The Midtown Educational Foundation was founded in 1965 with the goal of helping inner-city kids grow in intellect and integrity as they advanced though school.

That’s just what thousands of children have done with the benefit of the organization’s after-school and summer programs. Its Metro Achievement Center for girls and Midtown Center for boys help prepare kids to compete for spots in college prep high schools and eventually enter college.

At its 16th awards dinner on Monday night, an overflow crowd of more than 550 guests packed the Four Seasons Hotel for dinner, performances by students, and the presentation of the Reach for Excellence Award to John A. Canning, Jr., chairman and CEO of Madison Dearborn Partners, LLC.

The evening was co-chaired by Jeffrey A. Rein, chairman and CEO of Walgreen Co. Read Crain’s interview with Mr. Rein.

Students showed off their smarts with an onstage spelling bee, and dinner included an autumn salad with goat cheese, roasted pears and spicy pecans, followed by chicken in wine sauce and pumpkin crème brulee. At the end of the evening, guests learned that the dinner had raised almost $900,000 for ongoing programs. 

See complete Crain's article.