The Justin Wynn Fund’s Second Annual Red Tie Soirée, to be held on Saturday, February 11, 2017, will celebrate 30 years of honoring and nurturing youth leaders in Evanston. Guests will gather at The Evanston Art Center to enjoy food from Evanston and Skokie’s most coveted restaurants, along with wine, craft beer and artisan spirits from local producers.
The Red Tie theme serves as an homage to the late Michael Wynn, Justin’s father, who passed away in 2014. His favorite color was red, as is the color of his beloved fraternity, Kappa Alpha Psi.
The Red Tie Soirée will feature the presentation of the 2017 Buddy Portugal Awardto Mr. Willie Miller, Jr., a former member of the Board of Directors of the Leadership Council of Metropolitan Chicago. Mr. Miller is an active community volunteer, having served three terms on the District 202 Board of Education at Evanston Township High School, including three times as board president.
Miller is the inaugural recipient of the Chicago United Business Leaders of Color Award. He is the current president of the Fellowship of African American Men (FAAM), Evanston’s youth basketball program, which started modestly nearly 50 years ago. The FAMM league began as a summer basketball program and then started actual league play in the winter of 1968. Initially there were four teams – all boys. The league now has fourteen boys’ teams, six girls’ teams and three cheerleading squads.
Mr. Miller’s continued dedication, leadership and mentorship with youth, volunteers and coaches has made a significant impact in the Evanston community. Miller, a standout student athlete during his years at Evanston Township High School, believes that, “ETHS laid out the foundation for all my life’s decisions.” His wife, Teel, and his three children are also ETHS alumni.