The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) Midwest Division hosted its annual gala on April 23 in Chicago, marking a significant milestone for the organization. The event celebrated the division’s 15th anniversary and highlighted more than $640,000 in Community Grants awarded to 55 nonprofits serving communities across the Midwest.
With the theme “Deep Roots, Lasting Impact,” the gala focused on the insurance industry’s ongoing philanthropic efforts. More than 350 industry professionals and nonprofit representatives attended the event, reflecting strong support for IICF’s mission to help communities and enrich lives.
Recognition of Industry Leadership
During the event, IICF honored Lynn Jekkals, Midwest Region Leader at Aon, with the 2026 IICF Midwest Trailblazer Award. This award recognizes insurance professionals who demonstrate outstanding leadership in both the industry and philanthropic efforts.
Jekkals has more than 30 years of experience in the insurance industry. She has supported mentorship, career development, and excellence in risk and insurance solutions at Aon. She also emphasized the importance of supporting local charities through the company’s partnership with IICF.
Spotlight on Community Impact
The gala also featured Chicago Debates as the event’s highlighted nonprofit. Chicago Debates is an urban policy debate league that serves 1,500 students across more than 90 middle and high schools in under-resourced communities in and around Chicago. The organization is a recipient of an IICF Community Grant and promotes debate as an extracurricular activity for students.
Since its founding in 2012, the IICF Midwest Division has granted more than $6.2 million to nearly 300 nonprofits. In the past year alone, the division awarded more than $640,000 in grants to organizations focused on education, health, and safety. These funds were raised through industry support, including the annual Midwest Division Gala.
New Leadership Announced
The event also included leadership updates for the IICF Midwest Division Board of Directors. Kelly Hartweg, Executive Director of IICF Midwest, announced Brent Gaeta and Chris Johnston as the new Co-Chairs.
Gaeta serves as Executive Vice President and Midwest Regional Manager for Commercial Insurance at Chubb. Johnston serves as Regional Executive for the Midwest at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Both leaders have supported the division in various roles over several years.
Johnston noted the value of supporting charitable organizations through volunteer time, resources, and financial contributions. He encouraged broader participation in IICF’s efforts nationwide. Gaeta also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to serve and emphasized the importance of collaboration within the insurance industry to support communities in need.
Gaeta and Johnston succeed Marcie Stephan, Senior Vice President at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Solutions. Stephan led the division for two years and oversaw key expansion efforts, including the launch of the IICF Minnesota Chapter in early 2025.
Expanding Reach Across the Midwest
The IICF Midwest Division serves communities through Associate Boards in the Chicago area and regional chapters in Ohio, the Heartland region, and Minnesota. The division is one of four in the United States, alongside two international divisions in the United Kingdom and Canada.
Since its founding in 1994, IICF has granted more than $55 million globally.
Industry Support and Sponsorship
The 2026 Midwest Gala received strong support from industry sponsors. Aon served as the Presenting Sponsor. Platinum Sponsors included Burns & Wilcox, Chubb, CNA, and Crum & Forster. Gold Sponsors included Applied Systems, AXA XL, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance, CRC Group, Howden Group, DUAL, Markel, and Zurich.
IICF acknowledged these sponsors for their contributions to the event’s success and to the continued impact of the Midwest Division’s philanthropic initiatives.
For more information regarding IICF’s Midwest Division and how to become a board member, please visit IICF Midwest Division at IICF.org or contact IICF Midwest Executive Director Kelly Hartweg at (773) 991-2149 or khartweg@iicf.org.
About the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF)
The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF) is a unique nonprofit that unites the collective strengths of the insurance industry to help communities and enrich lives through grants and volunteer service. Established in 1994, IICF has served as the philanthropic voice and foundation of the insurance industry for more than 30 years, contributing over $55 million in community grants and 400,000 volunteer hours by more than 130,000 industry professionals. IICF reinvests locally where funds are raised to maximize community impact, and partners with hundreds of charities and nonprofit organizations each year to serve our neighbors in need across the US, UK, and Canada.
IICF is a registered nonprofit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. Learn more at www.iicf.org or follow us on LinkedIn and Instagram.
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