Celebrating the Life of an Advocate for Women in Real Estate and Raising Funds to Support Emerging Female Leaders
Chicago, IL — On September 14, 2023, the real estate community came together at “Debbie’s Buck-It Bash,” in a heartfelt tribute to the late Debbie Frank. The event, attended by over 300 guests and generously supported by more than 40 corporate sponsors, commemorated Frank’s enduring legacy as a leader and staunch champion for women in the real estate industry.
Debbie Frank, whose spirit was described as ‘unbridled awesome,’ worked in Golub & Company’s commercial leasing division for a notable 14 years. She was both a force of nature and a beacon of light in local commercial real estate, and her legacy is characterized by her commitment to empowering women throughout the industry.
Buck-It Bash serves as the flagship fundraising initiative for the Debbie Frank Legacy Fund. While paying homage to her memory, this vibrant event helps carry forward her vision and influence; inspiring upcoming generations of women in real estate.
The Debbie Frank Legacy Fund donates annually to organizations that prioritize education, mentorship, and community engagement. Among the beneficiaries are the scholarship programs offered by CREW Chicago and The Goldie Initiative, organizations that closely embody the values dear to Debbie’s heart.
To date, the fund has disbursed over $150,000 in support of ten promising women pursuing graduate degrees in real estate.
Paula Harris, Managing Principal at Golub & Company, shared her sentiments, “We will always feel Debbie’s inspiration and energy in our lives and, for the second year in a row, we have honored her memory by following her lead; supporting women as they explore their own potential within the real estate sector.”
Photos from this heartfelt event, hosted at Joe’s Bar on Weed Street, can be viewed online at www.debbiefranklegacyfund.com/gallery.Top of Form
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About Debbie Frank
A graduate of the University of Texas and Kent College of Law, Debbie enjoyed a compelling 22-year career in commercial real estate, spending her last years as senior vice president of leasing for Golub & Company. Throughout her career, she was known for having great energy and empathy. She was a proactive problem-solver and prolific relationship-builder. Debbie died from cancer at the age of 44 in December 2020, leaving behind a husband and young daughter. Her family, friends, colleagues and peers remember her for her unique personality, brilliance, sharp sense of humor and boundless compassion.
Debbie always advocated for the advancement of women in the industry and was a mentor to many professionals, both within Golub and in the greater Chicago commercial real estate community. She was a member of CREW Chicago (Commercial Real Estate Executive Women), COLBA (Chicago Office Leasing Brokers Association), and the Goldie Initiative. The Debbie Frank Legacy Fund aims to capture her commitment of boosting others and helping women achieve great things in their lives and careers. More information: www.debbiefranklegacyfund.com.
About Golub & Company
Since its founding in 1960, with three generations of family working in the business, Golub & Company has built a strong reputation as a trusted co-investor and developer with its many institutional and private capital partners. Golub and its affiliates have owned, leased, or managed more than 50 million square feet of commercial, mixed-use, and multifamily real estate properties, including 45,000 residential units, valued in excess of $10 billion located across the United States and internationally. More information: www.golubandcompany.com.
About CREW Chicago
CREW Chicago is the preeminent organization for senior-level executive women in the Chicago real estate field. As part of CREW Network, with its robust global membership, CREW Chicago is dedicated to advancing the success of women in commercial real estate. Since 1987, CREW Chicago has connected commercial real estate professionals and created a dynamic and supportive environment to promote advancement and encourage our members to be a force of activism and involvement in our communities. CREW Chicago pushes the boundaries in every facet of commercial real estate, aiming to create more opportunities for women in commercial real estate.
CREW Chicago annually awards scholarships for graduate and junior or senior undergraduate students majoring or concentrating in real estate or related real estate fields. The scholarships are awarded to well-rounded candidates, with a focus on academics and community service, and are intended to help qualified students pursue an education that will lead them into productive careers in Chicagoland’s commercial real estate community, with active participation in CREW Chicago. CREW Chicago has added the Debbie Frank Legacy Fund Scholarship as an expansion of its program. More information: www.crewchicago.org.
About The Goldie Initiative®
The mission of The Goldie Initiative is to prepare women for senior leadership roles in all sectors of commercial real estate. The Goldie Initiative does this by providing scholarship support for graduate study, mentorship and networking opportunities to women with high potential who are committed to becoming the leaders in the real estate industry. More information: www.goldieinitiative.org.