Woman Philanthropists: Jane Lepauw of The Benjamin Marshall Society On How To Leave A Lasting Legacy With A Successful Nonprofit Organization
…For me, civilization, just as a democracy, is fragile and is today dangerously close to imploding. Once we let our public discourse break down into accepted vulgarities, we are left with a choice to make: do we really make that our new standard, or do we rise up and fight it…
The contributions of women philanthropists have reshaped communities and catalyzed change, yet their stories often remain untold. Women bring unique perspectives and approaches to philanthropy, using their resources, networks, and influence to address a wide range of global challenges — from education and healthcare to social justice and environmental sustainability. How do these women navigate the complexities of philanthropy to achieve meaningful impact? In this interview series, we are talking to diverse women philanthropists who have initiated impactful projects or led significant charitable endeavors, to share their insights and inspire others to take initiative and help solve pressing global and local issues. As a part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Jane Lepauw.
Jane Lepauw is the Executive Director of The Benjamin Marshall Society, the Chicago based foundation whose mission is to enlighten the public about the most celebrated architect in Chicago whose main work was done in the 1920s. From the Italian Renaissance grandeur of the Drake Hotel, the pink fantasy of the Spanish Colonial Revival Edgewater Beach Apartments, the neo-classical Parisian splendor of the residential high-rise at 1550 North State Parkway, the Second Empire panache of the Blackstone Hotel on South Michigan Avenue, and the Mediterranean Revival elegance of the South Shore Cultural Center his talent is showcased throughout the city of Chicago. He was also the architect for E. Lake Shore Drive as we know it today. His works have been praised for their timelessness and elegance, and he is remembered today as one of the most influential architects of the early 20th century.
Thank you for making time to visit with us about a ‘top of mind’ topic. Our readers would like to get to know you a bit better. Can you please tell us about one or two life experiences that most shaped who you are today?
I learned early on that success was not about being there at the right time, it was about being there all the time. After graduating college, I interviewed at WBBM radio to be a reporter, but there were no openings. My mother told me I should sit in the CEO’s office until a position opened up. I got there early every day before the CEO arrived sitting just outside his office for weeks. Needless to say, he would stop and chat with me every day until one day, he took me to one of his lunches along with a reporter and some city VIPS. The next week, he invited me again where the conversation turned to public affairs- my passion- and proudly, I was able to hold my own at the table. About two weeks later, the head of the newsroom came out to tell me I had been hired as a cub reporter! I’d been sitting there for six weeks! I never forgot that lesson and believe in it to this day.
I lived in Paris for almost 25 years and I got there indirectly from that position as a cub reporter at WBBM radio. Originally, I went to Paris on a one-shot reporting assignment for the CBS television affiliate in Miami as an emergency replacement for the regular foreign correspondent. It was an exhilarating experience and I decided to move to Paris shortly afterwards- a dream of mine since childhood-writing for several magazines. A few years later, I ended up as a liaison between the Japanese Embassy and the Franco-American community. Always passionate about Public Affairs, I signed up to be a volunteer passing around the mic at international political conferences. I was a news junkie. When I learned that the International Herald Tribune was hosting Prime Ministers and top officials from the UK and other countries for a trade summit, I was there mic in hand, close up and listening to all these major world speakers. When the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from Japan got up to speak, the crowd booed him, virtually drowning him out. I was mortified. I had never witnessed anything like it and moved closer to hear what he was trying to say. It was at a time when the Japanese were the number one exporters of goods but they imported very little-thus, the hostile reaction. He looked so alone up there, formally attired, with a nice head of graying hair and glasses. For some reason, I had this urge to find him afterwards, catching him just as he was about to go through the revolving door of the hotel. I blurted out “Sir, you’re not staying for lunch?” “No,” he said. He had to go. I then told him how sorry I was for the shocking reception and that not only had I heard his speech, I listened to it. How sad it was, I said, that no one heard the challenge that Japan faced in regards to import limitations. I actually said that Japan needed better public relations and that I’d be happy to work for him! To my astonishment, he took out his little black book, gave me some names and told me to go to the Japanese Embassy located at the Arch of Triumph and tell them he’d sent me. Not only did I end up working with the Embassy for the next five years but I became friends with this extraordinary gentleman who became Head of the UN Security Council, then Chief Justice of the International Court at the Hague and today he is the father of the Empress of Japan.
You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? We would love to hear a few stories or examples.
1. Curiosity and an insatiable desire to learn. I was an avid reader as a child, reading all my older brother’s discarded books way more mature than for my age. I think it all started there-my curiosity, my interest in different places and cultures. I’d go from Louis L’Amour’s frontier horse stories to Jules Verne’s 80 Days Around the World. I’d decided I wanted to be an author. I was about eight, nine when I discovered French novels. I started dreaming about living in France, starting French when I was ten. I also became passionate about world affairs, loved reading the newspaper and watching the news on television. But it became an obsession of mine to get to Paris.
2. Maybe imagination? I always imagined, or maybe more accurately, always dreamed that I would contribute to the world in some way or another. I always felt I had something to say, to offer. I am genuinely interested in people and the world has always excited me. I wanted to be a part of it. I wanted to contribute-how, I had no idea! But I was determined. Originally, though hardly original, I was going to Paris to write the next great American novel. Instead, I soaked up everything Paris had to offer, to the point that I often felt distracted, going from one activity to the next. I was the head of Public Relations for a very active Franco-American association that was responsible along with the International Herald Tribune for erecting what is today known as “Diana’s Flame”. I received an award from Jacques Cousteau for leading our fundraising campaign for the Exonn-Valdez oil spill disaster. I had my own French wine wholesale business, selling wines to countless Parisian restaurants and shops and exporting to Chicago, LA and Texas with our own wine label. I interviewed famous people. I worked with the Japanese Embassy. I (we) raised two professional musicians (my husband played First Violin with the Paris Symphony). I came back to the States with two kids, fell into real estate, and ended up selling a Marshall-designed estate listed for $25,000,000-and then, inspired, I co-founded with my husband, the Benjamin Marshall Society. Who knew? Did I know where I was going to land? I didn’t. But without my steady dream, my longing to contribute something, I know for sure, the Society would not have seen the light of day. ( I never did write that great American novel-not yet anyway).
3. Self esteem, confidence. Not that I don’t have insecurities, of course, I do. But I think for one to be driven, and I always have been, one has to be grounded in one’s own skin, as the French say. This sense of myself has given me the courage to soldier on in face of some very upsetting and challenging situations professionally and personally. It’s never easy in the best of circumstances. That’s where you need a loyal Board and Executive Committee. I do and they have been with me for many years. Sometimes, you need to put your armor on and face the world-or ha, fake it until you make it.
When I was working as a cub reporter almost straight out of college, I heard there was an audition for a television anchor at the CBS affiliate in Miami. With youthful arrogance, I flew to Miami. In the middle of my audition, we were interrupted by someone yelling that Joe’d broken an ankle and couldn’t go to Paris to report on the famous Arc de Triomphe horse races, and did anyone speak French. Of course, I did (I said). What did I know about horses, they asked. I’d ridden since the age of seven and I had also just returned from the Kentucky Derby as I was an avid race fan. They put me on the phone to Paris to check my French which was appalling but I faked it so they let me go and I ended up being on French television next to the most famous chronicler of public televised events in France! I met the top French reporters who became life-long friends, and through them, amazing people. I even met my future husband at a party at the home of James Jones, the best-selling author of From Here to Eternity-all this within three weeks! I did a great job and was hoping to get posted to Paris. At the time, there was a CBS office, it only had six very coveted positions. No way were they going to let an upstart novice fill a position in Paris!
What’s the most interesting discovery you’ve made since you started leading your organization?
It has taken me a long time, but I finally recognized the value of partnering, even sharing ideas, posts, events with like-minded organizations. I don’t think that should be a surprise. Since our Society has been doing that, we have found unexpected and enthusiastic support, with even new and creative ways of supporting each other. It surprises me that this is not a standard way of operating in all organizations that have similar missions. It is not only helpful but it is enriching, as we have even drawn inspiration from each other. It’s been a wonderful experience especially this year, Marshall’s 150th anniversary.
Can you please tell our readers more about how you or your organization intends to make a significant social impact?
Now that the city of Chicago has recognized Marshall’s contributions, our Society hopes to highlight the need for beauty and human-centered design in all neighborhood communities. This does not exclude modern structures nor even skyscrapers. Good design is good design, no matter what the genre. It’s finding a balance between “classical” and “modern” and I believe that is possible. Our hope is to make a social impact by bringing back the idea of beauty as a goal for all city neighborhoods. Architects, designers, city planners need to organize with neighborhood citizens as they should be respected as integral parties to the conversation. When people have skin in the game, they care. That’s the real start of inclusiveness and that generates thoughtful, prideful and human-centered design. What do the people living there need? What would make them proud to stay and contribute? That’s the fabric of community. That’s our Society’s idea of inclusiveness which we endorse. Neighborhood participation is the hallmark of a successful urban experience. Benjamin Marshall’s works, by the way, back in his time, were the result of an effort to make Chicago an aspiring place to live for everyone. That was the idea-seeing beauty structures in one’s surroundings gave everyone something to aspire to. We all want to be successful.We all want to lead better, more productive lives. We all want to live in such places. Furthermore, when exposed to beautiful places and buildings, people tend not to throw trash on the ground. There is something sacred about beauty.
I look back on Burnham’s City Beautiful Movement and how Marshall fulfilled this philosophy by building beautiful structures up and down the lakefront. How happy they make us all as we drive past them! How proud we are of our city! As the city pays tribute to Marshall’s work, we want this to be transformative and inspirational for all neighborhoods to participate in and that is how we plan to make a social impact.
What makes you feel passionate about this cause more than any other?
I don’t know if I feel more passionate about this cause than any other. I am passionate about civilization and anything that contributes or contributed to it.
That is why my husband and I founded this Society.
Without naming names, could you share a story about an individual who benefitted from your initiatives?
I really can’t say. The Benjamin Marshall Society is not a charity in the sense one perceives a non-profit to be. We are not “cause” driven per se. We have goals and we dream about being able to contribute to the “living” environment. We partnered one year with After School Matters and we’d like to do more. One of our goals is to establish scholarships in Benjamin Marshall’s name whereby students could study architecture (with a genuine ability to sketch and draw by hand), urban design and interior design coupled with a course in current social challenges and issues. We often discuss these things in our meetings, and everyone has a cause to champion. So we believe that any scholarship we create must be integrated with an awareness of social issues. That’s one of the reasons I so love Notre Dame. It’s such a great school for classical architecture and the school is humanity-based. I love that.
We all want to help and to live a life of purpose. What are three actions anyone could take to help address the root cause of the problem you’re trying to solve?
For me, civilization, just as a democracy, is fragile and is today dangerously close to imploding. Once we let our public discourse break down into accepted vulgarities, we are left with a choice to make: do we really make that our new standard, or do we rise up and fight it. Words matter. In my opinion, our education needs to reintegrate the study of the foundations and values of Western and Eastern civilizations. We need to incorporate humanities and arts in all schools at every level. What can our Benjamin Marshall Society do? 1) We can try to inspire by the recounting of Benjamin Marshall’s extraordinary life with its horrific tragedy and his momentous comeback during his lifetime. 2) We can continue to educate on the value of striving for beauty in one’s environment and how it impacts the betterment of lives. 3) We can try to promote community appreciation of historic buildings in neighborhoods as a grounding in our “human” built environments.
Based on your experience, what are the “5 Things You Need To Create A Successful & Effective Nonprofit That Leaves A Lasting Legacy?” Please share a story or example for each.
1. Passion
I am an extrovert by nature and I love people. I am passionate about history and culture and having lived in France for almost 25 years, the realization of my childhood dream, I became aware of my passion for civilization, cultures and cross-culture experiences. When in 2002, I discovered Benjamin Marshall with my husband and we painstakingly learned all that he had done in Chicago, literally making it into a destination city, we couldn’t wait to get his extraordinary lost story out. The more I learned, the more driven I was.
2 . Answer to a need or a missing piece of an important story or issue
As I was in real estate in Lake Forest, one of the country’s most elegant suburbs filled with historic homes, I was stunned to learn that Marshall who had designed both in Lake Forest and neighboring Lake Bluff, not to mention Chicago and across the country, was virtually unknown to the public, historians and academicians. It took our own personal research going through microfilms, to find information on Marshall. Happily, we attended a book signing by author Neil Harris who wrote splendidly about Marshall in his book Chicago Apartments. Was there a missing link in Chicago history and architecture? I should say so!
3. Vision
Our vision was to found a Society in his name that would not only bring his legacy to the fore, but would trigger a review of classical architecture in the midst of this city filled with amazing historic structures and known internationally as the Chicago School of Modernism.The more we learned, the more stunned we were that this important figure, literally the father of the Gold Coast, was today unknown even while having designed most of East Lake Shore Drive, including the iconic Drake Hotel, the formerly most popular Blackstone Hotel theaters and so much more. Our vision as stated in our mission statement, was to revive the dialogue on the role of all architecture in a civic and urban environment.
4. A plan.. .Understanding how to start a non-profit
Our plan was to find people who would join us on our journey and who could help us form our Board. Before we incorporated ourselves, we consulted with the Lawyers for the Creative Arts.
5 . A good attorney
We had the great luck of meeting Tom McMenamin who became our attorney and who established our 501(c)3 non-profit.
How has the pandemic changed your definition of success?
I think the pandemic made me realize that I personally was taking too much on and that for success, I needed to reach out to other leaders for inspiration and support.
How do you get inspired after an inevitable setback?
I think of my mother who was from the south and who seemed obsessed with our looks. It drove us crazy, she seemed so artificial. And yet, she was awarded the title of top producer for ten years in a row and then some, on the North Shore of Chicago for what is today Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway. She was always the optimist. One day, our home in Paris under renovation was virtually destroyed in a fire-the roof fell in and we lost almost everything. Luckily, we hadn’t physically moved in yet! The following day, I called my mother and standing in the smoldering embers, I told her. “Are you okay?,” she cried through the phone, “are the children okay?” “Yes, yes,” I sobbed, we’re all safe. After a few more sobs on my end, and comforting words on hers, with an audible sigh of relief, she said, “Well, Honey, nothin’s worth losing your looks over.” I hung up on her in disbelief. Mother!! . It was only after she died that I realized she was right. We all have to get up in the morning! And that’s become my M.O.
You’re doing important work. How can our readers follow your progress online?
Readers can visit our website https://www.benjaminmarshallsociety.com/ for more information and to follow along!
Thank you for a meaningful conversation. We wish you continued success with your mission.
Woman Philanthropists: Jane Lepauw of The Benjamin Marshall Society On How To Leave A Lasting… was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.