黑料社

黑料社 today announced it has received $14 million in total gift commitments from University of Chicago trustee John Edwardson, MBA ’72, and Fran Edwardson to support its Civic Scholars Program. In recognition of the Edwardsons’ commitment, the program will be renamed the Edwardson Civic Scholars Program, and its students will collectively be known as Edwardson Civic Scholars. Along with endowing the Civic Scholars Program, the Edwardsons’ gifts will provide matching funds to inspire other donors to provide scholarships for the program’s incoming students.

“John and Fran’s latest generous gift will enhance the Civic Scholars Program offerings for students and ensure that Booth remains at the forefront of developing social sector leaders committed to solving the most pressing challenges in our communities,” said Madhav Rajan, dean and George Pratt Shultz Professor of Accounting.

The Edwardson Civic Scholars Program offers full-tuition scholarships for Booth Evening MBA and Weekend MBA students committed to impact-driven public or nonprofit sector careers. Students benefit from specialized programming, dedicated faculty advisors, and opportunities to engage with civic leaders. The program includes opportunities to participate in retreats and roundtable discussions that facilitate experiential and community-based learning, hone leadership skills, establish cross-sector connections, and seed future collaboration.

Initially established in 2016, the Civic Scholars Program currently has 29 students and 49 alumni, with applicants for its coveted spots increasing over the past few years. With the Edwardsons’ gift, Booth will build on the fundamental strengths of the Civic Scholars Program, continuing the legacy established by the Neubauer Family Foundation, which provided the seed funding to launch the program and an additional gift in 2019 to enhance its offerings. The generosity of the Edwardsons, who remain committed to the program’s initial vision, will ensure that Booth continues to be a top destination for students who aspire to solve complex issues and to better their own communities, locally and around the globe.

“One of our main philanthropic interests has been strengthening communities and the fabric of civic life and its leaders,” John Edwardson added. “The Civic Scholars Program, by training tomorrow’s government and nonprofit leaders, gives Fran and me the opportunity to play a part in improving quality of life for as many people as possible.”

A business leader with a long track record of philanthropy and nonprofit board service, John Edwardson has championed business education at Chicago Booth for years, with a particular focus on social sector impact. In 2013, Edwardson made a gift in support of the Social New Venture Challenge competition, which is named for him, and he has continued to fund social entrepreneurship programming at the school. His past giving also includes establishing the John Edwardson Family Foundation Social Impact Scholarship, endowing the faculty directorship at the Rustandy Center for Social Sector Innovation, and providing the naming gift for the Edwardson Social Entrepreneurship Program, along with a sustained commitment to the Chicago Booth Annual Fund.

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Marielle Sainvilus
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Phone: 773.531.2894

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