News and Notes - November 2023

Dear Maria,

November is National Adoption Month! I want to take a moment and thank you for supporting adoption by being a part of the Greenlight family. We could not find forever families and give the gift of permanency without your generosity. Whether you make a donation, attend an event, or purchase a gift for a child, you are making a difference for youth and families across Illinois.

I am proud to announce exciting updates regarding the Greenlight Board of Directors. Nathan Ciulla has stepped up as our new board president. With his own adoption story, years of generous board service, and depth of professional experience, I am looking forward to Nathan serving at the helm of the Greenlight Family Services board.

Additionally, Greenlight has partnered with the University of Chicago Booth School of Business to include two outstanding MBA students as ex-officio members on our board of directors. These board fellows will work closely with Greenlight leadership to help us achieve our strategic goals.

Please read below for more details, including event information for the Adoption Day celebration on November 17. I hope to see you there!

Sincerely,

Maria Nanos, LCSW, PhD

CEO

WELCOME

Greenlight Board President

Nathan Ciulla

Nathan Ciulla serves as the President of the Board of Directors of Greenlight Family Services. As a former foster child, now adopted son, Nathan is passionate about keeping families together and thriving. He also serves as the Treasurer/Director of Marketing of the Chicago Paralegal Association, the Assistant Office Manager and Senior Legal Assistant at SATC|Law, and the Senior Producer and Host of Bridging Chicago, the premier Chicago-based community and social podcast brought by the SATC|Solution Center.

Nathan has experience giving presentations and webinars on topics such as branding, legal ethics, and diversity and inclusion. Nathan believes that everyone’s story has value, and by sharing these stories, even if it is just with one other person, we can inspire change in our communities.

WELCOME

The University of Chicago

Booth School of Business

Net Impact Board Fellows

Chapman Bean

Chapman is a second year MBA student at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, focusing on strategy and entrepreneurship. Chapman has utilized his business acumen to help several nonprofits with funding strategies and scaling mission and impact.

Prior to Booth, Chapman spent five years working in financial services, focusing on credit risk management and data analytics. Chapman earned his BE in Chemical Engineering from Vanderbilt University and was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama.

Himani Shukla

Himani is a second year MBA student at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Himani has worked with multiple Chicago nonprofits such as MetroSquash, Top Box Foods, and the Obama Foundation.

Prior to business school, Himani was a digital and technology strategy consultant and worked across financial services, retail, and non-profit clients such as the Red Cross. For her undergrad, Himani majored in Actuarial Science and Psychology and supported research into the impact of parental substance abuse on children ages 1 to 5 years.

NOVEMBER 17 is

ADOPTION DAY

Greenlight Family Services is proud to sponsor the annual Adoption Day celebration at the Circuit Court of Cook County. Each year, our hearts are warmed to see the smiling faces of children now legally connected to their forever families through adoption. You are invited to join us for the morning festivities at the Richard J Daley Center at 50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602 on November 17th at 10AM.

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