As the world continues to change, one thing remains certain: Girl Scouts has never been more relevant—or important—than it is today. We’re experiencing a global moment when leadership, compassion, and resilience are needed more than ever. Building those qualities in girls is what Girl Scouts does best.

Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana’s annual Tribute to Achievement dinner brings together corporate and civic leaders, and Girl Scout champions, to raise funds for this critical work. For the first time ever, Tribute to Achievement is going virtual – and you’re invited!

Please join us at 6:00 pm on March 11, 2021 to hear from today’s Girl Scouts, honorees, and special guests about the powerful, defining moments that changed their life’s trajectory – The Moment It Matters. This year, we are thrilled to recognize three honorees who move the needle, create change, and live moments that matter: Carrie Hightman, the Polk Bros. Foundation (accepted by Gillian Darlow), and Sidley Austin, LLP (accepted by Hille Sheppard).

Register today and read on to learn more about this year’s esteemed honorees!

Meet the Honorees

Luminary Award

Carrie Hightman, recently retired Executive Vice President & Chief Legal Officer of NiSource Inc. and former Chief Executive Officer & President of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Massachusetts’ largest gas utility, will be receiving the Luminary Award.

Carrie Hightman: “Throughout our long-term partnership with Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, NiSource Inc. and our Indiana-based utility NIPSCO, have supported the organization’s core mission. Importantly, we have sponsored ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day,’ and this year will be our tenth year of doing this program. We are so proud to have created and nurtured this opportunity.”

The Girl Scout’s Own Award

The Girl Scout’s Own Award honors Polk Bros. Foundation, which is dedicated to addressing the complex roots and devastating effects of inequity on Chicagoans by building strong communities and families, increasing access to quality education and the arts, improving health, and strengthening organizations and the sectors in which they work.

Gillian Darlow, CEO of Polk Bros. Foundation, will be accepting the award. Ms. Darlow is also a founder and co-leader of the Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities, a collaboration of more than 50 funders that has committed $90 million to anti-violence efforts in Chicago.  She holds board roles with the Chicago Public Education Fund, Civic Consulting Alliance, among others.

Gillian Darlow: “Like so many of my friends today, I was a Brownie and a Girl Scout. The Foundation has proudly supported Girl Scouts for 30 years, ensuring opportunities are provided equitably to girls throughout the region. It is our honor to support the vital work Girl Scouts is doing to build girls of courage, confidence, and character, girls who make the world a better place.”

Corporate Award

Receiving the Corporate Award is Sidley Austin, accepted by Hille Sheppard, a member of the Board of Directors of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, who co-leads Sidley’s global securities and shareholder litigation practice. Ms. Sheppard was named by Law360 as one of the 25 Most Influential Women in Securities Law and named by BTI Consulting at a 2020 Client Service All-Star. Ms. Sheppard is also the only woman in Illinois to be ranked by Chambers for securities litigation, in 2019 and 2020.

“Sidley has been proud to provide legal representation to Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana for nearly three decades. Girl Scouts offers girls opportunities and experiences they otherwise might not have had, and instills confidence and achievement in them, setting them up for success and providing them with a lot of fun.”

Don’t Miss Out

Join us on March 11 to celebrate these incredible honorees, along with girls and women who are leading with purpose and passion.

Register to secure your spot!

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