Judy Baar Topinka

Judy Baar Topinka Charitable Foundation

News & Events

Judy Baar Topinka to be Honored by Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame

Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Announces 2020 Inductees

Judy Baar Topinka to be named “Friend of the Community” (Posthumous) in Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame Virtual 2020 Ceremony on October 13, 2020

The late Judy Baar Topinka was there for the LGBTQ community when that community was only a blip on the political radar screen.  She supported the LGBTQ causes when it was politically risky for anyone…Democrat or Republican or whomever…to be associated with the movement.  The fact that she did so as a Republican showed an incredible amount of political courage.  During an interview she even stated “I will put my LGBT credentials up against ANYBODY – I was supporting this before it was fashionable.  And as a Republican, when we have a whole sector of our party that doesn’t really care for this stuff….”

Judy Baar Topinka was not only supportive in words, she was supportive in her actions.  For example, she supported the Illinois’ Marriage Equality Bill.  During a November 20, 2013 ceremony at the University of Illinois at Chicago where the state’s marriage equality bill was signed into law, Judy Baar Topinka — the only Republican speaker at the event — delivered a moving speech and even stated that “it takes both parties to make something happen and when we work together, look what we can do!” 

Judy Baar Topinka Equity Speech – Nov. 20, 2013

During the speech, she further stated that she would offer to be a flower girl “and will even waive the fee” at any upcoming same-sex weddings.  Another example was how she opened her office to Equality Illinois’ delegation on the groups annual Springfield lobbying days.  Still another example was her perennial attendance at Chicago’s Pride Parade and Equality Illinois’ annual galas. 

In summary, one longtime LGBT rights activist put it best when he said Judy Baar Topinka was “a consistent and firm supporter of gay rights.  Even when attacked by members of her own party for her gay-rights support, she never wavered.”

She was truly a friend of the LGBTQ community.

See the Announcement
The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame

Kashay Webb is the recipient of the 2020 CAHME/Judy Baar Topinka Foundation Scholarship

Kashay Webb is the recipient of the 2020 CAHME/Judy Baar Topinka Foundation Scholarship.  The scholarship awards $2,000 to a graduate student in healthcare management education at a CAHME-accredited program active in health policy.  Judy Baar Topinka served as a legislator, state treasurer for an unprecedented three terms and the Illinois comptroller for one term until her untimely death at the beginning of her second term.  She was noted as an advocate for the health and welfare of the residents of Illinois.

Kashay Webb

Growing up in Baltimore, Maryland, Webb saw how health disparities can keep people from thriving and dedicated her time to improving the health status for underserved, disadvantaged and vulnerable populations.

Webb served as the Special Projects Administrator of St. Mary’s Outreach Center, a local Baltimore organization supporting hundreds of economically vulnerable, older adults.  She also led the deployment of a customized software program, which improved the efficiency of operations and client services at the center.

As the Co-Vice President of Public Policy for the American Association of University Women (AAUW), Webb has tailored her coalition relationships and legislative priorities to focus on health policy issues.  She recently championed the passage of a Maryland Hospital Patient Bill of Rights to ensure that all patients receive a list of their 24 legal rights to provide additional protection for vulnerable hospital patients.

Webb interned at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where she conducted an institution-wide diversity and inclusion assessment to evaluate the extent to which UMMC meets national cultural and linguistic standards.  Her findings serve as the basis for diversity initiatives in the FY20 strategic plan.

Kashay Webb was nominated by Mark J. Bittle, DrPH, MBA, FACHE of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Master of Health Administration Program.  Webb is pursing a MHA degree.

Dare to Dream: Get Educated 2020

Founded in 2009, the Dare to Dream: Get Educated program is about getting middle school and high school Latinas educated. The program encourages and supports the efforts of Latinas to graduate from high school, to encourage enrollment, and to introduce them to college and career role models.

This year’s Dare to Dream event is at the McAninch Arts Center (MAC), College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. Guest speakers include State Representative Kathleen Willis, State Representative Karina Villa, Deputy Governor Sol Flores, Diana Diaz-Espindola, Vanesa Sanchez, Elizabeth Gomez, Teresita Marsal-Avila, Dr. Eiliana Silva, and Monica Lopez who will address issues ranging from Career and Campus Life to Financial Aid.

Twenty schools have been invited to participate and 300 students are expected to attend.

Joseph Baar Topinka will be attending the event to speak about Judy Baar Topinka and to be available to sign copies of Just Judy, A Citizen and Leader for Illinois. The book is a perfect fit for Dare to Dream: Get Educated as the book was originally designed for middle-school students and junior high school students. Judy Baar Topinka can be one of those career role models. Copies of Just Judy will be handed out to each student attending. Over 300 students are expected to attend this incredible event.

Learn More

Say Yes to Your Future Conference

On behalf of the Judy Baar Topinka Foundation, copies of Just Judy, A Citizen and Leader for Illinois will be provided to each student at both events.  The author, Judy’s son, plans to be present to autograph copies of the book and tell the children in English and Spanish stories about Judy. 

Say Yes to Your Future (English)
Say Yes to Your Future (Spanish)

Just Judy is an incredible book designed to teach young, middle-school youths about civics and leadership with over 100+ activities, projects, and essay questions.  With a foreword written by Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and letters within the book from such leaders as Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore, Retired US Senator Adlai E. Stevenson III, US Circuit Court Judge William J. Bauer, and the grandson of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak, Anton Cermak Kerner, this book is ideal for every student at both conferences and in schools all around Illinois.  The book will describe the gregarious spirit and energy of Judy Baar Topinka to inspire students to dare to dream and say “yes to the future.”!

“Thank You” from Karen A. Yarbrough

We received a wonderful letter from Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough thanking us inviting her to our luncheon and fashion show as well as naming her the second winner of the Judy Award.

Dear Mr. Topinka:

I wish to thank you and the members of the selection committee who chose me to be the recipient of the 2nd Annual Judy A ward, in honor of your mother, my colleague, and a great public servant to all of us, Judy Baar Topinka.

Thank you, as well, for inviting me to the wonderful luncheon and fashion show. I enjoyed the company and it felt so good to be able to remember Judy at an event that she would have loved.

I congratulate you, as well, for keeping Judy’s legacy and commitment to public service alive with the scholarships awarded by the Judy Baar Topinka Foundation. These students are our future leaders and providing them with assistance and encouragement is a fitting way to honor Judy.

Sincerely yours,

Karen A Yarbrough,
Cook County Clerk

Karen A Yarbrough thank you letter

Karen A. Yarbrough Selected as Second Winner of the Judy Award

The Judy Baar Topinka Foundation is honored to announce that the recipient of the second Judy Award named after Judy Baar Topinka is none other than Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough. Clerk Yarbrough’s biograph is below.  Like Judy, Clerk Yarbrough was also a State Representative from the 7th District.  What an incredible representative for Judy’s legacy! We will be presenting the award on September 5th in McCook, Illinois.

Karen A. Yarbrough

Karen A. Yarbrough

Cook County Clerk Karen A. Yarbrough, Cook County’s first African American and female Clerk, has a B.A. in Business Management from Chicago State University, an M.A. in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University, and advanced leadership studies at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Karen has served on numerous boards, enhancing the quality of life for citizens and has received many prestigious awards highlighting her advocacy, community service and legislative work.

Previously, Karen served as State Representative for the 7th District for 12 years, which included Chicago’s West-Side and western suburbs. As an Assistant Majority Leader in the Illinois House of Representatives, her legislative themes were public health, public safety, and social justice. She has been a stalwart fighter to increase assistance for those incarcerated, and funding for programs that provide a “Second Chance.” In 2007, Karen successfully fought the tobacco lobby as the chief sponsor of “Smoke Free Illinois” and made Illinois the first Midwestern state to go “smoke-free.”

She’s taken on powerful real estate interests in her pursuit of “source of income” legislation that prohibits landlords from refusing to rent to those on subsidies. She sponsored “Quality of Life,” a bill using lottery money to fund groups that treat individuals with HIV-AIDS.

In 2011, Yarbrough, as chief House Sponsor helped make history by passing legislation to end the death penalty in Illinois. This legislation was signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn making it the 16th state to do so, earning her recognition from the Pope and a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.

Karen and her husband, Henderson, have a blended family of six and share twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Join Us For The Award Ceremony on September 5, 2019

Celebrating Judy Event