BE UNBOUND
Join us for the 2025 Chicago Public Library Foundation Awards. Let’s celebrate our honorees and the unbound spirit of Chicago Public Library where access expands, possibilities grow, and communities come together.
This year proudly marks the 25th anniversary of the Carl Sandburg Literary Award, which will be presented to Pulitzer Prize-winning author Percival Everett—a fearless storyteller and fierce advocate for libraries. We are proud to honor poet and cultural champion José Olivarez and
library visionary Mary Dempsey.
The Awards presentation was held Tuesday, October 21, 2025 at the UIC Forum from 5:30 – 9:00pm.
The broadcast recording will be released November 5, 2025.
About the Theme
Curiosity has always been what drives us forward, fueling discovery, expanding our world, and unbinding the confines around us. The Chicago Public Library is where that boundless spirit takes shape—transforming curiosity into connection and possibility into reality.
Our Unbounded theme celebrates this spirit of curiosity and connection. Each of Chicago Public Library’s 81 branches extends beyond its physical walls, forming a network of limitless reach that continues to shape, uplift, and inspire communities across the city.
Visually, this comes to life through an ever-evolving shape language, forms that bend, stack, and shift like books in motion, each one a metaphor for possibility. These dynamic compositions and dimensional typographic treatments bring our message to life, whether static or in motion, creating an identity that feels alive and in constant transformation.
Our palette of deep black and bright chartreuse injects energy and impact—bold enough to capture attention, yet balanced with sophistication. Together, these elements embody a system that’s flexible, expressive, and unbound by convention—mirroring the Library itself: ever-evolving, ever-curious, and always moving forward.
– FCB Chicago, Chicago Public Library Foundation
Design Partner
Meet the Honorees
Percival Everett
Carl Sandburg Literary Award
2025 Pulitzer-Prize winning author Percival Everett is one of the most innovative writers in contemporary American literature. He has written more than 20 books including James, Dr. No, The Trees, Telephone, and Erasure.
José Olivarez
21st Century Award
Literary luminary José Olivarez is the author of two collections of poems, including, most recently, Promises of Gold, which was long listed for the 2023 National Book Awards.
Mary Dempsey
Cindy Pritzker Civic Award
Visionary leader Mary Dempsey is a former Commissioner of Chicago Public Library. She spearheaded the construction and renovation of 44 neighborhood branches, bringing the Library closer to every Chicagoan.
Honorary Chairs
Mayor Brandon Johnson & First Lady Stacie Johnson
Governor JB Pritzker & First Lady MK Pritzker
Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias and Jo Terlato Giannoulias
Event Chairs
Kimberley Goode, BMO
Suren Gupta, Allstate Insurance Company
Cherryl T. Thomas, Ardmore Roderick
Event Producer
Donna LaPietra
Vice Chairs
- The Block & Malkin Families
- Leslie Bluhm
- Marcy & Greg Carlin
- Spark Cremin & Paul H. Dykstra
- The Crown Family
- Michael Fassnacht
- Donna LaPietra & Bill Kurtis
- Trisha Mowbray
- Andrés Ordóñez
- The Pritzker Family
- Susan & Bob Wislow
- Helen Zell
Sponsors
as of October 13, 2025
Your support funds lifelong learning opportunities for all at Chicago Public Library.
If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, visit this page for more details or reach out to Kate Nardin at knardin@cplfoundation.org.
Presenting Sponsor
Lead Sponsor
Grand Benefactor Sponsors
Benefactor Sponsor
Patron Sponsors
- Amazon
- WBS Equities, LLC
- Comcast
- Philip H. Corboy Foundation
- Deirdre C. Drake
- Jenny Friedes & Steve Florsheim
- Jacqueline Griesdorn & Kevin Matzke
- Graham C. Grady;
Taft Law - Bette Cerf Hill & Bruce Sagan*
- Leslie S. Hindman
- ITW
- KPMG LLP
- Rob Levin & Bonnie Fong
- Amanda Morris
- Melissa & Amol Potdar,
McDonald’s Corporation - Marianna Ruiz;
Weber Shandwick - Wade A. Thomson
- Wintrust
Premier Individual Supporters
- Bank of America
- Stephen W. Baird
- Erin B. Bodendorfer & Michael Neupert
- The Helen Brach Foundation
- Brenda & Ve Bui
- Michelle L. Collins
- Federico d’Escoto
- Francia E. Harrington & Vern Broders
- Elaine Haydock
- Pam & Steve Hendry
- David Hiller
- Mellody L. Hobson & George Lucas
- Katz & Stefani, LLC
- Lynn Lockwood
- Loewenberg Charitable Foundation
- Mansueto Foundation
- Martha & Richard Melman
- The Linda & Richard Price Family Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation
- Pritzker Traubert Family Foundation
- Raitt Cheifetz Family Charitable Fund
- Linda Johnson Rice
- Shirley & Patrick G. Ryan
- Lisbeth C. Stiffel
- The Christopher P. Valenti Charitable Fund at The Chicago Community Foundation
- Anne & Marcus D. Wedner
Individual Supporters
- Brainfuse, Inc.
- Morgan Carr & Jeremy Lewin
- Cboe
- Colleen Contreras
- Sandra & Jack Guthman
- Susan Manilow
- Saranya Raghavan
- Joan Shapiro
- Patrick Sheahan
- Christina M. Tchen
- Jayne C. Thompson
Special Thanks
Watch Our 2024 Awards
While you eagerly wait for the release of this year’s broadcast, watch last year’s remarkable Awards presentations featuring honorees Ann Patchett, Cristina Henríquez, and Chance the Rapper!
See your impact in action.
Contributions at every level support lifelong learning programs for all at Chicago Public Library.