2010 - Mr. Larry Morris

As Senior Managing Director of Mesirow Financial's Tax Exempt Capital Markets Division headquartered in Chicago, Mr. Morris maintains a wide range of clients including state, county and local governments. Larry has more than 25 years of investment banking experience and is a specialist in developing innovative financing strategies for municipal clients. Larry Morris currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Advisors of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago and serves as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Committee for the Midtown Educational Foundation, having been its sports director during the summer of 1976, his introduction to Chicagoland.

2009 - Dr. and Mrs. Robert Dolehide (Bob and Eileen)

Lifelong leaders in the Respect Life Movement of Illinois, the Dolehides are active members of the Knights and Dames of Malta and the Order of the Holy Sepulcher.  As grandparents of 46 and strong supporters of The Willows and Northridge, several of their grandchildren are alumni of our schools and many are current students.

2008 - Mr. Jeff Joniak

One of the energetic and exciting voices of the National Football League and voice of the Chicago Bears.  Jeff has hosted the Chicago Bears game day broadcasts since 1997, serves as WBBM Newsradio 780's Director of Sports Operations while maintaining his afternoon drive-time sports anchor shifts.  Throughout the year, he is asked to emcee many different events related to his work with the Bears including the Vision in Education Award Dinner funding scholarships for The Willows Academy and Northridge Preparatory School.

2007 - Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bland (Bob and Maureen)
Chairman and CEO of Insure.com, a publicly-held e-commerce insurance brokerage that he founded in 1984, then known as Quotesmith Corporation. Maureen and Bob have been involved in pro-life work and pro-life politics for many years. Maureen is a former Board Member of the Illinois Right to Life Committee.  Bob currently serves on that Board as Chairman.

2006 - Mr. Mark Follett
Founder and Chairman of the Board of Relevant Radio®, the largest Catholic talk radio network in the United States. Prior to founding Relevant Radio®, Mark led his family's business-Anchor Food Products; also a founding member of The Mercy Works Foundation.

2005 - Mr. Thomas Monaghan
Founder of Ave Maria Foundation, Ave Maria University, Ave Maria School of Law, Thomas More Law Center, and Legatus. Also founder of Domino’s Pizza and former owner of the Detroit Tigers baseball franchise.

2004 - Mr. George Weigel
Preeminent Catholic theologian; Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center; one of America’s leading commentators on issues of religion and public life. Author of numerous books and articles including Witness to Hope: The Biography of Pope John Paul II.

2003 - Mr. and Mrs. Roy Wauck (Roy and Fran)
Co-founders of The Willows and Northridge. Roy is retired Dean of Loyola University’s School of Arts and Sciences and co-founder of Oakton Community College; Roy also served as consultant to the Archdiocese of Chicago’s Marriage Tribunal.

2002 - Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Carter (Gene and Judy)
Co-founders of The Willows and Northridge. Gene is Chairman of Park Ridge Community Bank; former Treasurer of Legatus/ Chicago Chapter; serves on the advisory board of Shelbourne Conference Center in Indiana. Both are active with St. Mary of the Angels parish and the Women’s Centers of Greater Chicagoland.

2001 - Mr. and Mrs. John J. Hunt Sr. (John and Kathie)
Co-founders of The Willows and Northridge. John was formerly president and CEO of various community banks in Chicago’s northern suburbs; also Charter President of Legatus/Chicago Chapter.

2000 - Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Rooney (Phil and Sue)
Longtime supporters of The Willows and Northridge. Phil is the retired President of Management Services, the ServiceMaster Company; previously President of Waste Management. Phil received the “Man of the Year” award from the Illinois Vietnam Veterans Association and the “Semper Fidelis” award from the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation.

1999 - Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Lechner (Larry and Patti)
Longtime supporters of The Willows and Northridge. Larry has established several successful businesses in the apparel industry, including Lechner Uniform Rental Company. Both Larry and Patti have played active roles on the Alliance board of directors. Patti has been very active with the Women’s Centers of Greater Chicagoland, Midtown Educational Foundation, and Embers Elementary School.

1998 - Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Kenny (Gerry and Heide)
Co-founders of The Willows and Northridge. The Kennys have played leadership roles in the growth and development of both schools. Gerry has established several successful businesses in real estate development, including Kenny Partners and Palladian Development. Heide operates Chambers Gasket & Manufacturing, the business founded by her father.