Magellan Corporation congratulates our friends at USO Illinois on a successful Star Spangled Salute Gala, with a whopping $1MM raised! Held in the beautiful Navy Pier ballroom on October 19, 2019, among the hundreds of attendees were Magellan’s own Lisa Wortman and Matt Bell. Matt served in the US Army and is a current board member of USO Illinois. The USO works in more than 200 locations and offers a robust array of programs to keep service members connected to the people, places and things they love. Magellan is proud to help them do just that.

September 4, 2020, was no ordinary Wednesday. Magellan Corporation was thrilled to host the exceptional players, coaches and staff of Chicago Sky at Steak48 Chicago. The evening included a delicious meal, the celebration of the birthdays of Coach James Wade and players Cheyenne Parker, Gabby Williams, Kahleah Cooper and Astou Ndour – even a little electric slide performance by Jantel Lavendar and Assistant Coach Bridget Pettis. Coach Wade invited all to raise a glass to victory in the upcoming playoffs, a toast well received by all. Magellan Corporation is more than proud of our five year partnership with Chicago Sky.

Magellan Corporation was delighted to host a Lunch & Learn panel discussion featuring the five Chicago Red Stars 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup players, with sports broadcaster Lisa Byington moderating a freewheeling, fun conversation. Headlining the panel was:

#1 Alyssa Naeher - Goalkeeper

#8 Julie Ertz - Defender

#13 Morgan Brian - Midfield

#20 Sam Kerr - Forward

#26 Tierna Davidson - Defender

Accompanying the panel were the other Chicago Red Stars, along with players from the Chicago Sky WNBA team.

More than 250 guests were in attendance, all participating in a unique opportunity to mix and mingle with the players, and hear about their World Cup experiences.

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The 2019 NBA program was fast approaching when Magellan staff and guests were treated to a special “chalk talk” Lunch and Learn featuring members of the Chicago Bulls front office staff. John Paxson, Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, and General Manager Gar Forman, stopped by to participate in a hoops-related discussion moderated by the Bulls’ legendary radio play-by-play announcer Chuck Swirsky.

And what a conversation it was! The two Bulls executives shared insights into their approach to talent evaluation and drafting players, discussed the current state of the team, their prospects for on court success, and shined some light on some of the Bulls’ long term strategic plans.

John Paxon, point guard during the Bulls' three-peat glory days in the 1990s fielded questions from attendees, along with Gar Forman.

The presentation provided an interesting behind-the-scenes look at the inner workings of a professional basketball team and left everyone with a renewed excitement for the Chicago Bulls.

What do you get when you combine an Olympic hockey player and a Super Bowl winner? One dynamic and enjoyable couple.

On July 3, 2019, professional ice hockey player and Olympic gold medalist Kendall Coyne and Michael Schofield, 2014 Super Bowl champion and current member of the LA Chargers, stopped by the Magellan Corporation offices to visit with staff and family members.

The two talked about their experiences as professional athletes, while Kendall addressed her time on the US Women’s National Team, the 2014 and 2018 U.S. Olympic Teams, and the future of women’s professional ice hockey. She even brought her two Olympic medals (gold and silver) which she happily passed around to everyone.

Michael brought along his own “show and tell” (his 2014 Super Bowl ring), spent time talking NFL football and signing jerseys of young fan enthusiasts. The couple stayed for lunch and enjoyed some cake in celebration of their 1st wedding anniversary.

The 2019 Field Museum Women in Science event opened with an interactive networking session that included more than 30 female students from Chicago Public Schools, members of the Chicago Sky WNBA team and women professionals from around Chicagoland, and featured keynote speaker Dr. Amal Alachkar.

Dr. Alachkar, a Syrian neuroscientist and pharmacologist delivered a powerful address on the impact trauma and environmental conditions have on mental health. She explained how the Syrian war and the resulting tragedy shaped her career and research, how she “couldn’t see the light in the darkness,” but ultimately found the light through research and becoming a tenured professor at the University of California Irvine.

Attendees were encouraged to discuss career paths, educational choices, opportunities for women and much more.

Magellan Corporation is committed to supporting organizations that uplift women and girls, closing the gender gap in STEM, business, athletics, and across all platforms.

Magellan Corporation was delighted to serve as a Gold Sponsor for a presentation by Melinda Gates hosted by the Executives' Club of Chicago. The luncheon program was part of their Women in Leadership Series. Melinda discussed her newly released book, “The Moment of Lift: How Empowering Women Changes the World.”

She shared her many experiences through life’s travels and how the sexual discrimination she and other women face and the considerations of breaking down barriers of inequality inspired her to write.

She encouraged the audience of 1,000+ to “challenge the status quo…everyone is better and lifted when we do the right thing and be inclusive.” It is a critical tenet of Magellan Corporation's giving to support initiatives that bolster equality and promote the advancement of women.

Magellan is firm in our commitment to support organizations that promote equality and offer women and girls opportunities for advancement in STEM, business, cultural opportunities, athletics, and across the board.

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March 28, 2019, was not just a toe-tapping good time. The iHeart Radio “Rise From the Fire Concert” offered Magellan Corporation, as sponsor, the opportunity to contribute to the superb work of the 100 Club of Chicago—a nonprofit organization that provides for families of first responders who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The 100 Club offers several forms of assistance, access to resources and moral support, and all sworn federal, state, county and local first responders, and honors our fallen heroes. Since inception, the 100 Club has served 284 families throughout the Chicagoland area with more than $11 million through their programs. Country music greats Midland, Matt Stell & John Gurney performed at the "Rise From the Fire Concert," hosted at one of Magellan's favorite venues, Joe's Live of Rosemont.

Magellan's own Tricia Poplawski, a country music devotee, was there to represent Magellan. Tricia hosted our guests which included customers, suppliers, and active and retired service personnel from the USO IL. An onstage check presentation to the 100 Club Chicago capped off a terrific evening.

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Connections for the Homeless hosted its annual fundraiser, THRIVE, on February 9, 2019.

The “Premier Culinary Tasting Party” generated a whopping $510,000, breaking all past fundraising event records. The funds support Connections' outstanding work offering housing, health, job support and more. The agency is based in the northern suburbs of Chicago, and delivers essential services to people facing homelessness and housing insecurity.

Magellan was the presenting sponsor for THRIVE 2019. THRIVE, the organization's oldest and largest event, was hosted at Architectural Artifacts in Chicago. Eleven Evanston and Chicago-area restaurants set up tasting stations for guests, who were then treated to desserts from local bakeries. The Lakeside Pride Strayhorns entertained during cocktail hour.

We have been a proud supporter of Connections for the Homeless for years, and our own Vickie Horn, Magellan's Director of Hospitality, serves as a member of their Board. To learn more about Connections for the Homeless and their initiatives to “end homelessness one person a time,” visit www.connect2home.org.

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On Wednesday, January 24, Magellan participated in First Bites Bash 2019 held at the iconic Field Museum. First Bites celebrated the city’s acclaimed culinary scene, featuring bites from more than 70 of Chicago’s most celebrated chefs.

This event represented the kick-off to the 2019 Chicago Restaurant Week, which took place January 25 - February 7.

The star-studded party featured dynamic husband and wife duo, Host Chef Thai Dang and Host Mixologist Danielle Dang of the James Beard Award-nominated HaiSous Vietnamese Kitchen. Attendees had the opportunity to experience exclusive tasting portions from more than 60 restaurants showcasing their Chicago Restaurant Week menus. Restaurant Week ran from January 24 - February 9, 2019, attended by foodies who want memorable dining while enjoying the Chicago experience.

Magellan Corporation sponsored the James Beard Awards partnering with the James Beard Foundation in their pursuit to provide “a better food world, one that is diverse, sustainable, equitable, and accessible for all.” In other words, “Good Food for Good.”

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The 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 spaceflight -- the mission that first landed humans on the moon -- was cause for celebration.

In commemoration of the historic event, Chicago's Adler Planetarium premiered its new sky show “Imagine the Moon,” which explores “how the moon has evolved in human imagination, ”according to Dr. Andrew Johnston, VP of Astronomy and Collections at the Adler. “Imagine the Moon” debuted on January 16, 2019 with a VIP Reception, followed by the show and discussion with Captain James Lovell (USN, Retired, NASA Astronaut and Naval Aviator).

Captain Lovell, whom Magellan Corporation is proud to call friend, is the first person to fly into space four times.

In 1968, as command module pilot of Apollo 8, he became one of the first three humans to fly to and orbit the moon. He previously flew two Gemini missions, Gemini 7 in 1965 and Gemini 12 in 1966.

"Imagine the Moon" explores how the moon has inspired human creativity, learning, and exploration ever since we have looked to the sky. A 30 minute video can be viewed here.

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Chicagoans know that we are home to some of the finest chefs and restaurants in the world, and now the world does, too.

Magellan partnered with the James Beard Foundation for its 2019 James Beard Awards, known as the “Oscars of the food industry.” Held in May 2019, the event waswill be hosted in Chicago through 2027, affirming Chicago as a culinary mecca.

The kick-off celebration was held on Tuesday, December 10 at the Chicago Cultural Center. In attendance were a number of Chicago’s culinary greats and former James Beard Award recipients. Chicago's own Kevin Boehm and Rob Katz of Boca Restaurant Group were recipients of the Outstanding Restaurant award (presented by Magellan Corporation).

JBF administers a number of diverse programs that include educational initiatives, food industry awards, scholarships for culinary students, publications, chef advocacy training, and thought-leader convening. Its mission is to celebrate, nurture, and honor chefs and other leaders making America's food culture more delicious, diverse, and sustainable for everyone.

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