Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce Cites University’s Positive Relationship with Area

A local community organization in Lincoln Park recently honored DePaul University for its longstanding commitment to the neighborhood.

The Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit organization that represents more than 550 local businesses, institutions and professionals, named DePaul as the recipient of its 2003 Community Contributor Award at a luncheon last week. The award honors a local organization that has made a significant contribution to benefit local residents, businesses and the community at large through the commitment of time and financial resources.

"Over the years, DePaul has been a good neighbor to the Lincoln Park community and has made a tremendous effort to foster a positive relationship with the neighborhood," said Kim Klausmeier, president and CEO of the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce.

Among the reasons cited for the award were the university’s efforts in forming a neighborhood advisory committee to oversee community-university relations, as well as planning and development issues. In addition, DePaul’s work in assisting local residents with neighborhood parking problems was lauded. The university was also praised for forming the Lincoln Park Community Research Initiative, a joint effort between DePaul and local organizations to collect documents and artifacts on the history of the community. The partnership also develops and supports research, publications and exhibits about Lincoln Park.

Also noted was DePaul’s entrepreneurship program’s co-sponsorship of the Lincoln Park Business Development Institute "Start Up, Chicago" educational business course.

DePaul is the largest private university in Chicago and the largest Catholic university in the nation. A richly diverse population of 23,227 students attends classes on two city and five suburban campuses.

DePaul was founded in 1898 by the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers (the Congregation of the Mission), a Roman Catholic religious community that continues the mission and values of Vincent de Paul, the 17th century French saint known as the "Apostle of Charity."