Richard Driehaus, 2010 Corporate Honoree

UCAN recognizes that the tremendous personal achievements of its extraordinary youth would not be possible without the enduring commitment of Chicago's civic leaders. Each year we recognize one of UCAN's ever-supportive donors as a way of honoring the impact they've had on the organization and on the broader Chicago community.

This year, we are pleased to recognize corporate Honoree, Richard H. Driehaus, a man with an unparalleled reputation in Chicago as an extraordinary businessman and passionate philanthropist. Named by Barron as one of the 25 "All-Century" leaders in the investment management industry, Driehaus is the Chief Investment Officer Chairman of Driehaus Capital Management.

Richard Driehaus has an inspiring history of supporting organizations that pursue innovative programs and take steps to make our communities better places to live. Through The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, he supports a wide array of projects that include theater and performing arts, architectural preservation, landscape design and organizations, like UCAN, that are committed to enhancing the opportunities available for working families to thrive and succeed. We are grateful to count him among our most committed supporters. UCAN President and CEO Thomas Vanden Berk praised Driehaus, remarking, "Richard Driehaus is setting an impressive precedent for philanthropic giving in Chicago today. He is emblematic of a donor that gives based on a comprehensive understanding and acknowledgement of an organization's ability to take a gift and use the most innovative outreach strategies to leverage it for maximum human benefit. He has been an inspiring partner to UCAN as we've worked together to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit, investing in our youth so that they might realize their fullest potential."

Driehaus also maintains an immense passion for helping to make Chicago a vibrant community, a place where people feel proud to live and work. This has taken shape in a variety of ways, including his unique commitment to innovative design and sensitive urban development. Driehaus has provided tremendous support to projects and programs that create and preserve community landmarks of architectural excellence, via his signiticant commitment to Landmarks Preservation of Illinois and Chicago's Millennium Park. Driehaus also drives the annual Richard H. Driehaus Prize for Classical Architecture, a $200,000 award honoring significant contributions in the field of traditional and classical architecture. Locally, he led the efforts to save and restore the historic Nickerson House in Chicago, which has now been repurposed as The Driehaus Museum, presenting an impressive array of fine arts from the 19th and 20th centuries and serving as a seminal urban landmark.

Richard Driehaus has had an enormous impact on communities throughout Chicago. His work provides a stellar example of the impact one individual's leadership and passion can have on an entire city. His commitment to UCAN and to building a new generation of leaders has inspired us all, and it is with tremendous respect and gratitude that we have announced him as this year's 11th Annual Youth Advocacy Awards corporate honoree. We look forward to celebrating in June and hope you will join us.