  Jenny and her husband, P. Jay Fortner, have three children and live in Tinley Park.

Sister Agatha O’Brien Catholic Service Award

Sister Sheila Lyne, RSM, is honored as the recipient of the Sister Agatha O’Brien Catholic Service Award, for her commitment to the Catholic mission through her leadership and service to the Church.

Sister Sheila has served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercy Medical Center in Chicago since 2000. Previously, she served in the role of President of Mercy Medical Center, and Director of the Diagnostic and Treatment Center.  Sister Sheila has been on the board for the American National Bankand Trust Company, American National Corporation, DePaul University, El Valor Corporation, Mercy Medical Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago, Mercy Center in Aurora, the Illinois Hospital Association, the State of Illinois Guardianship and Mental Health Advocacy Commission and The Cook County Health System Board. She has been the recipient of numerous honors, including the Shield of St. Xavier Award from Saint Xavier University, and The Excellence in Public Service Award awarded on behalf of Crain’s Chicago Business, Motorola and the North Business and Industrial Council.  Sister Sheila holds a bachelor of Science in Nursing and master of Science in Psychiatric Nursing from Saint Xavier University, and a master of business administration from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business. 

For more information, call Tom Geraghty, Director of Institutional Advancement, at 773-881-6557.