Meet Our 2024 Outstanding Company Service of the Year Winners
Meet Our 2024 Outstanding Company Service of the Year Winners! We’re so excited to announce that both McKinsey & Company and Magid Glove & Safety are receiving the award for Outstanding Company Service to Chicago Scholars for 2024. Each year with this award, we acknowledge companies or organizations that have shown outstanding commitment to community engagement and philanthropy through their partnership with us, and both McKinsey & Co and Magid have gone above and beyond in their work with our Scholars this year.
We spoke with representatives from each company about what it means to be recognized for this awards, and how it drives them forward as they continue their work in partnership with Chicago Scholars. Read on for their responses!
McKinsey & Company – Winner of Outstanding Company Service
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
“This award reflects the shared commitment and passion our office has for supporting the mission of Chicago Scholars. Our firm centers around the idea of creating ‘positive, enduring change’. Our partnership with Chicago Scholars is a great example of this, where we work together with them to empower the next generation of diverse leaders through equal and fair access to college, along with everything a degree entails.”
What has been the best part of working alongside Chicago Scholars?
“The best part of working alongside Chicago Scholars has been meeting Scholars at events like Onsite. We’re constantly impressed by the passion, brilliance, and maturity of Scholars. They’re at a really exciting inflection point in their lives – figuring out who they are, what they stand for, and what they want out of life. They’re incredibly inspiring, and they give us a lot of hope for the future of Chicago.“
Why should others get involved with Chicago Scholars’ work?
“Time is one of the most valuable resources you can give a nonprofit, and anyone is capable of giving it. If you want to contribute positively to your community, or if at some point someone has offered you an act of kindness and you want to pay it forward, getting involved with Chicago Scholars enables them to serve more students and serve each student a little better. The science is also very clear — volunteering substantially improves a person’s physical & mental health and provides a sense of connection.”
What is something you have learned from working with Chicago Scholars?
“Working with Chicago Scholars, we got an inside look at the organization – all the people, resources, and ideas that work together to create change. They’ve built a model & strategy that really works, and they’re constantly reflecting & evolving to better meet the needs of their students.”
“On a more personal level, I’ve spent most of my academic & professional career figuring out how I want to show up and contribute meaningfully to my community & the wider world, ” said Cynthia Liu, a Senior Business Analyst at McKinsey. “I also believe that education is one of the greatest enablers of a happy, healthy, and purposeful life, and everyone should have equitable access to it. I’m really happy knowing that our work with Chicago Scholars will make a student’s life better or provide them with opportunities they might not otherwise have.”
Magid Glove & Safety – Winner of Outstanding Company Service
What does it mean to you to receive this award?
“It’s very meaningful to receive this recognition from the Chicago Scholars organization. Magid is committed to making the world a better place through our sustainability efforts for the planet and our community outreach efforts and charitable giving. We try to do our part to help end discrimination by investing in communities that need support, and working with and supporting Chicago Scholars helps us in those efforts. We work to develop strong, diverse, inclusive leaders and to create opportunities for team members to reach their full potential. The Rusty Cohen Legacy Scholarship is one element in our ongoing efforts to make Magid a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable company.”
What has been the best part of working alongside Chicago Scholars?
“The best part of working alongside Chicago Scholars is getting to meet the scholars. They are bright, engaged, and eager to learn. It’s been very rewarding to show students what we do and to help them explore the kinds of business opportunities that are available to them.“
Why should others get involved with Chicago Scholars’ work?
“Working with Chicago Scholars is a great opportunity to contribute to the development of Chicago’s future leaders and to touch the lives of individual students. It’s a great feeling!”
What is something you learned from working with Chicago Scholars?
“Many of the students who visit Magid haven’t yet become aware of the many career paths available in business. Many are familiar with computers and accounting, but learning about product development, human resources, and even sales, has provided students with possible career directions they never considered. We are often surprised by how much we can show these students about the world of business in just one visit.”