Young Center is Proud to Rename Annual Waymakers Race Fundraiser in Memory of the Fierce Child Advocate, Elizabeth Frankel

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Wednesday, January 31, 2024 

Media Contact: media@theyoungcenter.org 

Chicago, Illinois— In memory of the Young Center’s first Associate Director and zealous advocate for children’s rights, Elizabeth Frankel, we are proud to announce the renaming of our annual Waymakers Race fundraising event to be the Elizabeth Frankel Waymakers Race.  

With this month marking the three-year anniversary of Liz’s passing to complications from cancer, the Young Center continues to remember Liz’s light, contributions, and brilliant legacy and will host the Elizabeth Frankel Waymakers Race in September to honor Liz’s fight to protect children’s rights to be heard, free from detention, and with their families and loved ones. 

Gladis Molina Alt, Executive Director of the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, said: 

"Elizabeth Frankel’s legacy will always live at the heart of the Young Center. Liz was someone whose dedication to fighting for children’s rights could never be shattered. Despite how challenging this work can be, Liz showed up every single day, both for the children the Young Center advocates on behalf and for her teammates. She embodied what it means to be a Child Advocate in every sense, from her compassion and empathy to her determination and desire for justice. Amid her fight for children’s rights and her fight against cancer, Liz always found time to build community with her colleagues. As an avid runner, she often would start up conversations with Young Center colleagues and friends to do some running. It is only fitting that our annual fundraising race, which brings together community members far and wide who are driven to help make our country’s immigration system better for children, be renamed in her memory. To the Frankel Family, thank you for sharing your beloved daughter and sister with the Young Center community.” 

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The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights is a non-profit organization that protects and advances the rights and best interests of immigrant children and advocates for an immigration system that treats children as children first. For press inquiries, please contact Erika Andiola at eandiola@theyoungcenter.org