Syrian refugees seeking medical treatment in the United States recently enjoyed an All-American pastime, courtesy of a LaRabida supporter.

LaRabida patient Rama and her family were treated like American royalty as Magellan Corporation's Guest of the Game during the recent White Sox game against the Oakland Athletics.

Pitcher Chris Sale met with the family on the field, autographed a baseball and took photos that were projected on the jumbotron before the opening pitch. The family later enjoyed an incredible view from a suite, donated by longstanding LaRabida Trustee and Magellan Corporation President Bob Arthur.

The family has been staying at the nearby Ronald McDonald House since last fall and hasn't ventured far beyond LaRabida. Rama is undergoing rehabilitation following multiple surgeries to repair her face and spine from effects of Goldenhar Syndrome, a rare congenital disease.

When the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) held their Summit in Chicago, May 2012, Magellan Corporation was honored to sponsor the international event, with a speaker series that featured Czech Republic President Vaclav Klaus.  A political and military alliance of 30 member nations, NATO promotes democratic values, and is committed to peaceful resolution of conflict.

This meeting of heads of state and heads of government was conducted on May 20 & 21; it marked the first time ever that a NATO summit was held in the United States outside of Washington, D.C. The summit discussed a variety of issues including the Arab Spring, the Libyan Civil War, the global financial crisis, transition for NATO forces in Afghanistan, and more. It featured a roster of speakers representing intelligentsia addressing issues critical to world wellness.

Our good friend Jay Bunk, Executive Vice President of the Blackhawks, presented President Klaus with his very own personalized Chicago Blackhawks jersey.

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Well take a load off, Fanny.

The late, great, Levon Helm from the Band brought his famous Midnight Ramble sessions to the Old Town School of Folk Music in March, 2012, for their annual Blue Jean Gala, and it was a night to be cherished. He passed away just a month later at the age of 71.

Levon Helm was known for his deeply soulful, gravely voice, his multi-instrumental ability and creative drumming style. He also had a successful career as a film actor, and authored a book.

Helm's Midnight Rambles are based loosely on the southern medicine shows of his youth, inviting a who's who of rock, blues and jazz to his barn in Woodstock, New York, for loose, yet musically inspired jams. Special guests included Donald Fagen, Paul Barrere, Fred Tackett, and Shawn Mullins, Larry Campbell, Teresa Williams and Amy Helm.

Magellan Corporation has realized many benefits through our partnership with the Old Town School of Folk Music, and this evening numbers among the best of them.

Magellan employees and friends had the distinct honor of meeting former US Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright at Concern Worldwide’s Women of Concern Awards Luncheon.

The 2018 event was held June 1, 2018 at the Ritz-Carlton, Chicago; in addition to Secretary Albright, Joanne Smith, MD, CEO and President of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab was honored for humanitarian efforts.

In 1997, Dr. Albright was named the first female Secretary of State and became, at that time, the highest ranking woman in the history of the U.S. government.

As Secretary of State, Dr. Albright reinforced America’s alliances, advocated for democracy and human rights, and promoted American trade, business, labor, and environmental standards abroad.

Concern Worldwide is a nonprofit working to end extreme poverty, whatever it takes.

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Magellan Corporation partnered with the Executives’ Club of Chicago to sponsor four seminars as part of their 2019 Women in Leadership Series. Our first event was held in March and featured a stimulating panel discussion on the subject “Women in the Workplace: How Far Have We Come; How Far Do We Have To Go.” Panelists included Time’s Up’s Tina Chen, Lashana Jackson of R1 RCM, Barri Rafferty of Wells Fargo Bank and McDonald’s Corporation Chief People Officer Melanie Steinbach.

Subsequent lunch seminars featured Melinda Gates on the release of her book, “The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World,” and indefatigable fashion maven Diane von Furstenberg. A cornerstone of Magellan’s civic and charitable involvement is supporting women-forward initiatives.

Out of this world Adler Planetarium astronomer Dr. Lucianne Walkowicz keynoted a February 2019 lunch and learn program at Magellan’s office, “Alien Life in Space.” Lucianne emphasized that we must work to avoid human contamination in space, spoke of how to approach space as explorers, and discussed the space treaty and space wars. From 2017-2018, Dr. Walkowicz served as the fifth Baruch S. Blumberg NASA/Library of Congress Chair in Astrobiology.

Among other things, she studies the ethics of Mars exploration, stellar magnetic activity, and how stars influence a planet’s suitability as a host for alien life. Education and enrichment programs support and are enjoyed by our dynamic staff. Magellan is a longtime supporter of Chicago’s Adler Planetarium.

Magellan Corporation is proud of our longstanding support of our friends at USO Illinois, has been a sponsor for their successful Star Spangled Salute Galas, helping them raise funds in support of programs for the men and women who serve in the United States military. But we’re perhaps most proud of our hands-on involvement. Magellan staff enjoy volunteering to serve those who serve us. For “No Dough Dinner” nights, we are welcomed on to the Great Lakes Naval Base, where we dish out grub to service men, women and families.

Our own Matt Bell, head of our IT Department, served in the US Army and is a current board member of USO Illinois. The USO works in more than 200 locations and offers programs to keep service members connected to the people, places and things they love. Magellan is honored to help them do just that.

After School Matters has effecting positive impact on Chicago area teens for more than two decades. Through a richly diverse apprenticeship program, After School Matters invests in Chicago’s youth, helping them achieve success during their high school years, equipping them with meaningful skills and empowering them to embrace their futures.

What began as a dream of then Chicago First Lady Maggie Daley, the organization has blossomed and is now offered at a variety of neighborhood sites across Chicago, from schools to parks, community centers to libraries, and including their own state-of-the art facilities in strategic locations. Magellan Corporation takes great pride in helping After School Matters invest in our teens’ futures. Senior VP of Sales Heather Morris serves on their board of directors.

There was plenty of fun to be had off the court during recent Magellan-sponsored NBA All Star 2020 weekend. Clients and friends from around the globe joined us for a few chilly February days of friendship, basketball, music, and dining.  More than great basketball was enjoyed – although there was plenty of that. Friday featured a lunchtime concert in a WXRT-FM radio private studio with the Nick Moss Band, who were joined by famed Chicago Blues musicians Kate Moss and Dave Specter.

Saturday’s dinner at a local favorite, Steak 48, included athletes from the Chicago Red Stars, WNBA Chicago Sky, Bulls announcer Chuck Swirsky, and Chicago Bulls legends Horace Grant and Toni Kukoc. Magellan values relationships with clients during and after business hours.

Tennis great and gender equality icon Billie Jean King visited Magellan Corporation offices on – fittingly – International Day of the Girl, Friday, October 11, 2019. The theme of International Day of the Girl was GirlForce: Unscripted and Unstoppable. More than 350 friends from the sports, philanthropic, diplomatic, educational, journalistic, civic and corporate sectors gathered for a luncheon and Q & A led by WNBA All-Star from the Chicago Sky, Jantel Lavender.

Billie Jean and Lavender spoke of the strides made toward gender equality in sports, the road ahead, and all things in between. An extraordinary day with extraordinary people. Promoting women-forward initiatives, including in athletics, STEM studies, and in the civic and business arenas, is a pillar of Magellan’s community involvement. Unscripted and Unstoppable!