ROCKFORD, Ill. ― Last night, more than 200 people gathered at the Community Foundation of Northern Illinois’ 2008 Annual Dinner in Rockford. The Community Foundation manages charitable funds for more than 300 area nonprofit organizations.
At the dinner, philanthropist and Hinshaw partner James Keeling was presented with the fourth annual Charles G. Uram Lifetime Service Award on behalf of the Rockford Cosmopolitan Club.
Charles G. Uram, a 40-year member of The Rockford Cosmopolitan Club, passed away on December 24, 2004. A friend and mentor to many, the Club felt that he demonstrated the true value that is derived from volunteering and donating to the Rockford community. He is remembered by the Rockford community and the Club as the person called upon to lead fund drives. Mr. Uram was a fundraiser/volunteer for Crusader Clinic, Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Hunger Connection, Lifescape Community Services, Rockford Rescue Mission, Rosecrance Health Network, The MILL, United Way, Wesley Willows, YMCA, Community Foundation of Northern Illinois and others. He is credited with raising over $6 million for these organizations. His efforts earned him the Excalibur Award recognizing his charitable efforts that benefited so many Rockford organizations.
Mr. Uram’s spirit lives on through this annual award created to recognize community leaders with his style and record of lifetime achievement. Rockford area non-profit organizations that qualify under Code Sec. 501(c)(3) are asked to nominate any living person for the award, even if they are not affiliated with the nominating organization.
Mr. Keeling was nominated by the Rockford Park District Foundation, and in turn, the district will receive a $5,000 donation from the Rockford Cosmopolitan Club.
Mr. Keeling maintains a business law practice with emphasis on organizational and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions and real estate. He also advises numerous individual and business clients in the areas of estate and financial planning, and real estate development. In conjunction with both his business law and estate planning practices, Mr. Keeling advises closely held businesses and family businesses on ownership relations and succession planning issues.
He has been recognized by his peers as a Leading Lawyer in the category of Small, Closely & Privately Held Business Law. In addition, he holds the AV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating for ethics and legal ability. In 2005 Mr. Keeling was named as a “Super Lawyer” in the area of Business, General, by Illinois Super Lawyers magazine.
An active leader of Rockford area civic and charitable programs, Mr. Keeling is Chair of the Perryville Path Project (an effort to build a community bicycle and recreational paths), and is also founding Chairman of the Junior Golf Association of Greater Rockford, the area's First Tee affiliate. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Rockford Park District Foundation.
In addition to receiving this Lifetime Achievement Award, Mr. Keeling's community service has been recognized in the past with the following awards:
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Rockford Golf Hall of Fame (2007)
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Boy Scouts of America “Distinguished Citizen Award/Champion of Youth” (2005)
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Association of Fund Raising Professionals “Outstanding Fundraiser Volunteer Award” (2004)
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Patriots Gateway Center “Patriot of the Year” for The First Tee Initiative (2004)
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Midwest Trails Conference “Innovative Paths Award” (2003)
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Excalibur Finalist (2003, 1995, and 1993)
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Rockford Sesquicentennial (1852 – 2002) “Futurist Award” (2002)
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Junior Achievement Business Hall of Fame (2002)
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Illinois Park and Recreation Association and Illinois Association of Park Districts, “Community Service Award) (2001 and 1994)
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Winnebago Bar Foundation “Seely Forbes Service Award” (1999)
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Walton Foundation “Sam Walton Business Leader Award” (1998)
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Rails to Trails Conservancy “Illinois Trails Development Leadership Award” (1998)
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United Way “Volunteerism Award” for Service to Prairie State Legal Services (1998)
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Rockford Rotary Club "Service Above Self Award" (1997)
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Midway Village Museum Center “Leadership and Dedicated Service” (1994)
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Rockford Road Runners “Community Service Award” (1993)
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a national law firm with 475 lawyers in 25 offices. The firm offers a full-service practice, with an emphasis in litigation, corporate and business law, environmental, labor and employment law, professional liability defense, and wealth preservation and taxation matters. The firm provides services to a range of for-profit and not-for-profit clients in industries that include construction, financial services, health care, insurance, legal, manufacturing, real estate, retail and transportation. Firm clients also include government agencies, municipalities and schools.
Hinshaw was founded in 1934. The firm is headquartered in Chicago, and maintains offices in 12 states: Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Wisconsin.