More than 800 professionals from Chicago’s commercial real estate community recently convened at The Old Post Office for the 38th Annual Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards. The gathering, presented by Associated Bank, brought together owners, investors, lenders, brokers and service providers from across the local industry for an evening focused on philanthropy as well as recognition of achievement.
The awards dinner serves as a long-standing fundraiser for the Greater Chicago Food Depository, and this year’s event generated $1.1 million to support the organization’s hunger relief efforts. The contribution continues a decades-long relationship between the Food Depository and the region’s commercial real estate sector, which first formalized its partnership in 1989.
According to the Food Depository, the Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards dinner is its largest annual fundraising event. Over the course of the relationship, the commercial real estate industry has helped raise millions of dollars to advance the broader movement to end hunger in the community. The latest $1.1 million raised at The Old Post Office adds to that cumulative support, reinforcing the connection between the built environment community and regional food access initiatives.
Kate Maehr, executive director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, underscored the significance of the partnership in prepared remarks. She noted that the Chicago commercial real estate community has been a faithful partner to the organization over the past 38 years, emphasizing the consistency of engagement and support from local firms and professionals.
Maehr highlighted that the funds raised help ensure that residents across Chicago and Cook County have access to nutritious food. She also expressed appreciation for the industry’s ongoing commitment, stating that the Food Depository is grateful for the real estate community’s shared belief that no one should go hungry in the city. Her comments framed the awards event not only as a celebration of commercial real estate, but also as a mechanism for sustaining essential social services.
The Old Post Office, a prominent Chicago property, provided the setting for the awards, reinforcing the connection between the region’s office assets and the professionals who develop, finance and manage them. While the program centered on honoring participants in the commercial real estate market, the fundraising outcome positioned the event as a meaningful contributor to hunger relief efforts throughout the metropolitan area.
With the partnership between the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the commercial real estate industry now spanning nearly four decades, the Chicago Commercial Real Estate Awards continues to function as a recurring touchpoint linking private-sector stakeholders to broader community needs. The latest fundraising results demonstrate that philanthropic initiatives remain embedded in the culture of the local CRE market alongside its investment and development activities.
