News

Pat FitzGerald Receives Lifetime Industry Achievement Award, Launches Fund to Support Out-of-Classroom Experiences

Jennifer Wolfe / Wolfe Photography. Courtesy of the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate.

On November 9th, firm Chairman Pat FitzGerald accepted the Lifetime Industry Achievement Award from the Marshall Bennett Institute of Real Estate at Roosevelt University in front of friends, family, colleagues, and leaders from across the industry at the Institute’s annual Real Estate Gala. Pat is a founding member of the Institute’s Advisory Board and an alumnus of Roosevelt. In Pat’s words:

I believe that this is the first time this award has been presented to an architect. I think that is significant because, in my view, it really honors all of the architects who have labored for years to transform Chicago from the gritty place that it was when I first arrived here a half-century ago into the desireable world-class city that it is today.In honor of this occasion, I have established the FitzGerald Fund for Urban Leadership to enable more “hands-on” educational experiences for the next generation of real estate leaders. In only 15 years the Institute has become the most inclusive graduate real estate program in the country. It is an acknowledged center of excellence that has produced over 500 accomplished students who have strengthened our industry in Chicago and I believe it is important to expand that program so that students receive not only a sound academic foundation but also the hands-on experience of visiting job sites, participation in working meetings, and professional networking they need to fully prepare them for a successful career in real estate.

It was announced at the Gala that the event had raised proceeds in excess of $350,000, with another $55,000 in contributions to the FitzGerald Fund for Urban Leadership. To learn more about how you can support either the Institute or the Fund, please contact Tom Fennell at tfennell@fitzgeraldassociates.net.