2026 Award Nomination Form

This award recognizes and honors a respected leader in the Planned Giving field from the Chicago area. These are people who are universally respected as mentors to others and have been noted and accomplished professionals to whom others seek counsel and wisdom.

The award is named for Russell V. Kohr, the founder of the planned giving program at Ravinia Festival, and who managed that successful program for two decades. Through his talents and skills, Russ made possible the creation of the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia.

Russ had many years in fundraising following his graduation from Northwestern University and his service in the Navy during World War II, where he served with distinction in the Pacific theatre. He was a mentor to many and was a gentle, thoughtful, innovative, dignified, and very effective leader in the planned giving profession.

Previous award winners include Marc Carmichael, Art Murray, Bill Cline, Dorothy Speidel, David Crabb, Frank Minton, Charlie Slamar, LeRoy Johnson, James R. Hellige, Howard (Scott) McCue, Kathy Sperlak, H. Kenwood Lewis, David S. Rosen, Marilyn Schaffer, Andre Donikian, Marguerite H. Griffin, Julie Captain, Rich Goode, and Patrick Bitterman.

This award is presented to a person who has provided extraordinary service on behalf of the Chicago Council on Planned Giving.

The award was named in 2010 in honor of Jon Heintzelman, the first President of CCPG and a distinguished leader in the planned giving field. Jon is a graduate of North Park University and Northwestern University School of Law. He ran outstandingly successful fundraising programs at Northwestern University and Loyola University Chicago before becoming Chairman of Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt in 2013. Jon has been deeply involved in giving back to the planned giving community, serving on the boards of North Park University and the American Council on Gift Annuities, as a member of the editorial board of the Journal on Gift Planning, and as a mentor for the United Negro College Fund. In 1993, Jon was named National Planned Giving Professional of the Year by Planned Giving Today and in 2004 he was awarded the AFP Chicago Chapter’s Benjamin Franklin Award. Jon has also contributed his talents and expertise to CCPG for decades as a mentor and frequent presenter of many luncheon and symposium programs.

Previous award winners include: Joel Schaffer, Jon Heintzelman, Denise Baronowski, Sandy Macnab, Patricia Shanahan, Joseph Like, Payson S. Wild, Jr., Robert Shafis, Elizabeth Roghair, Rich Goode, Anita Ridge, Kathy Kielar, Chuck Van Hecke, Holly Gibout, Katrina M. Pipasts and Sarah Rutledge.