Commercial Club of Chicago facts for kids
 |
|
| Established | 1877 |
|---|---|
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Location |
|
|
Region served
|
Chicago metropolitan area |
|
Chair
|
Jennifer F. Scanlon, |
|
Vice Chair
|
E. Scott Santi |
|
President
|
Kelly R. Welsh |
|
Revenue (2020)
|
$3.5m USD |
| Expenses (2020) | $3.6M USD |
|
Staff (2020)
|
14 |
The Commercial Club of Chicago is a special group of business leaders. It was started in 1877. This group is a nonprofit organization. Its main goal is to help the Chicago area grow and become stronger. They work to improve both the economy and the community.
Contents
History of the Commercial Club
The Commercial Club was formed in 1877. It was created by business leaders after a big national worker strike. This strike, called the Great Upheaval, started with railroad workers. The club aimed to bring together important business people.
How the Club Grew Over Time
Over the years, the Commercial Club became even bigger. In 1907, it joined with another group called the Merchants Club. Later, in 1933, the Industrial Club of Chicago also became part of the Commercial Club.
Famous Members and Their Impact
Many well-known business leaders were active members of the club. These included George Pullman, who was famous for railroad cars, and Marshall Field, who owned large department stores. Other important members were Cyrus McCormick, George Armour, and Julius Rosenwald.
A very important project supported by the club was the Plan of Chicago. This plan was created by a member named Daniel Burnham in 1909. It was like a detailed map for how the entire Chicago region should grow and develop in the future.
What the Commercial Club Does
The Commercial Club of Chicago works on many projects to improve the city. They focus on making Chicago a better place to live and work.
Improving City Life and Environment
The club has supported many important city improvements. They helped with projects to clean streets and pave them. They also worked on reducing smoke pollution and improving sanitation. The club was a big supporter of creating city parks and playgrounds. They also helped establish the Cook County Forest Preserve district. This district protects natural areas around the city.
Focus on Community and Social Issues
The Commercial Club also cares about social issues. They have looked into ways to help young people who are having trouble. They have also worked on improving relations between different groups of people. Another area they have focused on is helping older people, such as with ideas for pensions.
Current Leadership of the Club
The Commercial Club started with 17 founding members in 1877. Today, the club continues its work. The current leader, known as the chairman, is Jennifer F. Scanlon. The current president of the club is Kelly R. Welsh.
