Chicago Foundation for Women presented "The Ruth Bader Ginsburg Award of Chicago Foundation for Women" to U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to a sold out audience of 530 guests for her work on behalf of women's rights. The event, held at the Harold Washington Library Center.s beautiful Winter Garden room on December 10, 2005, was sold out within days of announcing her coming to Chicago for this honor. Hundreds of people, eager for the rare opportunity to hear from the Justice, had to be turned away due to room capacity.

As a lawyer, an academic, an activist and as a U.S. Supreme Court Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg has created a pioneering body of law establishing women.s rights in this county. Lois Lipton, board chair of Chicago Foundation for Women and a longtime advocate for civil liberties, civil rights, and women.s issues, presented the Justice with the inaugural award in her honor. Justice Ginsburg graciously accepted the award to a standing ovation. .I am honored that the Foundation has decided to name an award in my honor, and pleased to be its first recipient,. Justice Ginsburg said during her remarks.

 The Justice spoke candidly about her experience fighting for the rights of women during her tenure as a Supreme Court Justice. When asked about her inspiration to pursue women.s causes as her life.s commitment, she replied, "First, growing up on Nancy Drew." The crowd laughed and applauded at the comment, many of them identifying with the fictional character and heroine detective of a popular mystery series for girls.

She also spoke of the importance of supporting women.s rights through the legal system, and commended Chicago Foundation for Women for its advocacy and philanthropic efforts. "I put my money on the women - and that's what this foundation is doing," said the Justice.

Following Justice Ginsburg’s remarks, a panel discussion began with a dialogue between a distinguished panel of local women.s legal advocates. Fay Clayton, legendary attorney and Alumnae Council member of Chicago Foundation for Women, moderated the discussion which included: Judge Ann Williams, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan; and Tina Tchen, attorney and Alumnae Council member of Chicago Foundation for Women. Everyone on the panel has argued before the Supreme Court and are avid supporters of the work the Justice has accomplished.

The audience had an opportunity to pose questions to the Justice and the panel during an open microphone question and answer session. When asked by a fellow panelist her thoughts on the Equal Rights Amendment, the Justice responded: "There is one important thing about that amendment and it's why I am a supporter of it to this day. Every constitution in the world in a democratic country since World War II contains in the charter of basic rights a provision to the effect that men and women are persons of equal stature. Ours doesn"t."

"I have three granddaughters. I would like them to be able to look at this Constitution, which I carry with me wherever I am, and have them see a statement that women count as citizens equally with men as one of the fundamental things that this society believes. But that.s not there. So you have to explain about an 1868 provision. It may be symbolic, but I think it.s an important symbol. Why shouldn.t the United States, the same way as Germany, as Italy, Spain and even Afghanistan, have a statement of the equal standing of women before the law?"the Justice questioned.

Hannah Rosenthal, executive director of Chicago Foundation for Women, concluded the program by urging the audience to follow up by making use of the Foundation's booklet "20 Things You Can Do Right Now to Make Life Better for Women and Girls", given to everyone in attendance. "I am completely moved by the information, by the openness that all of you [the panel] had in encouraging us to move forward. I think this program.s brilliance will carry us, all of us, for a very long time," Rosenthal said in closing.