Concussion Legacy Foundation to honour Chicago Blackhawks legend Stan Mikita and family at 2019 Chicago Honors, co-hosted by former Chicago Bear Mike Adamle and Chicago newscaster Rob Johnson

Date: Friday, September 13, 2019
Location: The Palmer House, Grand Ballroom, 17 East Monroe Street
Time: 6:00 pm Cocktail Reception, 7:30 pm Dinner & Program
Contact: Julia Manning | (515) 201-7199 | jmanning@concussionfoundation.org 

(BOSTON) – The Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) will honor Chicago Blackhawks legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Stan Mikita and his family with the Courage Award at its Chicago Honors event on Friday, September 13 at The Palmer House.

Before his death last year at the age of 78, Mikita traveled to Boston University to participate in research on the long-term effects of concussions and repeated head impacts and pledged to donate his brain to the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank. He made those decisions before being diagnosed with Lewy Body dementia, driven by a desire to give back to his fellow players, the game of hockey and support research. As one of the greatest NHL players in history, Mikita’s eventual brain donation helped raise the profile of brain donation and change the concussion and CTE conversation in hockey.

“Chicago was blessed to have Stan Mikita not only lead the Blackhawks for 21 seasons, but also reside here with his family and continue to support the community,” said Gary Fencik, former Chicago Bears safety and CLF Chicago Advisory Board member, who will be in attendance. “We look forward to showing his family how much we appreciated his final gesture to donate his brain to support research on the effects of brain trauma in sports and the military.”

In just over a decade, the Concussion Legacy Foundation has changed how concussions are managed in sports and has been the driving force behind our new understanding of CTE. Founded by former Harvard football player and WWE wrestler Chris Nowinski, PhD, an Arlington Heights native and John Hersey High School graduate, CLF has made an immense impact in Chicago. CLF has provided the first comprehensive concussion training for coaches in Chicago Public Schools, partnered with the IHSA to distribute its Team Up Speak Up concussion education program, and coordinated the posthumous brain donations of Chicago athletes including Dave Duerson, Bob Probert, Reggie Fleming, Chris Gedney and Mike Pyle.

Mikita is the Blackhawks’ all-time leading scorer. The Chicago sports icon spent his entire 21 season NHL career in the Windy City, leading the team to win the 1961 Stanley Cup Championship and earning the Hart Trophy as NHL’s Most Valuable Player in 1967 and ’68. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.

Last year, more than 350 supporters and distinguished guests, including former Chicago Bears Gary Fencik, Mike Adamle and Doug Plank, attended the Chicago Honors and raised a record $215,000 to support the Concussion Legacy Foundation’s education, research and patient support programs. Previous Courage Award recipients include Jim McMahon and Mike Adamle.

Tickets are on sale now for the 2019 Chicago Honors, co-hosted by former Chicago Bears Mike Adamle and Chicago newscaster Rob Johnson. 

About the Concussion Legacy Foundation:
The Concussion Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It was founded by Robert Cantu, MD, and Chris Nowinski, PhD to solve the concussion crisis by advancing the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and other at-risk groups. For more information, please visit ConcussionFoundation.org.