The Daniel H. Burnham Award was created by the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce’s Board of Directors to pay tribute to a prominent business leader, not only for their influence in advancing the Chicagoland business climate, but also for their tremendous civic contributions helping to make this city a better place to both work and live. This year marks the 29th anniversary of the Burnham Award and shines a light on the importance of civic involvement and is a reminder of how Chicago thrives with a fully engaged business community.
Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will never die, but long after we are gone be a living thing, asserting itself with ever-growing insistency. Remember that our sons and our grandsons are going to do things that would stagger us. Let your watchword be order and your beacon beauty.
Daniel H. Burnham
1907