Preservation Forward, the organization’s largest annual fundraising event, raised $611,000 for Landmarks Illinois’ mission-driven work helping people across the state save places that are special to them and their communities. It honored 2026 Landmarks Illinois Influencers: BMO Bank N.A., represented by Darrel Hackett, CEO, BMO U.S.; Sunny Fischer, Board Chair, National Public Housing Museum; and Route History Museum, represented by Co-CEOs and Co-Founders Dr. Stacy Grundy and Dr. Gina Lathan.
The 2026 Influencers each received a custom award design made by Firebird Community Arts and inspired by the work and impact of each influencer.
For the first time, BandWith Chicago performed at the event in The Old Post Office’s Grand Hall and helped usher guests into the Historic Lobby for the event’s main program. BandWith is a nonprofit performing arts center and community hub in Chicago’s East Garfield Park neighborhood, providing free music programs to underserved communities at its new headquarters space inside an adaptively reused historic building at 134 S. California Avenue. In 2024, Landmarks Illinois awarded BandWith a $500,000 loan through the Reinvestment Program Loan Fund to support the adaptive reuse project.
The 2026 Preservation Forward After-Party featured a DJ as well as sweet treats from Classic Cobbler Baked Goods Company, Schweet Original Homemade Chicago Cheesecake, Moody’s Market, Royce + Reign, Cakes by the #pound and Whipped Inc.
Landmarks Illinois that evening recognized its Presenting Sponsor TAWANI Property Management, its first-ever presenting sponsor, as well as Annual Corporate Sponsors and welcomed new sponsors BMO, Good Chaos and the Good Heart, Work Smart Foundation.
Photo credits: Maceo Bedar, David T. Kindler. For further information about Landmarks Illinois visit: landmarks.org