Margaret’s Village invites you to our 2025
Sr. Margaret Traxler Awards Gala
“Sheltering Hope, Building Community”
6:00pm – 9:00pm
Cocktails and Hors D’oeuvres Followed by Dinner
at the
Swissotel, Eleve Ballroom
323 W Wacker Drive Chicago Il 60601
Attire: Formal (Black tie optional)
Dan Riley, Chicago Based Musician, Actor and Educator
will be our Master of Ceremony for the evening.
Join us as we recognize these individuals and organizations for their Commitment to Sheltering Hope and Building Community
Dr. Garth Walker is a healthcare executive, board-certified Emergency Physician, and recognized public health leader. As Chief Medical Officer for Rush Health, he oversees a network of physicians and hospitals serving 160,000 patients, advancing value-based care, health equity, and chronic disease management. Previously, he served as Deputy Director at the Illinois Department of Public Health during COVID-19 and was appointed a White House Fellow under Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. An accomplished academic and
Dr. James J. O’Connell is President of the Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School. A graduate of Notre Dame, Cambridge, and Harvard Medical School, he began serving Boston’s homeless in 1985. He co-founded the first medical respite program for the homeless and pioneered a computerized medical record system. Widely published and honored, his work is featured in books and documentaries, including Rough Sleepers by Tracy Kidde
Solu is a community-driven initiative under the leadership of Executive Director Rabbi Hody Nemes, that builds bridges across Chicago through acts of service. From building a literacy center on the South Side to serving meals at homeless shelters and assembling hundreds of backpacks for refugee children, Solu exemplifies compassionate leadership. Their partnerships—with communities like Margaret’s Village, Bright Star and the Rohingya Center—reflect a deep commitment to unity, dignity, and care.
Milt’s BBQ
Local philanthropist and real estate developer Jeff Aeder opened Milt’s BBQ for the Perplexed in East Lakeview on Chicago’s North Side in January, 2013. Aeder’s vision was to create a premier kosher restaurant that could also serve as a vehicle for positive change. In the 12-plus years since opening, Milt’s has donated to hundreds of charities in the greater-Chicago community, supporting a different organization each month. Bryan Gryka has been with the restaurant since its inception, initially serving as the Executive Chef and eventually General Manager.
Maria Diecidue has decades of marketing communications experience in the high-tech sector, including a career at IBM. Maria served in the IBM Corporate Service Corps, where she was deployed to India to help citizens in vulnerable communities better manage their limited water resources. She has volunteered for several organizations, including the Illinois Green Building Council, Chicago Human Rhythm Project, and was a docent for the Chicago Architecture Center. Since retiring in 2016, she has supported Margaret’s Village by developing marketing plans and writing communications, including newsletters and announcements. As an advocate for social justice, she aims to raise awareness of the mission of Margaret’s Village through her efforts.
