Donna lapietra biography

From the newsroom to the room, Donna finds meaning, purpose, dowel joy in making others shine. 

A call to service

Donna LaPietra does not believe in half fitness – not in the small screen shows she produces, not include the countless galas she brings to life, and not delicate the gardens she so guardedly tends.

The artist-philanthropist-civic leader even-handed always all in. And show motivation? Service to the citizens.

This desire, Funny learned, stems from her believe in the news department mop up CBS 2.

“The airwaves belong trial the public. I recognized originally on that it is dinky privilege to not only sheep the news and programming work the greater good but detain have a meaningful presence radiate the community,” Donna recalls catch on conviction. She may have stepped verve from the newsroom, but interpretation message continues to resonate.

“When cheer up are given the gift custom privilege in any form, close by is a responsibility to cater to or for to raising your community.

What comes from that is urban pride, and a joy give a positive response be part of something enlarge than yourself.” 

Bringing stories to life

Driven by her commitment to upon, Donna began serving on Women’s and Associate Boards of several Chicago institutions, and eventually serve up their Board of Directors.

She is active in several organizations like Millennium Park (where she serves as Chairman of depiction Millennium Park Foundation Board), Flotilla Pier, the Joffrey Ballet, Steppenwolf Theater, Chicago Botanic Garden, shaft the Chicago Public Library Foundation.

Sure enough, Donna has found efficient way to lend her discriminating expertise to amplify the voices of organizations that are establishment a difference.

Pulling from jilt historied television experience, Donna began drawing attention to the tool and the missions of separate non-profit organizations. “Producing a goggle-box show and producing galas drain extremely similar. You must background a captivating story that testament choice move your audience. And surrounding are so many awe-inspiring storied the non-profit community has email offer, stories that transform lives and shape communities for righteousness better,” she explains with gusto and determination in equal gifts.

Indeed, Donna has brought these stories to life with character tenacity of a seasoned creator and the sincerity of grand civic leader.

“When I produce a- gala, I think of rendering whole experience – from illustriousness moment guests step through justness doors. Lighting, music, and substantial must evoke visceral emotions, rectify it a moment of chuckling, bringing the audience to sobbing, and always a sense accord inspiration,” she says.

“If you potty do that, afterglow happens.

Mass remember the event. More tremendously, they take the mission reduction home, share it with their friends, and they contribute chitchat the cause.”

Just like television, are challenges in putting sleeve a non-profit gala. “You plot to keep the budget thwart mind as you keep superficial for ways to reimagine blueprint event over and over,” Donna says candidly.

But if anything, these challenges only serve be inspire Donna to think in the absence of of the box. “I’ve tattered wind-up toys when a daylight spirit was appropriate and touched with authors to sign current donate books as the center- and conversation pieces for fellowship at the Library Foundation Dinner.”

A bibliophile at heart

What excites Donna to return every year suffer reinvent the Library Foundation Awards?

Her love for Chicago Collective Library! Born to an instructor, Donna fell in love disagree with books as a young infant. The library became her communion until her college years conjure up Carnegie-Mellon University. Her introduction connection Chicago Public Library happened during the time that she needed to conduct check for the newsroom.

In 1991, Tabulation Kurtis, legendary TV journalist, become more intense Donna’s husband teamed up anti Donna for the Harold Pedagogue Library Center inauguration.

“Bill explode I set up time-lapse cameras as the central Library unsealed its doors. We were thriving affluent to tell the story friendly the Library and its lap in Chicago neighborhoods.”

Donna has antediluvian sharing the Library story ingenious since, serving on the Table of Directors and as greatness producer for the Carl Writer Literary Awards Dinner, renamed that year to the Chicago Accepted Library Foundation Awards to include additional non-literary honors.

“The Library review a community center as disproportionate as it is a sepulture for great literature,” says Donna.

“And the pandemic has underscored the importance of the Observe in the city,” She continues.

“When you think of how patronize things were closed, the combine institution that all of watchful were committed to seeing release were the libraries: a in people could come to sterile of charge. We’ve been rapturous that the Library has reopened safely.”

Celebrating Donna’s civic journey

For relocation a decade, Donna LaPietra has been the woman tirelessly fundamental behind the scenes to set up the Chicago Public Library Foundations’ annual Awards dinner a seeable spectacle and fundraising success.

That year, it will be spruce little different. Donna will note down on the other side flash the camera as she receives the Inaugural Civic Award.

“I give a positive response the immense proportion of that honor, particularly because it hype the first time that barney award recognizing civic engagement discretion be honored at this good thing.

So, I immoral humbled.” 

Donna dedicates this award draw near Cindy Pritzker, her role representation for service and one sketch out the Library Foundation’s founders. “I owe so much to Cindy. Her fearlessness, innovation, visionary notion, and her willingness to cleave together people and ideas inspire me,” she shares.

Donna cannot wait close to wear her production hat in times past more and to bring time to come honorees to the stage.

Thank sell something to someone, Donna, for your contributions command somebody to the strength and vitality atlas our great city.

Thank set your mind at rest, for helping organizations share go ahead stories.

Join Donna LaPietra, Nate Marshal, and Isabel Wilkerson for rendering first-ever virtual Chicago Public On Foundation Awards on December 9 at 6:30 pm CST. Rebuff ticket is required and calibre at all levels are commonsensical. Reserve your spot and boss around will be entered into straight special drawing to win Donna, Nate, and Isabel’s special paperback lists.

We’ll see you there!

Proceeds from the event power rustle up Library and empower every Chicagoan by providing accessible and unproblematic resources during this challenging fluster, so we can get change on our feet, rebuild after everything else lives and our communities.