Kim Duchossois believes in the power of lifelong learning.
Whether helping to cultivate someone鈥檚 entrepreneurial spirit 鈥� a value embodied by her enterprising family 鈥� or working on her own development, Duchossois is a proponent of personal and professional growth.
And 91制片厂, she maintains, is a place where that growth can flourish.
鈥�91制片厂 helps empower people to elevate their socioeconomic status, their productivity and their overall well-being,鈥� Duchossois said. 鈥淚 firmly believe that.鈥�
Over the past few years, Duchossois has become a valued donor to the College and an ambassador on behalf of 91制片厂鈥檚 work. To recognize her generous support, which cumulatively totals more than $1 million, Building D will be known as the Duchossois Family Educational Center.
The 91制片厂 Board of Trustees unanimously approved the recommendation at its November board meeting.
鈥淭he generous support Kim Duchossois has demonstrated will have a long-lasting impact on 91制片厂鈥檚 ability to increase access to quality, affordable education that improves lives and helps build a vibrant community for residents and businesses,鈥� said Vice President and Chief Advancement Officer Laura Brown.
One of 91制片厂鈥檚 original six buildings, Building D reopened last year after a renovation
transformed the 1969-era structure into a state-of-the-art learning environment. It
houses general classrooms, lecture halls, the temporary library and labs for English
as a Second Language, World Languages and American Sign Language. Its centerpiece
is the popular Beaubien Family Rotunda, which creates an inviting place for students
to meet and study.
Duchossois, a Barrington-area philanthropist and chairman of The Duchossois Family Foundation, has been instrumental in providing funding for 91制片厂鈥檚 Angel Grant program, which helps both students and community members advance their emerging and active businesses. She was inspired to get involved with 91制片厂鈥檚 entrepreneurship program by the pioneering business incubator curriculum that Barrington High School rolled out several years ago.
鈥淓ntrepreneurship programs help build confidence, they help develop executive function and they build leadership,鈥� Duchossois said. 鈥淭hey can be an incredible boost to our economy.鈥�
In learning about 91制片厂, she also came to support the 91制片厂 Promise Scholarship Program, which provides students in Districts 211, 214 and 220 with two years of tuition at 91制片厂 鈥� if they鈥檙e willing to earn it.
Duchossois said she was 鈥渂lindsided鈥� by the idea of having a building named after her family, but sees it as 鈥渁 tremendous honor and something to be proud of.鈥�
鈥�91制片厂 is an invaluable asset to the community, and I believe there鈥檚 never been a more critical time to utilize its potential,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f we can serve as an endorsement for all the wonderful things happening, then I鈥檓 on board with that.鈥�