Skip to Main Content

Food Depository celebrates 35-year collaboration with Chicago’s commercial real estate industry, raising $1.3M to end hunger

More than 1,600 of Chicago’s top commercial real estate professionals gathered at the Hilton Chicago tonight (Thursday, March 9) to celebrate the 35th Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards and to support the Greater Chicago Food Depository. More than $1.3 million was raised to support the Food Depository’s mission to end hunger in Chicago and Cook County.

The awards dinner, presented by Associated Bank, is considered the top awards event of the year for Chicago’s commercial real estate industry. It is also the Food Depository’s largest annual fundraiser. The partnership began in 1989 and has remained steadfast throughout some of the country’s most challenging crises.

“For 35 years, Chicago’s commercial real estate industry has shown up to support the Greater Chicago Food Depository,” said Kate Maehr, Greater Chicago Food Depository Executive Director and CEO. “Together we’ve weathered recessions, down turns, upheavals - and a global pandemic. And, if all those challenges weren’t enough, over the last 12 months, we navigated the headwinds of inflation and economic uncertainty that is severely challenging many of our neighbors to put food on the table.”

Food insecurity remains above pre-COVID levels as households cope with the effects of inflation and rising food prices. Currently, one in five households are facing food insecurity in the Chicago Metropolitan area. At the same time, food banks have faced significant challenges in food sourcing throughout 2022 due to elevated costs, supply chain disruptions, and the discontinuation of temporary pandemic food programs that have expired. The Food Depository has doubled its food expenditures over the last year to maintain its local response to hunger amid inflation, rising food costs and elevated demand. The commercial real estate’s support comes at a critical time for food banks like the Greater Chicago Food Depository, its partners and the people it serves.

Also at the event, veteran real estate investor, Quinton E. Primo III, was presented the Game Changer Award in recognition of his contributions to underserved neighborhoods across the US. Primo is the chairman and CEO of Capri Investment Group in Chicago and co-founder of the Primo Center, which provides permanent supportive housing and other services to unhoused families in high-need communities across Chicago including North Lawndale, West Humboldt Park, Auburn Gresham, Englewood and Hermosa.

The evening’s awardees were selected by a group of industry professionals. Andy Christensen of Partners by Design served as Event Chair and Brian Brodeur was Vice Chair. The evening was presented by Associated Bank and the media sponsor was Crain’s Chicago Business. Ventas sponsored the VIP reception. CRG, LJC and Clayco sponsored the cocktail reception, and The Telos Group sponsored the Lunchbox Challenge. Gaynor Hall of WGN Channel 9 News served as master of ceremonies.

FULL LIST OF WINNERS - 35th ANNUAL CHICAGO COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AWARDS

Architect of the Year
• Solomon Cordwell Buenz (SCB)

Commercial Development of the Year
• 345 N Morgan (Sterling Bay)

Community Impact Project of the Year
• Chicago Public Safety Training Center (AECOM)

Consultant of the Year
• ESD

Deal of the Year
• James R. Thompson Center (State of Illinois & JRTC Holdings)

Developer of the Year
• Sterling Bay

Game Changer Award presented by Associated Bank
• Quintin E. Primo III (Capri Investment Group)

General Contractor of the Year
• Clayco

Industrial Broker of the Year
• Dominic Carbonari and Kate Coxworth (JLL)

Industrial Development of the Year
• DLN5 (Venture One Real Estate)

Institutional Investment Broker of the Year
• Michael Caprile, Ryan Bain and Zach Graham (CBRE)

Interior Contractor of the Year
• Pepper Construction

Interior Design Firm of the Year
• Partners by Design

Office Broker of the Year
• Matt Carolan and Meredith O'Connor (JLL)

Office Property Representative of the Year
• Ellen May and Adam Mitchell (Tishman Speyer)

Private Capital Markets Investment Broker of the Year
• Danny Spitz, Jason St. John, Paul Tesdal, Brewster Hague (Greenstone Partners)

Project Manager of the Year (TIE)
• JLL and CBRE

Property Management Company of the Year
• CBRE Property Management

Redevelopment of the Year
• The Terminal (IBT Group, LLC)

Retail Broker of the Year
• Luke Molloy (CBRE)

For more information about the 2023 Commercial Real Estate Awards, visit chicagosfoodbank.org/CREA

Share This Post

More Recent News