Gainer Sisters Honored As 'McAuley Trailblazers' At Celebration Gala

CHICAGO — Five sisters who passed through the halls of Mother McAuley Liberal Arts High School to successful careers in business, medicine, executive coaching, community organizing and hospitality will be honored as trailblazers at the upcoming Celebration Gala Thursday, Feb. 1 at the University Club of Chicago.

The Gainer sisters – Bridget Gainer ‘86, Nora Gainer Doherty ‘88, Maureen Gainer Reilly ‘93, and Sheila, ‘99 – grew up in Beverly. They will be presented with the Catherine McAuley Leadership Award. In addition, the gala will also bestow the honor of Life Trustee to Sister Marion Johnson, RSM.

Bridget is the oldest Gainer sister and the first to attend Mother McAuley. She attended University of Illinois and joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps after graduation. After receiving her MBA from University of Chicago, Bridget joined Aon to work with governments around the world to co-lead their climate strategy. Since 2009, she has served on the Cook County Board of Commissioners representing the 10th District, where she has focused on reducing vacant land, increasing homeownership, and working with the Cook County Jail and Juvenile Detention Center.

Nora currently serves as the head of civic relations and partnerships at the Art Institute of Chicago and credits the liberal arts education she received at McAuley for igniting an early love of art and culture. She attended the University of Illinois and co-owns Farm Bar Lakeview and Farm Bar Ravenswood in Chicago with her husband.

Maureen is an executive coach working with industry leaders across the globe, after attending University of Illinois. Leading GO Consulting & Coaching for over 10 years, she leverages the skill of asking powerful questions to evoke real and lasting change. Further, she serves on the Leader Council of Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, the board of the newly formed Catherine's Caring Cause, which provides support, resources, and empowerment to asylum seekers, and works with Discerning Deacons, a group advocating a greater role and acknowledgement of women in the Catholic Church.

Mary runs two community health centers, seeing families from five counties, in rural West Virginia. She studied engineering and pre-med at University of Illinois and joined the Peace Corps after graduation, where she experienced first-hand the grave effects of communities that lack access to healthcare. Mary graduated from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and chose a residency in family medicine at West Suburban Hospital on Chicago's west side.

Sheila is an organizing director with UNITEHERE Local 1, the hospitality workers union, teaching non-union housekeepers, servers and hospitality workers how to find their voice and use their collective power to improve their lives and the lives of their families. After graduating from University of Illinois, she joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps in New York City which led her back to Chicago where she began her professional career in organizing.

Carey Temple Harrington ‘86, president of Mother McAuley, called the Gainer sisters a “beautiful example of the legacy of sisterhood with the McAuley family.”

“Not only are each of them examples and inspiration to our current students and their peers, but together, their family legacy truly embodies the vision of Catherine McAuley and our school's mission to prepare our students to respond compassionately to the needs of our communities and assume roles of Christian leadership as shown by these five women," said Harrington.

Sister Marion Johnson, RSM, earned a bachelor's degree in natural science at Saint. Xavier University and a master's degree in biology at University of Illinois on her quest to improve human's relationship with the world. After teaching elementary and high school students Sister Marion embarked on a 35-year academic career at SXU, where she chaired the biology department before being named pre-medical advisor for students. She served on the Mother McAuley Board of Trustees from 1985-1988 and 2014-2019.

As one of the school's largest fundraisers, the Celebration Gala raises much needed funds to support tuition affordable for current and future Mother McAuley students. The gala takes place from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at the University Club of Chicago, 76 E. Monroe St.

Tickets to the benefit are $350. To purchase tickets and to learn more about sponsorship and advertising opportunities, visit McAuley Celebration Gala.