10th Annual Evanston MashUp Honors Penny Bender, Chuck Lewis

Evanston Chamber of Commerce: The 10th edition of Evanston MashUp will honor long-time residents, philanthropists and Penny Bender Sebring and Chuck Lewis with the Corrine Passage Spirit of Evanston Award. The award was inaugurated nine years ago to showcase and thank Evanstonians who embody the mix of qualities that is this city: visionary, compassionate, connecting, creative, and compelling.

Evanston MashUp is set for Wednesday, September 18, from 5:30 - 9:00pm -- in a literal big tent behind Northwestern University’s Norris Univ. Center.

“Chuck and Penny have given so much for the betterment of our community; they even have a key to the city,” says MashUp co-Founder Patrick Hughes, Jr. “Their work with the McGaw YMCA, the Second Baptist Church of Evanston, and the Golden Apple Foundation makes up only a part of the list. They more than embody the values of our city, and they fully deserve this honor from the combined Evanston and Northwestern communities.”

The Sebring-Lewis family has strong residential ties to Evanston, but they also have used their vision and resources to greatly enhance Evanston’s diverse components. This includes a recent partnership with past Spirit recipient Col. Jennifer Pritzker in developing Youth Organizations Umbrella’s new Evanston headquarters facility on Church and Dodge. Currently, Penny serves on the Policy Advisory Board for Northwestern’s School of Education and Social Policy and the board of directors for the Chicago Public Education Fund. Chuck is Chairman of the Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation.

In 2012, the Spirit of Evanston Award was renamed to include the name of Corrine Passage, paying tribute to one of Evanston’s business and philanthropic leaders and one of the founders of the MashUp.

Past Spirit Award winners:

• 2011 – Dan Coyne, Chicago Public School social worker who donated a kidney to his local Jewel-Osco cashier
• 2012 – Corrine Passage
• 2013 – Susan Trieschmann, founder of youth-development-focused Curt’s Café
• 2014 – Dick Peach, “Mr. Evanston” and General Manager of Dempster Auto Rebuilders
• 2015 – Bob and Patty Reece, dedicated stewards with youth-centered organizations throughout Evanston
• 2016 – Bill Logan, Evanston’s first African-American chief of police
• 2017 – Jennifer Pritzker and Dawn Overend, broad and deep supporters of community and arts organizations
• 2018 – Patrick Hughes, Jr.

The Evanston MashUp is an annual celebration of all things Evanston under one big tent – designed to bring people together – entrepreneurs to executives, artists to accountants, musicians to mathematicians. Evanston Mayor Steve Hagerty and Northwestern President Morton Schapiro serve as co-captains of the event hosted by Northwestern in coordination with the City of Evanston, the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and other business partners.

A portion of the proceeds benefit the Evanston Chamber of Commerce, promoting and growing business in the community. This year’s “ChowDown at the MashUp,” features more than 30 local creators of food and drink.

For more information including registration, visit www.evanstonmashup.com. Tickets are $125 per person, and registration closes Tuesday, Sept. 17, at noon. Tickets are $50 each for young professionals (35 or younger) or two for $75.