Casey Richter Sprayregen

Although Casey's mom lost her battle with cancer two years ago, her commitment to making the world a better place lives on through her daughter.

Like her mother, Casey is passionate about giving back. After her family was touched by cancer, she joined the Associate Board of Lurie Cancer Center. She supports seed funding through the Center to scientists performing cancer research studies to help prevent other families from facing similar heartache.

Casey is passionate about giving her time, skills, and resources through regular volunteerism on the South and West Sides of Chicago.

She was also a founding member of the JCFS Chicago Associates Board, and she is currently a mentor for the JUF Professional Women's Mentorship Program.

One of Casey's personal traditions is chanting the same Torah portion at Am Shalom in Glencoe for the last 15 years-- ever since her bat mitzvah! It's fitting that she finds immense meaning in the text that reminds us all to 'Choose Life.' 

AGE:
29

PRONOUNS:
she/her/hers

PRIMARY GIG:
I am a Senior Associate for Corporate and Foundation Relations at the Barack Obama Foundation. I serve as a grants manager, managing our Corporate and Foundation philanthropic partnerships at the Foundation. I create and implement events, employee engagement opportunities, and brand activations for corporate and foundation donors across the country, helping to impact the communities and people that the Obama Foundation serves here in Chicago and around the world.

ON THE SIDE:
My people are most important to me, so my favorite way to spend my time outside of work is with my husband, my sisters and dad, and my friends. I love exploring the city, and am an amateur home decorator, crafter, baker, yogi and traveler. To further feed my passion for philanthropy and to give back, I serve on the Lurie Cancer Center Associates Board and as a mentor in the JUF Professional Women’s Network.

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 10 WORDS OR LESS:
Striving to leave the world better than I found it.

SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT ME:
I grew up as a competitive figure skater, skating until I went to college. Figure skating is one of the great passions of my life and helped shape me into who I am today.

A JEW WHO INSPIRES YOU:
My mom has been my biggest inspiration for my whole life and has only deepened to new levels since we lost her to cancer in December 2021. Her 60 years of life were filled with always doing the most for everyone she came into contact with - from her family and friends to people she met on the street every day. Her optimism, eternal hope, appreciation for being alive and love for her family and friends was effervescent and made this world a brighter place. Every day that she received treatment over her 28- month battle with cancer, she donated to a different organization. Her faith never wavered throughout her 60 years, even after being diagnosed, and she lifted up her Judaism as a focal point in our family and in our lives. She hosted 40+ people for every holiday, studiously listened and appreciated every single word spoken in services, instilled the value and need for Tzedakah in our family, and ensured Jewish values were at the forefront of all she did. I will always live every day for my mom and will remain inspired to live with as much appreciation and focus on Jewish and family values as she did.