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2026 Fall Benefit

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Thursday, September 24

6PM Reception

7PM Dinner & Program

900 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL

Join CMSS for our 2026 Fall Benefit, during which we will celebrate the sixth annual Spirit Award Honoree, Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch. Speaker Welch has been the Illinois Speaker of the House since January 2021 and a representative in the Illinois General Assembly since January 2013. He has been a steadfast support of older adults and especially supportive of programs for seniors in his home town of Bellwood, IL.

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2026 Spirit Award Honoree

Emanuel “Chris” Welch

Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives

Emanuel “Chris” Welch has served as the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives since January 2021. He is the first Black lawmaker to hold this position. Before becoming Speaker, Welch served as a State Representative in the Illinois General Assembly.

Throughout his career, Speaker Welch has demonstrated exceptional dedication to serving older adults across Illinois. Speaker Welch has provided remarkable support to the West Suburban Senior Center, showing outstanding commitment and letting the seniors we serve know their voices matter. We are honored to recognize Speaker Welch’s tireless efforts to support and advocate for seniors’ rights, well-being, and dignity.

Prior to becoming Speaker, Welch served as Chair of the House Executive Committee, and before that, he chaired Higher Education. As State Representative, Welch focused on improving classroom education, creating jobs, helping the most vulnerable, and streamlining government. 

Before joining the General Assembly, Speaker Welch served 12 years on the Proviso Township High School Board of Education. During ten of those years, he chaired the Board and led the Proviso School Board in the creation of the Proviso Math and Science Academy, a school that is recognized by Chicago Magazine and US News and World Report. He managed all this while balancing the school’s budget for the first time since the early 90s.

Speaker Welch has received several notable awards for his legislative record, including the prestigious Zeke Giorgi Award from the AFL-CIO and the Friend and Education Award from the Illinois Education Association.

Speaker Welch is a graduate of Proviso West High School (‘89), Northwestern University (‘93), and The John Marshall Law School (‘97).

Your Gift to CMSS

All proceeds from the Fall Benefit support CMSS’ work across Chicagoland. As a non-sectarian, non-profit organization, CMSS relies on the generosity of our partners, friends, and family to support our programs and services, which include: 

  • Affordable Senior Housing
  • Senior Connections
  • West Suburban Senior Center & LGBT+ Program
  • SASI Home Care
  • Adult Day Program
  • Assisted Living Memory Care
 

In every facet of our work, we empower each person we serve to live their best life and we meet the needs of each individual, taking into account their specific circumstance.

As the demand for older adult care increases, your gift will make CMSS’s next century of care and services possible and will ensure a lasting impact on the lives of older adults in our communities. Thank you for your support.

2025 Fall Benefit Photos

Thanks to all our sponsors, partners and friends who attended the event!

Past Annual Events