[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 53 (Thursday, April 22, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E609]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  HONORING CHARLES AND MARJORIE BENTON

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. RAHM EMANUEL

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 22, 2004

  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Charles and 
Marjorie Benton for their selfless commitment to our community. I am 
particularly proud to congratulate Charles and Marjorie for winning the 
2004 Distinguished Grantmaker Award at the annual conference of the 
Council on Foundations.
  After fifty years of marriage, Charles and Marjorie are both widely 
recognized as active members of the community and continue to support 
and contribute to the many causes important to them. Charles chairs the 
Benton Foundation and Marjorie acts as a trustee. They are the first 
couple in the history of the Council on Foundations to be honored.
  Marjorie co-founded the Chicago Foundation for Woman, the Woman's 
Issues Network and The Peace Museum. She has also served as a delegate 
to the United Nations special sessions on disarmament in the 1970s and 
then as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Children's Fund.
  In addition, Marjorie chaired the board of Save the Children, which 
advocates women, children and development in countries around the 
world. She is also the first woman to serve on the boards of the 
Bernard Van Leer Foundation and the Van Leer Group Foundation in the 
Netherlands.
  She also chaired the Council on Foundations board from 1994 to 1996.
  One of Marjorie's most recent activities is co-founding the local 
Chicago Global Donor Network, which involves the local community in 
contributing to international humanitarian projects.
  Marjorie continues to work hard to raise millions of dollars a year 
for social change and progress. She goes out of her way to include 
donors in the fundraising process, making them active participants in 
each cause.
  Family has also been a priority to the Bentons. Their daughter, 
Adrianne Furniss, has taken over running the local family business. 
Their middle son, Craig, owns a recycling business in Ireland and is a 
strong advocate for environmental preservation. Their youngest son 
Scott is in the landscaping business. They are also the proud 
grandparents of four.
  Mr. Speaker, I join with the fifth district and entire Chicago 
community in congratulating my friends, Charles and Marjorie Benton on 
receiving the 2004 Distinguished Grantmaker Award, and wish them and 
her extended family, all the happiness in the future.

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