The Uhlich Children's Advantage Network (UCAN) is a contender for the Alford-Axelson Award for Nonprofit Managerial Excellence. Two awards (for large and small nonprofits) will be handed out at the event, which will take place Tuesday, May 17, at the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza, 350 W. Mart Center.
UCAN and Howard Brown Health Center's Broadway Youth Center launched the LGBTQ Host Home Program in 2009 to find housing for homeless LGBTQ youth. Recently, the organization held an open house so people could learn more about the program.
UCAN is in the large nonprofit category (with an annual budget exceeding $3 million). Other nominees include Children's Home + Aid, Concordia Place, Inspiration Corporation and Junior Achievement of Chicago. In the small-nonprofit category, ACCION Chicago, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corporation, Lincoln Park Community Shelter, the North Lawndale Employment Network and Turning Point, Inc., are vying for the award.
Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel recently named Inspiration Corporation's openly gay executive director/CEO, John Pfeiffer, as first deputy commissioner of the Department of Family and Support Services.
The two winning organizations will each receive a $5,000 unrestricted grant.
One organization will also be presented with the Axelson's Center Excellent Emerging Nonprofit Organization Award. This new award targets smaller, emerging organizations and includes more than $25,000 in pro bono capacity-building services and a $2,500 grant. Nominees include Camp of Dreams, Beyond the Ball and Urban Initiatives.
Email jtaustein@dresnerco.com or dgutierrez@dresnerco.com for more information about the event.