41st Annual Luncheon
41st Annual Luncheon
Chicago Foundation for Women’s Annual Luncheon is the Foundation’s flagship fundraising event, drawing over 1,000 attendees from across the Chicago region. Supporters celebrate the power of community and invest in building safe, just, and healthy communities for women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals.
Join us on October 20, 2026, at the Hilton Chicago as we build momentum for the work ahead and honor the partnerships and people that shape what is possible. From reflection to recommitment, the 41st Annual Luncheon will channel the energy of our movement and the bold vision driving us forward.
Event Schedule
10:30 – 11:30 AM: VIP Reception*
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Registration & Networking
12:00 – 1:30 PM: Program & Featured Speakers
*By invitation only or $10,000+ sponsorship
41st Annual Luncheon
Chicago Foundation for Women’s Annual Luncheon is the Foundation’s flagship fundraising event, drawing close to 2,000 attendees from across the Chicago region. Supporters celebrate the power of community and invest in building safe, just, and healthy communities for women, girls, and gender-expansive individuals.
Join us on October 20, 2026, at the Hilton Chicago as we build momentum for the work ahead and honor the partnerships and people that shape what is possible. From reflection to recommitment, the 41st Annual Luncheon will channel the energy of our movement and the bold vision driving us forward.
Event Schedule
10:30 – 11:30 AM: VIP Reception*
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Registration & Networking
12:00 – 1:30 PM: Program & Featured Speakers
*By invitation only or $10,000+ sponsorship
Health, Power, & Possibility
Featured Speakers
The Lacks family has become a powerful voice for health equity, bioethics, and justice while honoring the extraordinary legacy of Henrietta Lacks. Henrietta’s cells, taken without her knowledge in 1951, became one of the most important tools in modern medicine and transformed scientific research worldwide. Through public speaking and advocacy, her descendants share the family’s story and explore the intersections of race, consent, medical ethics, and scientific advancement while continuing to champion dignity, accountability, and equitable treatment in healthcare and research.
Dr. Jessica Shepherd, MD, MBA, FACOG, is a board-certified OB/GYN, Chief Medical Officer of Hers, and author of Generation M, the chart-topping book redefining women’s health. A leading voice in women’s wellness and longevity, she is a regular on Good Morning America and frequently featured on The Today Show, CNN, LIVE with Kelly and Mark, Vogue, Cosmopolitan, and more. With a no-nonsense approach and deep medical expertise, she is helping women cut through the noise, take control of their health, and feel their best at every stage of life.
Become a Sponsor
Sponsoring the 41st Annual Luncheon is more than a show of support; it is an investment in the future of gender equity. As a community foundation, CFW raises funds to directly support our grantmaking capacity and programs. Our signature annual event allows sponsorship partners to provide critical support while networking with like-minded individuals and gaining critical brand exposure.
As a sponsor, you will help us unleash new possibilities for women, girls, and gender-expansive people across our region. Funds raised at the 40th Anniversary Luncheon are hard at work, fueling our Rapid Response Fund and preparing for our upcoming grantmaking cycle. CFW’s ability to quickly and effectively deploy these resources is critical to address the urgent and evolving needs of our communities. With your continued partnership, we can advance gender equity and justice throughout the region. For more information on sponsorship opportunities, please contact Ilda Lagunas at ilagunas@cfw.org.
Sponsorship Opportunities
This highest level of sponsorship includes three premium tables for 30 guests, an opportunity for a senior executive to speak during the event program, and the ability to distribute approved materials at the event. Presenter Sponsors also receive recognition as a VIP Reception host, access for 30 guests to the VIP Reception, and a full-page ad in the Program Book.
This sponsorship level includes two premium tables for 20 guests and the ability to distribute approved materials at the event. Title Sponsors also receive access for 20 guests to the VIP Reception and a full-page ad in the Program Book.
This sponsorship includes one reserved table for 10 guests and the option to share approved company materials at the event. Benefactor Sponsors also receive VIP Reception access for 10 guests and a full-page ad in the Program Book.
Action Sponsors receive one reserved table for 10 guests, VIP Reception access for 10 guests, and a half-page ad in the Program Book.
Patron Sponsors receive one reserved table for up to 10 guests, access to the VIP Reception for 10 guests, and a half-page ad in the Program Book.
Leader Sponsors receive one reserved table for up to 10 guests and a half-page ad in the Program Book.
Friend Sponsors receive one reserved table for up to 10 guests and a quarter-page ad in the Program Book.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
Thank you to the generous sponsors of the 41st Annual Luncheon who are investing in the future of gender equity across our region.
Title Sponsors
Benefactor Sponsors
Patron Sponsors
Jo Moore and
Patricia Moore
Janice E. Rodgers
Leader Sponsors
Tanya G. Davis
Sunny Fischer and Bette Hill
Norman B. Jones
Allie and George Kraniotis
Valerie Sherman
Friend Sponsors
Edith H. Falk
Georgina Heard-Labonne
Jill Lyons
Donations Over $1,000
Nancy Juda and Jens Brasch
Susan Eleuterio
Luncheon Co-Chairs
Jessica Sohl and Joseph Niciforo are honored to serve as Co-Chairs of Chicago Foundation for Women Luncheon’s 41st Annual Luncheon, united by a shared belief that advancing women’s equity is everyone’s responsibility.
Jessica has been deeply involved with CFW for nine years, including serving as Chair of the Board of Directors. Professionally, she served as President of HC Technologies, overseeing the firm’s global operations and strategy. A lawyer by training, she previously served as counsel at Jump Trading and as Assistant General Counsel for the State of Illinois Office of the Comptroller. She has held leadership roles on the New York Federal Reserve’s Foreign Exchange Committee and the CFTC’s Global Markets Advisory Committee.
Joseph is the former Chairman and CEO of HC Technologies and a founding member and Investment Committee Chair of HC Private Investments, with a career spanning nearly four decades in global financial markets—including 17 years at Tudor Investment Corporation, where he became a partner, and 15 years on the boards of the Chicago Board of Trade and CME Group. He also serves on the Misericordia Advisory Board and the Feerick Center for Social Justice Advisory Council at Fordham Law School.
Host Committee
Thank you to this year’s Host Committee members whose generous support and dedication make the 41st Annual Luncheon possible.
Jessica Sohl and Joseph Niciforo
41st Annual Luncheon Co-Chairs
Marjorie Benton
Catherine Braendel
Amina Dickerson
Sunny Fischer
Georgina Heard-Labonne
Norman B. Jones
Iris J. Krieg
Anita Mital
Angela L. Putnam
Carol Prins and John Hart / The Jessica Fund
Valerie Sherman
Interested in becoming a Host Committee member? Contact Ilda Lagunas at ilagunas@cfw.org (subject line: Host Committee).
Get ready for the 41st Annual Luncheon!
Date and Location
October 20, 2026
Hilton Chicago
720 South Michigan Avenue
Program
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM: VIP Reception*
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Registration & Networking
12:00 – 1:30 PM: Program & Featured Speakers
*By invitation only or $10,000+ sponsorship