Peterson Family Honored as WSPN Philanthropists of the Year

The Peterson Family has been announced as the 2021 recipients of the West Suburban Philanthropic Network’s (WSPN) Philanthropists of the Year Award. The award

will be presented to the Petersons at a digital gathering 4 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 26. For more
information, visit wspnonline.org.

WSPN is dedicated to supporting development professionals and advancing philanthropy in the
western suburbs of Chicago. The annual Philanthropists of the Year Award is presented to an
individual or family that has demonstrated an exemplary model of financial support to nonprofits
in the western suburbs and has served in nonprofit board/committee leadership capacities.

Mark and Marcie Peterson are the son and daughter-in-law of the late Alan and Milly Peterson and long-time residents of Wheaton. Marcie joined College of DuPage Foundation’s Cultural Arts Advisory Council in 2015. A year later, Alan, Mark and Marcie, in a meeting with College of DuPage (COD) leadership, proposed bringing the Frida Kahlo Exhibition to COD to bring heightened visibility to the Cleve Carney Museum of Art, McAninch Arts Center and all of DuPage County.

Since then, Mark and Marcie have worked tirelessly as advocates and promotors of “Frida Kahlo: Timeless” as part of their goal to enrich the quality of life in the region, increase economic opportunity for local businesses and expand cultural understanding. Twice they served as cochairs for COD Foundation's "For the Love of Frida" gala committees. Both have used their relationships to recruit a dedicated group of volunteers who successfully produced both an in-person event in 2020 with nearly 500 in attendance and a virtual "Bringing It Home Gala" in 2021 with 460 different devices logged in to engage in Frida Kahlo's life and impact. As a result of their leadership and personal investment, they have raised more than $600,000 tosupport the “Frida Kahlo: Timeless” exhibition.

“The Petersons have been deeply invested in the Frida Kahlo exhibition and committed to build
a bridge of understanding for all who come to experience it. Their support has been invaluable
in what has been nearly a four-year journey to bring this once-in-a-lifetime event to our
community,” says Diana Martinez, executive director of “Frida Kahlo: Timeless.”

“The Petersons feel an extraordinary sense of responsibility to our community and strong desire to carry forth the Peterson philanthropic legacy. It is our extreme pleasure to see them honored Peterson Family to Be Honored with WSPN’s Philanthropists of the Year Award Aug. 26 with this well-deserved award,” says Karen Kuhn, executive director at the College of DuPage Foundation.

“Frida Kahlo: Timeless,” on view now through Sept. 6, 2021, is the largest Frida Kahlo exhibition in the Chicago area in more than 40 years, and is hosted by the Cleve Carney Museum of Art (CCMA) and the McAninch Arts Center (MAC) at the College of DuPage (COD). It features a 26-piece collection on loan from the Museo Dolores Olmedo as well as a multimedia timeline, 100+ photographic images from the artist’s life, a children’s area, an architectural model of Kahlo’s Casa Azul and a Frida Kahlo-inspired garden designed by Ball Horticultural Company. For tickets and more information visit Frida2021.org.