IICF Midwest Gala Marks 15th Anniversary, Celebrates $640,000 Granted to 55 Nonprofits

Aon executive Lynn Jekkals honored for her industry, philanthropic contributions

CHICAGO—April 27, 2026—The Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation (IICF), a unique nonprofit organization dedicated to helping communities and enriching lives, held its Midwest Division Gala on April 23 in Chicago in celebration of the insurance industry’s philanthropic impact. With a theme of “Deep Roots, Lasting Impact,” the event was designed to recognize more than $640,000 in IICF Community Grants awarded to benefit and better lives in the communities served by the IICF Midwest Division as well as to mark the division’s 15^th anniversary as a driving force for philanthropy and volunteerism within the insurance industry.

The IICF Midwest also honored Aon’s Midwest Region Leader Lynn Jekkals for her more than three decades of insurance industry leadership and commitment to charitable efforts. Before an audience of more than 350 industry professionals and representatives of nonprofit partners, Jekkals accepted the 2026 IICF Midwest Trailblazer Award. This prestigious award recognizes those insurance professionals who have made outstanding contributions as a philanthropic leader as well as within the industry.

“For more than 30 years, it has been my honor to support our culture of mentorship, career development and excellence in the application of risk and insurance solutions at Aon,” noted Jekkals. “To also be able to bring attention and support to local charities in the communities Aon serves through our partnership with the IICF is a valued privilege. I accept this award with gratitude on behalf of all my colleagues at Aon who serve communities with such dedication, and it is my hope that we are inspiring even greater community impact.”

IICF also recognized Chicago Debates, an urban policy debate league that helps promote debate as an extracurricular activity for 1,500 students at more than 90 middle and high schools in the most under-resourced and underserved neighborhoods in and around Chicago, as the event’s featured nonprofit. Chicago Debates is an IICF Community Grant recipient.

The IICF Midwest Division has granted more than $6.2 million to nearly 300 nonprofits since its inception in 2012. Last year, the Midwest Division awarded more than $640,000 in IICF Community Grants to nonprofit partners championing education, health and safety, through funds raised by the generous support of the insurance industry at events such as the annual IICF Midwest Division Gala.

During the event, Kelly Hartweg, IICF Midwest Executive Director, announced the appointment of the new Co-Chairs of the IICF Midwest Division Board of Directors: Brent Gaeta, Executive Vice President, Midwest Regional Manager – Commercial Insurance at Chubb, and Chris Johnston, Regional Executive – Midwest at Liberty Mutual Insurance. Both have supported the division in various leadership roles for several years.

“The opportunity to work with IICF, to the benefit of so many fantastic charitable organizations across the Midwest Region, has been extremely rewarding,” said Chris Johnston. “These organizations do incredible work in the communities they serve and to be able to support their efforts through volunteer time, resources and financial means has been very special. I encourage everyone to get involved with IICF and the organizations they support across the country.”

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve our communities alongside Chris and the extraordinary insurance and philanthropic leaders serving on the Midwest Division Board,” Brent Gaeta said. “IICF unites the industry through philanthropy and across all sectors of the industry, we are joining together in support of those in need. I look forward to working with the entire IICF Midwest insurance community, including our Chapters and Associate Boards within this region, to help increase our impact through grant-making and volunteerism.”

Gaeta and Johnston assumed the IICF Midwest Board leadership role from Marcie Stephan, Senior Vice President at Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Solutions, who has led the division for two years and through expansion that included the successful launch of the IICF Minnesota Chapter, serving the Twin Cities region, in early 2025.

Communities throughout the Midwest region are served by the IICF Midwest Division and Associate Boards based in the Chicago area as well as the Ohio, Heartland (Kansas and Missouri) and Minnesota Chapters. IICF Midwest is one of four US divisions of the Insurance Industry Charitable Foundation, along with two international divisions, IICF UK and IICF Canada. The foundation has granted more than $55 million globally since its founding more than 30 years ago in 1994.

IICF applauds the generous support from sponsors of the 2026 Midwest Gala, including its Presenting Sponsor, Aon. The evening’s Platinum Sponsors included Burns & Wilcox, Chubb, CNA and Crum & Forster while the gala’s Gold Sponsors were Applied Systems, AXA XL, Berkshire Hataway Specialty Insurance, CRC Group, Howden Group / DUAL, Markel and Zurich. IICF is grateful to these and all generous event sponsors of the IICF Midwest Division’s 15^th annual gala.

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 thirty years, contributing over $55 million in community grants along with 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 social media at: LinkedIn and Instagram.